Amoeba Productions is excited to announce the New Musicals Lab Presentation, a presentation where two new musicals, Star Machine and Area D, each share a section of their work with a live audience.
The New Musicals Lab Presentation will take place on Monday, November 23, 2026 at 7 PM at Pearl Studios, featuring Star Machine and Area D, two original musicals developing with the New Musicals Lab.
About the New Musicals Lab
The New Musicals Lab is Amoeba Productions’ developmental program for original musicals. This season, the Lab is supporting two new musicals, Star Machine and Area D, as they build toward a presentation in November at Pearl Studios. Throughout the fall, each team has been working with actors and industry guests in cold reading sessions, hearing their material in new voices and shaping the work from there.
At the presentation, each team will present a 30 minute section of its musical, performed by a cast that has rehearsed the material in advance. The entire room is then invited to engage with the work, offering feedback and building connections with the writers and with one another.
The New Musicals Lab is coordinated by Bella Castillon and produced by Mario Greiner, Jennifer Molson, and Leonard Santos.
About the Musicals
Amoeba Productions is proud to feature a talented group of emerging artists for the New Musicals Lab Presentation: two writing teams, each with an original musical in development.
Star Machine
Star Machine has a book by Hollee Temple and John Temple, as well as music/lyrics by The Temple brothers, Gideon Temple and Hank Temple. The musical follows a wannabe pop star who coerces her aspiring opera singer sister to compete as a duo on an outrageous TV talent show. It has been presented at Playhouse Square and New World Stages, and its score was recently highlighted in The New York Times. Gideon and Hank will co-direct this presentation, with Gideon on the keys.
Star Machine Performers
Jaz: Sydney Quildon
Nikki: Avery Fahey
Clyde: Ryan David Jacobs
Lucky: Sophia Anna O’Brien
Nigel: Behr Marshall
Bugsy: Lizzy Cenicola
Fellowship Director & Others: Amy Nicole
TJ & Others: Xavier Turner
Ensemble: Charley Wasson
Ensemble: Brody Cahill
Ensemble: Korey Rainey
Area D
Area D is written by Lour Yasin, a Palestinian performer, composer-lyricist, and writer based in New York City. The musical follows a Palestinian pop band that lands an unexpected shot at Eurovision, but their lucky break spirals into a glitter-drenched spectacle that forces them to decide how far they’ll go to get their voices heard, and save one of their own. Lour’s work has been presented at The Public Theater, Ars Nova, and La MaMa, and Lour is a 2026 MacDowell Fellow and Princess Grace Honoraria recipient. This presentation is directed by Zach Faust and music directed by Dea Thatcher. Leo Cohen will accompany the performance with oud.
Area D Performers
Lara: Karma Alami
Dina: Sarah Hamaty
Rami: Nick Abouzaid
Samir: Mark Yowakim
Avery: Heather Bildman
Stage Directions: Ahmad Maher
About Amoeba Productions
Amoeba Productions is led by a passionate and determined board of artists and creatives: Louisa Nickel (Artistic Director), Mario Greiner (Director of Producing), Matthew Wechsler (Director of Artistic Development), Jennifer Molson (Associate Artistic Director), Morgan Haney (Director of Programming), Leonard Santos (Managing Director), and Tai Bradshaw (Director of Community Engagement). Our staff also features Grace Haney (External Affairs Associate), and Isa Gaya (Operations Associate). In its few years alone, Amoeba Productions has engaged with over 1,500 early-career artists, helping provide crucial resources, opportunities, and artistic community.
Amoeba Productions is a New York City-based 501(c)(3) exempt charitable nonprofit performing arts organization. Led by emerging artists for emerging artists,Amoeba Productions is all about building momentum for early-career artists in New York, offering creative space, opportunity, and community to people who often don’t have access to traditional support systems. What we raise goes right back into the artists we serve: funding programs like our musical theater lab, emerging playwrights lab, artist mingles, free Shakespeare in the parks, and mainstage productions. We’re building something with heart, and we’re intentionally inviting performers who share those values. For more information, visit amoebaproductions.org or instagram.com/amoebaproductionsnyc
Our mission aligns with the IRS’s requirements for 501(c)(3) status, which includes educational, charitable, and inclusive initiatives. This designation signals to the public that we operate with transparency, accountability, and a deep commitment to our purpose- making it easier to build meaningful relationships with donors, partners, and the wider community.
We invite the community to join us for the New Musicals Lab Presentation on Monday, November 23, 2026 at 7 PM at Pearl Studios. Tickets and further information are available at https://givebutter.com/new-musicals-lab-showcase-yf5mrx. Follow us on social media @AmoebaProductionsNYC for updates and more information!
Press Contact:
For media inquiries, please contact Jennifer Molson at jen@amoebaproductions.org.
