Theater for the New City, Crystal Field (Artistic Director) presents
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Theater for the New City, Dream Up Festival
Johnson Theater
- Address: 155 First Ave (corner of E10th), NYC
- Box Office: (212) 254-1109
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9/1 6:30pm
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9/3 6:30pm
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9/4 6:30pm
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9/5 2pm
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9/6 5pm
The Story
About Hear Me
“A love story—a three way—among Claire, a Deaf single mom, and Will, a hearing illustrator haunted by Beast, who only Will and the audience can see.”
The Heart
Claire
The Mind
Will
The Shadow
Beast
HEAR ME is an original, women-led, cross-cultural musical—bilingual in American Sign Language (ASL) and English—about confronting the personal beasts that deter us from loving fully and living authentically. For audiences who were moved by Next to Normal, Once, and Deaf West's Spring Awakening.
Staged Readings
Summer 2026
Languages
ASL & English
Hear Me
CAST & CHARACTERS
Will
Aaron C. Finley*
Beast
Keith A. Bearden*
Claire
Holly Crowe
Tessa
Mya Rena Hunter*
Jude
Kathy Voytko*
Casey
Anthony Natale*
Neil
Trey Harrington*
* Appears courtesy of Actors Equity
Hear Me
CREATIVE TEAM
Anita Riggio
Yale Ventures / Collective CT theatre artist. Presenter, Yale Innovation Summit.
Award-winning book writer & illustrator of more than two dozen titles. Founder & producer of Fat Chance Production Group, LLC. HEAR ME is Anita's first musical.
Sila Shaman
Winner of four Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards for "Sisters in Freedom." Composer and pianist whose work spans jazz, film & TV scores, theater, dance, concert and experimental music.
Monica Anderson
Founding co-owner of Black Watch Productions, Inc. Executive producer & creative director. On stage and in film, Monica is known for being an "actor's director."
Amber Zion
Performed the National Anthem & "America the Beautiful" in ASL at Super Bowl XLVIII during pregame festivities that included Renée Fleming and Queen Latifah. Actor — VAGINA MONOLOGUES, Berkeley Rep.
Katie Coleman
BEACHES — Music director/conductor, World Premiere at Theatre Calgary. Conductor/Keys — selected Broadway: SIX, HAMILTON, ALADDIN, WICKED, THE LION KING.
Librettist & Lyricist
Anita Riggio
Award-winning book writer & illustrator of more than two dozen titles. Founder & producer of Fat Chance Production Group, LLC. HEAR ME is Anita's first musical.
Composer
Sila Shaman
Winner of four Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards for "Sisters in Freedom." Composer and pianist whose work spans jazz, film & TV scores, theater, dance, concert and experimental music.
Director
Monica Anderson
Founding co-owner of Black Watch Productions, Inc. Executive producer & creative director. On stage and in film, Monica is known for being an "actor's director."
DASL
Amber Zion
Performed the National Anthem & "America the Beautiful" in ASL at Super Bowl XLVIII during pregame festivities that included Renée Fleming and Queen Latifah. Actor — VAGINA MONOLOGUES, Berkeley Rep.
Music Supervisor
Katie Coleman
BEACHES — Music director/conductor, World Premiere at Theatre Calgary. Conductor/Keys — selected Broadway: SIX, HAMILTON, ALADDIN, WICKED, THE LION KING.
Hear Me
ADVANCE PRAISE
"An exciting and important piece!"
Bill Rauch
2026 Tony Award Winning Director of Cats: The Jellicle Ball
"This is a universal story because everyone in this room has a beast."
Cheryl Wiesenfeld
Four-time Tony Award–winning Producer
"…subtle, sophisticated, and rich! This is going to go!"
Julie Morgenstern
NYTimes best-selling author, OPRAH contributor
"…a wonderfully idiosyncratic approach to musicalizing life that feels like a successor to the work of Bill Finn."
Drayton Alexander
Asolo Repertory Theatre
Listen & Watch
SONGS & VIDEOS
Partner With Us
BECOME A SPONSOR
Be part of bringing a groundbreaking new musical to the world stage. Partner with HEAR ME for our 2026 staged readings and 2027 world premiere.
Orchestra Level
Presenting Sponsor
$25,000+
- Premier billing — all materials
- Opening Night VIP reception
- Named in program & website
- Social media recognition
- Exclusive rehearsal access
Mezzanine Level
Co-Producer
$10,000–$24,999
- Billing in programs and on website and shout-outs onsocial media
- Plus tickets to the reading
- Co-producer billing
- Opening Night tickets
- Website & program credit
- Invitation to staged readings
Box Level
Associate Producer
$5,000–$9,999
- Billing in programs, on website and shout-outs on social media
- Associate credit
- Priority reading invitations
- Newsletter recognition
Balcony Level
Presenting Sponsor
$1,000–$4,999
- Billing on website and shout-outs on social media
- Community partner credit
- Social media shoutout