2025 NEXT Festival Lineup Announced - Three New Works in Development

2025 NEXT Festival - The homefront - Photo by Morgan Gray

(Minneapolis/St. Paul) Theater Latté Da (Justin Lucero, Artistic Director; Elisa Spencer-Kaplan, Managing Director) announces casting for its upcoming 2025 NEXT FESTIVAL. Three dynamic new works, THE HOMEFRONT by Malika Oyetimein, Jenny Stafford and Sam Salmond; HOW TO PLAY THE CELLO (UNTIL YOU DON’T) by Benjamin Emory Larson; and OKUNI by Naomi Iizuka and Paul Hodge, will each receive a two-week developmental workshop and two public presentations. Presentations begin July 25 and continue through August 11 at Latté Da’s home venue, the historic Ritz Theater, 345 13th Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413. Three-show NEXT Festival passes and single tickets are now on sale at latteda.org or 612-339-3003.

The 2025 NEXT Festival will begin with THE HOMEFRONT, book by Malika Oyetimein and Jenny Stafford, music and lyrics by Sam Salmond. Oyetimein will also direct the presentations, with music direction by Jason Hansen. The cast will include Nubia Monks (The Color Purple), Serena Brook (Falsettos), Carnetha Anthony (Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella, The Color Purple), Nambi Mwassa (Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella, The Color Purple), Tom Reed (Scotland, PA, Stones in His Pockets), Riley McNutt (Passion, Next to Normal), Kate Beahen (Into the Woods), Sara Masterson (Fun Home), Laura Rudolph (Latté Da Debut), Aimee Bryant (Bernarda Alba), Essence Renae (Latté Da Debut) and Em Adam Rosenberg (Latté Da Debut).

When World War II comes to a close and the men return home, the women are immediately fired from their jobs at the factory. Two best friends—one black and one white—lead a movement to fight for the jobs of their fellow female workers. But when their progressive ideals fall short and it becomes clear that the black women and the white women will no longer have the same opportunities in this post-war world, they have to decide what – and who – are they willing to give up in the fight, and what happens when loved ones get caught in the crossfire.

Public presentations for THE HOMEFRONT are Friday, July 25 at 4:00 pm and Monday, July 28 at 7:30 pm.

Following THE HOMEFRONT will be HOW TO PLAY THE CELLO (UNTIL YOU DON’T), book, music and lyrics by Benjamin Emory Larson. Presentations will be directed by Scott Ford, with music direction by Christine Wade and Harrison Wade. Anna Beth Baker (Latté Da Debut) plays the featured role of Jacqueline De Pré, with Jacqueline Ultan on cello (composer and featured musician for Latte Da’s 2019 world premiere To Let Go and Fall).

HOW TO PLAY THE CELLO (UNTIL YOU DON’T) is loosely based on the life of Jacqueline Du Pré, one of the greatest cellists of all time, whose career was cut short in her 30s by Multiple Sclerosis. Through original songs and reimagined classical pieces, Jackie guides us on the explosive journey of her life. She discovers the cello for the first time, falls in love with it, finds out she’s “talented,” becomes obsessed with greatness, conquers the world, falls ill, loses her ability to play, and ultimately has to face the question: What is an artist who can’t make art anymore?

Public presentations for HOW TO PLAY THE CELLO (UNTIL YOU DON’T) will be Friday, August 1 at 4:00 pm and Monday, August 4 at 7:30 pm.

The final presentation of the 2025 festival will be OKUNI, book by Naomi Iizuka and Paul Hodge, lyrics by Paul Hodge and Naomi Iizuka, and music by Paul Hodge. OKUNI will be directed by Lisa Portes, with music direction by Andy Kust. The cast will include Meghan Kreidler (Man of la Mancha, Bernarda Alba, Twin Cities band Kiss the Tiger) in the title role of Okuni, Anna Hashizume (Johnny Skeeky, Hello, Dolly!), Emma Schuld (Fun Home), Suzie Juul (NEXT Festival), Stephanie Anne Bertumen (Bernarda Alba), Greg Watanabe (Latté Da Debut, Allegiance on Broadway), Ryan Sellers (Latté Da Debut) and Kelvin Moon Loh (Latté Da Debut, Beetlejuice, The King and I, Sideshow on Broadway).

OKUNI tells the story of the enigmatic woman from 16th century Japan who created Kabuki and has since been forgotten by history. The pop culture sensation of her day, Okuni went from performing for outcasts in the dry riverbeds of Kyoto to performing for the shogun himself. Challenging conventions of polite society and shining a light on the hypocrisies of the ruling class, her shows were as politically dangerous as they were erotic. OKUNI asks what it means to be a woman in a man's world, and what it means to make art when the world is burning.

Public presentations for OKUNI will be Friday, August 8 at 4:00 pm and Monday, August 11 at 7:30 pm.

ABOUT NEXT FESTIVAL

The NEXT Festival is a key component of Theater Latté Da’s robust commitment to the development of new musicals, which also includes year-round workshops and residencies, commissions and world premiere productions. “The enthusiasm and insight our audiences bring to the NEXT Festival has a profound impact on the development of new musicals,” says Elissa Adams, NEXT Festival producer and Director of New Work at Theater Latté Da. “I’m excited to share this year’s projects with the Twin Cities.”

Past NEXT Festivals have offered audiences a first look at numerous new musicals that have gone on to full productions at Theater Latté Da, including next season’s World Premiere of MY ǺNTONIA, C. (2015), LULLABY (2016), FIVE POINTS (2018), UNDERNEATH THE LINTEL (2018), TO LET GO AND FALL (2019), CHRISTMAS AT THE LOCAL (2022), TWELVE ANGRY MEN, A NEW MUSICAL (2022), JOHNNY SKEEKY; OR, THE REMEDY FOR EVERYTHING (2024) and SCOTLAND, PA (2024). 2017 NEXT Festival project GODDESS recently had its Off-Broadway debut at the Public Theater. GUN & POWDER, featured in the 2018 festival, has been announced for a Broadway run under the new title WANTED, following a critically acclaimed production at Paper Mill Playhouse last year.

The 2025 NEXT Festival is made possible through the generous support of the Nara Fund, The National Endowment for the Arts, RBC Financial, The Ruth Easton Fund and individual contributors to Theater Latté Da’s NEXT 25x25 initiative, the organization’s ambitious campaign to develop 25 new musicals between 2021 and 2025. Learn more about NEXT 25x25 here: latteda.org/next-25x25.

2025 NEXT FESTIVAL LINEUP

THE HOMEFRONT

Book by Malika Oyetimein and Jenny Stafford
Music and Lyrics by Sam Salmond
Directed by Malika Oyetimein
Music Direction by Jason Hansen

Presentations:
Friday, July 25, 4:00 pm
Monday, July 28, 7:30 pm

Cast:
Nubia Monks* - Leslie
Serena Brook* - Ruth
Carnetha Anthony - Ida Mae
Nambi Mwassa* - Gladys
Tom Reed - James
Riley McNutt - Foreman/Ensemble
Kate Beahen - Marge
Sara Masterson* - Betty
Laura Rudolph* - Penelope
Aimee Bryant* - Doris
Essence Renae* - Pearl
Em Rosenberg - Lillian

*member Actors Equity Association

HOW TO PLAY THE CELLO (UNTIL YOU DON’T)

Book, Music and Lyrics by Benjamin Emory Larson
Directed by Scott Ford
Music Direction by Christine Wade and Harrison Wade

Presentations:
Friday, August 1, 4:00 pm
Monday, August 4, 7:30 pm

Cast:
Anna Beth Baker - Jacqueline Du Pré
Jacqueline Ultan - Cellist

 

OKUNI

Book by Naomi Iizuka and Paul Hodge
Lyrics by Paul Hodge and Naomi Iizuka
Music by Paul Hodge
Directed by Lisa Portes
Music Direction by Andy Kust

Presentations:
Friday, August 8, 4:00 pm
Monday, August 11, 7:30 pm

Cast:
Meghan Kreidler - Okuni
Anna Hashizume - Hatsumama
Emma Schuld - Sen
Suzie Juul - Kiku
Stephanie Anne Bertumen - Rin
Greg Watanabe - Izaemon
Ryan Sellers - Sanjuro
Kelvin Moon Loh - Sanzaburo