Can we only love in pieces? At American University, a new musical attempts to answer this question of young love, in the aptly named In Pieces. Directed by Carl Menninger with music and lyrics by Joey Contreras, In Pieces is a delightfully relatable journey through the hopes, fears, and desires of young people falling in and out of love. The musical, which started as a song cycle and still follows the same structure in its current iteration, is entirely sung through. It follows a cast of characters that we follow seeing them sing their hearts out at different points in their relationships. While the story is not linear, we follow the emotional arcs of these people at different story-defining moments in pivotal relationships. Diana Freeze, Liz Ayres Brown, Laurel Brown, Laura Dodge, Olivia Levin, Liv Delorenzo, Kate Lurie, and Madison Gough in ‘In Pieces: A New Musical.’ Photo by Elena Zimmerman. The score is ultra-contemporary and fits neatly into the current musical theater landscape. Any given song in the musical stands alone as a full story, but together the songs create a mosaic of stories and lives causing us the audience to love these characters the way they fear they love each other, in pieces. Music-directed by Deborah Jacobson, student performers displayed some sensational vocal chops during this performance. Olivia Levin’s River opens the show with the first solo number following the opening song and immediately brings the audience to a place of joy and wonder. Her beautiful singing combined with her exuberant performance set the stage for a lovely evening. Laurel Brown’s Sam and Jason Zuckerman’s Hunter complemented each other beautifully as two disgruntled lovers who break up and get back together. Easily the easiest thread to follow, they painted a bittersweet picture of a doomed relationship that finds a light at the end of the tunnel. Another compelling storyline followed Sam Lewis and Ethan Kauffman as Charlie and Grey. While less straightforward than Sam and Hunter’s story, their arc followed the trials and tribulations of two high school boys reckoning with their sexuality and eventually coming to terms with each other later in life. Sam’s performance was wonderfully endearing, and Ethan’s heartbreaking number “This Is Not Me” was a standout piece. Laura Dodge as Alex came through with a stunning belt and heart-wrenching storytelling. As the leader of a song featuring all the voices of women in the show who had been hurt by various men (“Singin’ the Same Line”), she wowed with her talent and compassion. Kate Lurie’s Jael is an adorably awkward twentysomething reminiscent of a New Girl Zooey Deschanel. Easily one of the most relatable characters in the piece, Kate has the audience transfixed with her soothing and spellbinding voice from the moment she opens her mouth. Additionally, Gavin Schulman’s Austyn unleashes with a stunning and raw pop voice. The emotion in this character is palpable, and Schulman’s vocal prowess leaves you unable to look away (and brings the house to tears). Olivia Levin (center) with Liz Ayres Brown, Liv Delorenzo, Jack Elizabeth Sage Peterson, Sophie Indiana Fischer, Diana Freeze, Madison Gough, and Dylan Toll in ‘In Pieces: A New Musical.’ Photo by Elena Zimmerman. While these individual performances were stunning, the show shined in its ensemble moments. With empathetic direction from Menninger and captivating choreography from David Singleton, the moments of connecting in the show left the audience feeling fulfilled and inspired. Whenever the ensemble would enter, I would smile knowing that I was in store for some beautiful moments. I craved seeing the characters interact, and together they created a beautiful and full world. Some memorable group moments included “In Pieces” and “Fork in the Road.” Thanks to the design team, the world of the play also felt real and lived in. With costume design from student Finn Fairfield, each character felt individualized and real, with their clothes alluding to a full life that the audience should be so lucky to see glimpses of. Additionally, the cardboard boxes lining the stage, courtesy of scenic designer August Henney, gave emphasis to the show’s themes of feeling fragmented and lost, with items representing the lives of these characters stacked inside of them. Overall, the show was a beautiful depiction of young love and young loss depicted by a phenomenally talented group of young people. Running Time: 90 minutes, no intermission. In Pieces: A New Musical played October 24 to 26, 2024, presented by the American University Department of Performing Arts performing at the Katzen Arts Center, 4400 Massachusetts Ave NW. For tickets ($10–$15, free for AU students), call (202) 885-3634 or order online. The program for In Pieces is online here. In Pieces: A New Musical Music and Lyrics by Joey Contreras Directed by Carl Menninger Music Direction by Deborah Jacobson Choreographed by David Singleton CAST Sam: LAUREL BROWN Alex, Dance Captain: LAURA DODGE Grey: ETHAN KAUFFMAN River: OLIVIA LEVIN Charlie: SAM LEWIS Jael: KATE LURIE Austyn: GAVIN SCHULMAN Hunter: JASON ZUCKERMAN Ensemble, Alex u/s, Austyn u/s: LIZ AYRES BROWN Ensemble: LIV DELORENZO Ensemble: DIANA FREEZE Ensemble, Sam u/s, River u/s: MADISON GOUGH Ensemble, Jael u/s: JANE PALLADINO Ensemble: JACK ELIZABETH SAGE PETERSON Ensemble, Hunter u/s, Charlie u/s: DYLAN TOLL Swing: SOPHIE INDIANA FISHER Swing: MADELYN RUYLE PRODUCTION TEAM Director: CARL MENNINGER Music Director: DEBORAH JACOBSON Choreographer: DAVID SINGLETON Vocal Coach: ETHAN WATERMEIER Lighting Designer: MICHAEL RIGGS Scenic Designer: AUGUST HENNEY Sound Designer: DELANEY BRAY Props Master: OLIVIA LUZQUINOS Costume Design Mentor: MEGHAN RAHAM Intimacy Director: SIERRA YOUNG Audio Technology Instructor: MATT TWIFORD Costume Shop Manager: SYDNEY MOORE STUDENT PRODUCTION TEAM Costume Designer: FINN FAIRFIELD Assistant Music Director: ROBIN KANE Stage Manager: SARINA GOVINDAIAH Assistant Stage Manager: LILIA MYERS Assistant Stage Manager: GRACE REESE Lead Electrician: JAKE BRENNAN Sound Mixer: SERI CHANG Sound Mixer: ALEXANDRIA DUNKLEY Sound Mixer: WILL MARLEY Wardrobe and Microphone Techician: MARGARET LYDA MUSICIANS Bass: ROBIN KANE Drums: JARED KIRSHENBAUM Guitar: JAMES MCRAE Cello: AJ UMUNNA Violin: AVA YAP