Straight
Forward
A new musical · based on a true story
Mike and Garrett are two straight guys in their mid-twenties who move in together and become best friends. Garrett has a long-term girlfriend, Jenna. Then Mike falls seriously ill, Garrett, a physician assistant, becomes the one holding him up, and their friendship turns into something neither of them expected.
It’s based on a true story first told in a viral article that was shared more than 100,000 times in one night. Funny, tender and honest, it’s a two-person musical about love, labels and the courage it takes to tell the truth about yourself.
Read the true story behind the show
About the showWatch “Pull” (opens YouTube in a new tab)- 2Actors
- 100 minWith intermission
- 20Songs
- 5Studio EP tracks
- 2015Writing began
- 2023Off-Broadway run
The true story
- Inspired by real people and a story that spread across social media overnight, viewed by millions.
- LGBTQ+ characters at the center of the story, not the sidelines.
Where it’s been
- 2021–2022 · workshop reading, staged reading, New York Theatre Festival
- 2023 · developmental run at Theatre Row, Off-Broadway
- 2024 · industry reading and studio EP
- 2025 · workshop presentations and a London industry presentation
What audiences are saying
“An emotional rollercoaster. A story for anyone who has ever loved or felt out of place.”
“Incredible music, incredible story. I laughed, I cried.”
“A beautifully complex portrayal of friendship and love.”
“New favorite songs to be stuck in your head for weeks.”
Listen
- Studio EP: Those Times, Replay, Once I Say These Words, Pull, The Sweater, streaming everywhere
- New music video: Pull
Creative team
- Book, Music, and Lyrics · Billy Aberle and Chris Sabol
- Director · Billy Bustamante
- Music supervisor · Bryan Perri
- Orchestrator · Michael Starobin
Straight Forward Sessions
Acoustic recordings and videos of acclaimed performers from Broadway and beyond, each singing a song from Straight Forward. Recording begins in December, with a new session every few weeks. Presented by Pivotal Productions.
Support the Sessions (Zeffy, opens in a new tab)
