Joyland: A New Musical

Joyland is a new musical about Henry, a young man who finds himself trapped in Joyland, a purgatory between life and death disguised as an amusement park. As he chases after the woman he believes is the love of his life, he is guided by the Conductor, the Clown and the Swan Princess, each drawing him deeper into a world that shifts without warning and operates by rules established long before he arrived. The park's spectacle is not an escape but a mechanism, forcing Henry to confront the patterns of love, regret, and control that shaped his life before clarity comes too late to change it.

Playwrights Horizons Theatre School
Spring 2026
Created by: James Leonardi

Book by: Nghi Nguyen

Music and Lyrics by: James Leonardi

Directed by: Clark Worden and Grace Kelly

Music Direction by: Ani Chong

Choreographed by: Audrey Lucas

Stage Managed by: Madi Snyder

Assistant Stage Managed by: Jianna Thompson

Scenic/Prop Design by: Oryna Bludova

Lighting Design by: Sophie DiBella

Sound Design by: Adison Holland Hobbs

Costumes by: Rachel Kolko

Assistant Costume Designer: Kaylee Ardinger

Rehearsal Pianist: Sebin Son

Project Support: Ava Ford

Social Media: Dany Batalla and James Leonardi

Cover Art: Jesse Richards

Photos: Dany Batalla