HOW TO SUCCEED IN MUSICAL THEATRE WITHOUT REALLY DYING avail. for pre-order

October 18, 2025

Have you heard? RSO and Lindsay Mendez wrote a book!

For the last thirteen years, Actor Therapy co-founders Lindsay Mendez and RSO have dedicated their careers to guiding actors, sharpening their craft, and supporting them not only as artists but as human beings. In that time, Actor Therapy has grown far beyond “just a class.” Together, they’ve built a philosophy. What began with eight students at Ripley-Grier has blossomed into year-round classes, transformative intensives, hundreds of new students each year, and a thriving alumni community thousands strong.

Now, Lindsay and Ryan are sharing that philosophy with the world in a brand-new book: How to Succeed in Musical Theatre Without Really Dying, arriving March 3, 2026.

Nearly 450 pages of insight, humor, and hard-won wisdom are packed into this essential guide—full of the same big tips, hot takes, and “knowledge bombs” that have made Actor Therapy a mainstay in the New York theatre community. From building your brand to polishing your audition package, booking the job, and—most importantly—sustaining a long, joyful career in musical theatre.

The foreword is written by Jonathan Groff, and readers can expect the same blend of honesty, humor, and heart that defines everything Lindsay and Ryan do.

Here’s a link to peek inside!

👉 Pre-order your copy today!

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We cannot wait to share this with you.

“Lindsay Mendez and Ryan Scott Oliver run a great class in auditioning and performing for musical theatre, and beyond that, they have a ton of experience, both happy and not-so-happy, in the business of making a career in musical theatre. If I were a performer looking for tips, information, and advice, I’d certainly turn to them!”

—Stephen Schwartz, Tony Award–nominated composer for Wicked

“An essential road map for actors . . . Required reading for anyone looking to embark on a professional career in musical theatre.”

—Patrick Goodwin, Broadway casting director

Murney, Arroyo, Pearce and Melendez star in reading of TOMORROW, THE ISLAND DIES, plus complete album released

October 27, 2024

New York, NY (November 5, 2024) – On November 7, 2024, Ryan Scott Oliver’s new musical folk horror, Tomorrow, the Island Dies will be presented in a reading presentation for an invited audience.

Drama Desk-nominee Zi Alikhan directs a cast featuring Alisa Melendez as Widow Clack, Philippe Arroyo as Benji, Liam Pearce as Jacob, Julia Murney as Ms. Kelly, Kim Onah as Nadine, Ethan Carlson as Ephraim, and Caitlin Doak as Kathryn, with Ryan Bronston, Bryanna Cuthill, Nicole DeLuca, Miranda Luze, Jackon Mizell, Jordan A. White rounding out the cast. Joshua Zecher-Ross music directs a five-piece band.

The musical tells the story of “Widow Clack, 18 and pregnant, who lives an exiled life running a lighthouse with her brother on a storm-crushed island set to be uninhabited in two days. When a young man is found dead on the beach, the remaining collection of young adults (left to make final preparations for the abandonment) combust into dangerous accusations leading to devastating division and ultimately, death. When a final, unexpected storm impacts the island, can Widow save the villagers from themselves?”

This follows RSO releasing the complete studio cast album on October 22 on all streaming services.

The track list is as follows:

  1. HAVERNESS ANTHEM
  2. GIRL OF LEGEND — Jisel Soleil Ayon and cast
  3. PREPARATIONS FOR THE ABANDONMENT — cast
  4. THE STORM TO COME — Mason Olshavsky
  5. THE GOOD ONES — Caitlin Doak
  6. BACHELOR’S SHANTY — Tristan Caldwell and cast
  7. ASYLUM — Jason Gotay
  8. MEDITATIONS — Kim Onah, Nicole DeLuca, Grace Ellis Solomon
  9. ON THIS ROCK! — Shelby Acosta, Miranda Luze, Nathan David Smith, Tristan Caldwell, Caitlin Doak, Kim Onah and cast
  10. MS. KELLY’S TAPES — Victoria Huston-Elem
  11. ONLY HUMAN — Jisel Soleil Ayon
  12. I KNOW YOU — Jack B. Murphy, Caitlin Doak and cast
  13. THE BEGINNING OF THE END — Tristan Caldwell, Shelby Acosta, Miranda Luze and cast
  14. THE PRICE OF LIVING — Charlie Fusari
  15. BENEATH THE WATER — Ethan Carlson
  16. THE TIDE — Kim Onah, Jack B. Murphy and cast
  17. ALONE, THE LIGHTHOUSE — Emma Carlile and Ethan Carlson

The reading is produced by American Music Theatre Project (Alexander Gemignani, artistic director), Very Intense Productions, and AT New Works, and is a commission from Samford University. Recently it won the SDSU New Musical Theatre Initiative two-year residency and is an official selection of the American Music Theatre Project’s 2024-2025.

Double “Dies”: TOMORROW, THE ISLAND DIES selected for SDSU and Northwestern AMTP residencies

July 15, 2024

RSO’s latest musical Tomorrow, the Island Dies has been named the winner for two theatre development residencies.

At San Diego State University, Tomorrow will receive a reading early this fall, followed by a workshop in spring 2025, and will culminate in a fully-realized production on the Mainstage in spring 2026. Read more about SDSU’s program here.

Northwestern’s American Musical Theatre Project (AMTP) will also develop Tomorrow this spring with a full NYC creative team. Check out AMTP’s program here as well as its previous productions.

An original concept recording is available on Spotify, Apple Music and wherever you stream music. A second recording completing the score will be available later this year.

RSO joins Jesse Eisenberg and more for 24 Hour Musicals at Classic Stage Company

June 11, 2024

On June 10 at Classic Stage Company, RSO and frequent collaborator Kirsten Guenther wrote a musical short, Alexa, Delete Our Relationship starring Natalie Walker, Leigh Ann Larkin, Julia Nightingale, and Jonathan Judge-Russo, directed by Kareem Fahmy.

Jesse Eisenberg, Kathryn Gallagher & More to Star in THE 24 HOUR MUSICALS in June

The marathon process for The 24 Hour Musicals begins the night before the performance, when writers, composers, directors, choreographers, actors, musicians and production staff gather for a short orientation. Four writer and composer teams craft short musicals overnight (while actors and directors get some rest) and the next morning — after a furious printing and copying process — actors receive their scripts. Together with directors, choreographers and a live band, they begin rehearsal. Later that night, four brand new musicals take the stage in a one-night-only production!

Check out more info about the night here.