Like some  of the greatest inventions of all times  -- (Penicillin, Velcro, Post-it notes,  Viagra) --  Rhapsody in Red was created by accident.  

While researching historical Russia for another project, Peter Mills and Stephen Weiner made a startling discovery: in the 1930’s and ‘40’s, Russia actually used Broadway-style musicals as propaganda tools. 

Imagine, if you will, gaggles of Russian peasants singing and dancing around huge armored tanks and wheat fields, celebrating the joys of Communism.

And if you can’t even begin to imagine that: not  to worry.  We did.  

And we created a musical about it.

The year: 1956. Two hapless, wildly un-successful, down-on-their-luck American songwriters Howard Katz, composer, and Murray Finkel, lyricist, are kidnapped and taken to Russia where they are forced to ”fix” a Russian musical.  

But of course,  it’s not that simple.  

Working under the gun  -- literally! --  Murray and Howard  soon realize the Russian show is dreadful. The director is a devout Dominatrix with the hots for Howard. The opening night is a week away. And the last writers on the project were killed.  (“But if we didn’t do it,” one of the Russians explains ruefully, “the critics would have.”)

Hilarity ensues. Spies abound. Romances begin. Success finally beckons… but so does homesickness for the good ol’ USA, when it becomes clear that escape is impossible.  

Or is it?  

With Pete Mills’ brilliantly funny lyrics, Steve Weiner’s Broadway razzmatazz show tunes with a wink-nod to the minor key of Russian melodies, and Susan DiLallo’s hilarious Jonathan Larsen Award-winning book (a rare feat for a librettist)…the show came together in a few months. 

​