PRISM: A Festival of New Queer Musicals

The Brick presents
PRISM: A Festival of New Queer Musicals
by The Makers’ Ensemble
playing September 8-13, 2026
at The Brick Theater
running time 90 minutes
tickets $25-50

PRISM: A Festival of New Queer Musicals
Produced by The Makers’ Ensemble in partnership with The Brick Theater & Brooklyn Art Haus
Find them @themakersensemble

THE LAUGH OF THE MEDUSA
By Thani Brant
Directed by Megumi Nakamura
Music Directed by Déa Thatcher

One night in two timelines millennia apart, a young writer and the mythical gorgon Medusa pray for a new world where they can live authentically in freedom and safety. Their twin prayers thin the veil that separates space and time, pulling them together on a years-long journey to help each other break free of ancient cycles of violence. THE LAUGH OF THE MEDUSA is a trans coming-of-age musical with a folk-rock score that speaks urgently to the power of artists to forge the path to a better world.

THE RUMSPRINGA PROJECT
Conceived & Directed by Machel Ross
Music & Lyrics by Nina Ross and Ellen Winter
Book by Bubba Weiler

A music-theatre kaleidoscope of queer coming-of-age stories in America inspired by the Amish tradition, “Rumspringa”. Known colloquially as ‘jumping the fence’, it is not only a threshold, but also exists as the liminal passage between worlds. It culminates in the young person’s choice to return to their community (and ultimately get married) or to remain in the secular sphere, lnowing, no matter the choice, there is no going back to before you crossed the fence. The Rumspringa Project was conceived by Machel Ross, with book by Bubba Weiler, music by Ellen Winter and Nina Ross, and additional collaboration from Sekai Abeni and Tony Nominee Ellenore Scott. It’s been developed at Mercury Store, Berkeley Rep Ground Floor, and through the Joe’s Pub Working Group.

FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

Tuesday, September 8 at 7PM
THE LAUGH OF THE MEDUSA

Wednesday, September 9 at 7PM
THE RUMSPRINGA PROJECT

Thursday, September 10 at 7PM
THE RUMSPRINGA PROJECT

Friday, September 11 at 7PM
THE LAUGH OF THE MEDUSA

Saturday, September 12 at 2:30PM
THE LAUGH OF THE MEDUSA

Saturday, September 12 at 7PM
THE RUMSPRINGA PROJECT

Sunday September 13 at 2:30PM
THE RUMSPRINGA PROJECT

Sunday, September 13 at 7M
THE LAUGH OF THE MEDUSA

Special Thanks to Peter Mills Weiss, Lydia Mokdessi, Cameron Stuart, Micah Bucey, Issac Bush, Robin Margolis, and Eamon Goodman