Amberland: A Folk Musical
Music, Lyrics, & Book by Will Shishmanian
Mark Howard moves from his family’s farm to the rural, upstate town of Amberland in search of a new kind of family, after his hometown has mixed reactions to his transition. When he picks up a position as a laborer at Amberland’s local orchard, he’s met with toxic masculinity, and comes to terms with his newfound male privilege. On his first day, he befriends Dani Thompson, a queer woman who’s opening the county’s first LGBTQ bar, which shares an opening day with Amberland’s annual Harvest Festival. As Amberland’s Mayor Tom stirs the tensions between the bar and the town, Mark grapples with blending in with the crowd, or connecting with queer community for the first time in his life.
“Amberland” was performed in concert at Prospect Musicals’ IGNITE Festival on April 13, 2025, and in concert at the Hope Mill Theatre in January 2022.
Female Husbands
Music, Lyrics, & Book by Brooke Trumm & Will Shishmanian
Female Husbands is based on true stories of people in the 1700-1800’s who existed within the trans masculine to lesbian spectrum, or as they were called back in the day, “female husbands.” It follows three couples, and three liminal ancestors, exploring how trans and queer people have always found ways to survive and thrive, as society’s attitudes continue to fluctuate.
Selections from “Female Husbands” were performed at SoHo Playhouse on July 6th, 2025.
A Piece of the Past
A 10-Minute Musical
by Brooke Trumm & Will Shishmanian
While making an apple pie, three generations of women try to recall pieces of their family history lost to their grandmother’s memory loss.
A Piece of the Past was written for the 2023 Prospect Musical Theatre Lab, and was performed at Symphony Space on November 16th, 2023. Directed by Dev Bordain.
It was also performed as part of Theater Now’s SOUND BITES 11 at the Kaufman Music Center on May 6th, 2024. Directed by Mack Brown.
Addy & Dahlia: A Fairytale Musical
Music & Lyrics by Will Shishmanian
Book by Calvin Kasulke
Princess Addison (Addy) is sent as a peace offering from her home country of Adlburrow to the military powerhouse and “traditional moral beacon” nation of Provincia. There she’s greeted by the self-hating, closeted yet charming King Victor, who introduces lesbian Addy to her betrothed, the oafish yet lovable Prince Dimitri. But Addy takes far more notice of Dimitri’s sister—fiercely rebellious Princess Dahlia, who stands opposed to the moral standards her father Victor imposes on his citizens and also closeted daughter, but is powerless to fight against him. Addy immediately falls for Dahlia, but knows if the king catches her acting any less “traditional” than a medieval June Cleaver, he’ll retract the peace between Adlburrow and Provincia, and her nation will suffer a crushing military defeat.
Visit addyanddahlia.bandcamp.com for more!
Will Shishmanian 