American Tune
A Musical in Development
A public defender and a defendant fight for constitutional rights all the way to the Supreme Court. The Supremes -the six women who have served as Justices - transform their case into a battle for the soul of American democracy.
See, CASTING CALL BELOW
Why This Story Now
"American Tune" channels thirty years of legal experience into participatory theater that confronts audiences with their role in systems of justice and oppression, ultimately asking them to move from passive observers of democratic decay to active participants in its resurrection.
-
From the Playwright
"American Tune grew from thirty years watching the promise of American justice collide with its practice. As a prosecutor, senior trial attorney with Legal Aid Society, and Deputy Ombudsperson, I witnessed how systems meant to serve justice could become engines of oppression. But the play's deepest inspiration comes from founding The Restorative Center and facilitating thousands of healing circles, where I discovered that storytelling can transform community crisis into collective healing. American Tune channels this experience into participatory theater that asks audiences to move from passive observers of democratic decay to active participants in its resurrection."
-
Characters
Lisa - An overworked public defender who transforms from exhausted cog in the system to awakened advocate for democratic renewal
Jones/José - A detained immigrant defendant who evolves into the embodiment of constitutional history itself
The Supremes - The six women who have served on the Supreme Court, appearing as both gospel choir and constitutional guardians:
Justice Sandra Day O'Connor
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Justice Elena Kagan
Justice Sonia Sotomayor
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson
Justice Amy Coney Barrett
The Bailiff - A court officer who transforms into an increasingly menacing authoritarian agent.
-
James Bally is a pianist, singer, composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist from Elizabeth, New Jersey, now based in Brooklyn. James started playing piano at the age of seven and in high school studied at the prestigious Jazz House Kids program led by Christian McBride. James earned a bachelor’s degree in Jazz Piano Performance from William Paterson University in 2024, where he studied with Bill Charlap, Mike LeDonne, and Dr. Carl Bolleia. He has been featured as a bandleader and sideman at jazz venues in the New York City area such as Mezzrow, Brvsh Cul7ur3, Clement’s Place and Dizzy’s Club. He appears on jazz, pop and rock recordings of various artists. James has released his own music with a band called Neptune and the Sailor and released a self-produced solo album of his songs in 2025, called “James Bally”. He also is involved in education, teaching private piano lessons and working as an accompanist/teaching assistant at The New School and Jazz House Kids. James is excited to combine his various musical experiences in jazz, songwriting, and bandleading in American Tune.
Featured Songs
"I Will Defend You" - Lisa's exhausted anthem revealing impossible caseload demands
"Cog in the Wheel" - Jones & Lisa's confrontational duet exposing systemic entrapment
"The Supremes" - Gospel-choir transformation as Justices evolve from individuals into judicial archetypes
"Celine's Girl" - Sotomayor's deeply personal tribute to her mother's sacrifices
"There Are Few Things More Sacred" - Kagan's reverent solo about constitutional devotion
"In Your Name" - Bailiff's authoritarian reveal while Jones asserts his humanity
"We the People" - Participatory finale transforming audience into democratic chorus
The Story
A detained immigrant demands his constitutional right to a jury trial instead of accepting a plea deal, leading he and his overworked public defender to visit the Supremes.
A demand for constitutional rights transforms into a satirical journey from fluorescent-lit criminal courthouse to the Supreme Court, where they encounter the six women who have served as Justices—appearing as "The Supremes," a gospel choir of constitutional guardians sharing personal stories like Sotomayor's tribute to her mother in "Celine's Girl."
When the marble courthouse devolves into surreal game show spectacle and an authoritarian Bailiff seizes control, detaining Jones in chains, their fight for individual justice becomes a battle for democracy itself.
n the mystical finale, Jones breaks his chains, and the sparks ignite pieces of the broken courthouse carousel into individual torches that literally illuminate both stage and audience during "We the People"—transforming everyone from passive observers into active participants and revealing that saving one person's constitutional rights means saving democracy itself.
I
Development Process
"American Tune" is actively seeking collaborators for its development through workshops and readings. We're looking for:
Actors passionate about ensemble work and political theater
Musical collaborators interested in diverse styles from blues to gospel
Design team excited about transformative, audience-engaging staging
Timeline:
Workshops: Spring 2026
Readings: Summer 2026
Location: NYC/Hudson Valley
CASTING CALL
CASTING NOTICE
AMERICAN TUNE
Book and Lyrics by Shailly Agnihotri
Music by James Bally
A Musical
Development Workshops & Performances
Invited to Perform selection of songs at the International Human Rights Art festival, New York City
Workshops: April 29 and 30. Tech Rehearsal: June 5th at 4 pm; Performance: June 6th at 5pm and June 13 at 4pm
Contuining development and performances TBA
Location: NYC / Hudson Valley — Transportation Reimbursed
Contact: WriteandSpark@gmail.com
A public defender and a defendant fight for constitutional rights all the way to the Supreme Court. TheSupremes -the six women who have served as Justices - transform their case into a battle for the soulof American democracy.
We are seeking four dynamic actors for the following featured roles. We welcome diverse performers who are passionate about new work development, committed to ensemble collaboration, and energized by theater that engages with urgent contemporary issues. Strong actors with authentic vocal instincts are encouraged to apply.We will perform selections from the musical this summer and will continue to develop the work for a full production later this year.LISA Adult female, open to all ethnicities.
Public Defender | Moral Center of the Piece
Public defender, constitutional protector, and moral compass of the piece.
Transforms from an exhausted cog in the system to an awakened advocate for democratic renewal. Comfort with
political subject matter.
Vocal Style: Blues and Jazz; Alto preferred
————————-
JONES Male, Black, any age.
Detained Defendant | Living Constitution | Historical Voices
A detained defendant who transforms into the living Constitution itself, and channels multiple historical constitutional figures.
Evolves from a vulnerable defendant demanding his right to trial to the embodiment of the Constitution — speaking as the living document and voicing its historical failures.
Vocal Style: Blues foundation through to gospel. Must shift vocal register between vulnerability and commanding
constitutional authority. Tenor preferred.
————————————
BAILIFF, White Male, any age.
Court Officer | State Enforcer | Institutional Corruption
A court officer who gradually transforms into a menacing authoritarian state enforcer, representing institutional corruption and the abuse of power.
Vocal Style: Comfortable singing Jazz; Baritone preferred.
———————————-
JUSTICE SONIA SOTOMAYOR Female, Latina, any age.
The first Latina Justice of the Supreme Court — a gospel choir member, game show contestant, and dissenting voice who carries the immigrant experience to the nation's highest court.
"The American Dream" — deeply connected to her mother Celine's sacrifices, fiercely proud of her journey from the South Bronx to the Supreme Court bench.
Vocal Style: Latin musical style for her featured solo. Warm, emotionally rich voice essential. Soprano preferred
AUDITION SUBMISSIONS
Submit by March 20th Resume, headshot, and performance/vocal reel to :WriteandSpark@gmail.com
Callbacks: Week of March 23
This production is committed to diverse, inclusive, and non-traditional casting. Emerging artists are encouraged to apply.
Email us: WriteandSpark@gmail.com