Hamilton Alum Kurt Crowley Unveils Mysterious New Musical ‘Among the Stars’ in Portland

The Next Big Thing in Musical Theatre Begins in Portland

If you thought the magic of Hamilton was a one-time phenomenon, think again. Kurt Crowley—the music director who helped shape Lin-Manuel Miranda’s revolutionary Broadway smash—is quietly orchestrating something new. And it’s landing not on a Great White Way stage, but in an intimate conservatory in Portland, Oregon.

‘Among the Stars’, a haunting new original musical, is set for a two-week developmental workshop culminating in a single invitation-only staged reading on Sunday, August 23, 2026, at the Bridgetown Conservatory of Musical Theatre. With only 65 seats available, this is the kind of event that industry insiders will be clawing to attend.

A Story That Dares to Question Everything

The plot follows a group of seekers in a remote desert community as they prepare for a rescue from space. When three outsiders arrive asking questions, certainty begins to crack. Skeptics start to believe, and believers discover the terrifying freedom of doubt. It’s funny, heartfelt, and unexpectedly tender—a deeply human story about belonging, faith, and the shattering realization that the thing you were waiting for may not be what saves you.

Originally titled Planet Eden, the musical has been brewing since 2011, when a developmental reading was held at Tigard’s Broadway Rose Musical Theatre Company. But it wasn’t until early 2025 that the creative team—Crowley, writer Aaron Kirk Douglas, and lyricist/book writer Joel Cobbs—joined forces to bring it fully to life.

Meet the Creative Powerhouse Behind the Music

Kurt Crowley: The Man Who Helped Make Hamilton a Legend

If you recognize Crowley’s name, it’s likely because he served as music director for Hamilton on Broadway and continues to collaborate closely with Lin-Manuel Miranda on various projects. From orchestrating complex hip-hop cadences to coaching actors through Miranda’s lightning-fast lyrics, Crowley has a near-legendary reputation for turning musical chaos into theatrical gold.

Now, he’s pouring that same obsessive attention to detail into Among the Stars. For the first time, he’s co-writing the music—alongside Joel Cobbs—and co-creating lyrics with Douglas and Cobbs.

Aaron Kirk Douglas: From Journalism to the Stage

Douglas isn’t your typical theatre writer. A 1983 graduate of the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication, he spent years crafting words for newsrooms before turning to the stage. A member of the Dramatists Guild, he now brings a journalist’s precision and a poet’s soul to musical theatre. The original concept for Among the Stars is his—and it shows in the way the story interrogates truth, belief, and the stories we tell ourselves.

Joel Cobbs: A Rising Star Eyes the Stanley Drama Award

Cobbs, also a Dramatists Guild member and a graduate of the University of Alabama in Huntsville, was recently named a 2026 Stanley Drama Award semi-finalist—a prestigious recognition that has launched many careers. His collaboration with Crowley and Douglas is the kind of alchemy that Broadway dreams are made of.

The Cast: A Who’s Who of Portland’s Finest

While the names may not yet be household ones, the ensemble for the staged reading is packed with talent:

• Kelsea Ashenbrenner as Lucy
• Travis Bilenski as Harvey
• Zeb Bodine as Reese
• Kat Voboril as Bonnie
• Sara Wright as Cricket
• Benjamin Ball as The Captain
• Jeremy Buxton as Leon

Barney Stein is on board as music director, and Bruce Akpan Hostetler—a director with a sharp eye for intimate storytelling—will helm the reading.

Why This Matters for the Industry

Developmental workshops are the nerve center of musical theatre. They’re where shows are born, fail, or transform into something transcendent. For Among the Stars, the Bridgetown Conservatory provides a perfect incubator. Founded by industry veteran Rick Lewis, the conservatory offers rigorous, process-oriented training from former Broadway professionals. hosting this workshop signals that the show is being taken seriously by people who know the business inside and out.

The invitation-only nature of the August 23 presentation means that press and industry insiders will have the first peek. If you’re in the media and want credentials, you’ll need to contact Aaron Kirk Douglas directly at akdouglas@msn.com. Expect a flood of requests.

What’s Next for ‘Among the Stars’?

If the staged reading generates the kind of buzz that Crowley’s pedigree suggests, a full production—perhaps Off-Broadway, or even beyond—could be on the horizon. The musical’s themes of faith and disillusionment feel particularly resonant in a post-pandemic world where many are questioning what they once held true.

For now, all eyes are on Portland. On August 23, 65 lucky guests will witness the birth of something that could very well become the next must-see musical. And if Kurt Crowley’s track record is any indication, Among the Stars is destined for far more than just a developmental reading.

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