A NEW MUSICAL
A NEW MUSICAL
Set in New York 1973, An Evening In Paley Park is a new musical which follows Eric, a struggling writer who’s too stuck in his own head to really see the world he longs to write about. Each night at 6pm sharp, he returns to the same hidden pocket park in Manhattan in search of a spark. As the evenings pass, the park begins to fill with others. These endearingly neurotic strangers, with warmth, wit, and their own startling private truths, begin to pierce the stillness he’s built around himself, forcing him to confront more than just his writer’s block.
In a world where everyone is just passing through, An Evening In Paley Park asks what happens when you finally stop waiting and start listening, inviting the audience to reflect on the sheer number of strangers we pass every day. Potential friends, stories, life-altering conversations, challenging us to imagine how our lives might change if we chose to connect, even for just one evening…
What began as scattered ideas from detailed character observations during my daily commutes, has evolved into a full-scale, 11-song, 2-Act musical, that captures the beauty in the everyday little things life has to offer if you’re willing enough to see it.
My name is Ethem Muslu, “An Evening in Paley Park” is my first original musical. I've composed all music and lyrics and wrote the script. Down the line, my best friend Emily Talbot came to help with further developing the story and has become our co-writer for this piece. I hope audiences leave with a sense of curiosity about the people around them, the moments that pass quietly, and the possibility that there’s more to everyday life than first meets the eye.
Hear more about the evolution of this project!