YOU GO ON
The Remembering Tree by Elliot Miller; Photos by Madaline Norton
YOU GO ON follows Tyler, a 15-year-old freshman, and his community as they experience the aftermath of a shooting that occurred in their high school three months prior, and spans the short period of time when the school must transition from school shooting to prom season. As Tyler struggles through this transition, it is the gentle push of a friend and the simple gesture and encouragement from a teacher that gradually move Tyler forward, as the cycle of school shootings continues.
Click above for a SCRIPT SAMPLE and FULL ALBUM.
* FULL SCRIPT available upon request.
YOU GO ON Trailer
Latest Developments:
July 16-19, 2025 - Performances (4): A condensed version of YOU GO ON will be performed at The CSU Theater & Arts Building Helen Rehearsal Hall in Cleveland, Ohio, as part of The BorderLight Fringe Festival. Tickets are available for these performances.
Summer/Fall 2025 (Date TBA) - Performance: BREAKING SOUND’s New Musical Theater Songwriting Series: YOU GO ON (a 45-minute set) will be performed at pinkFROG Cafe, Williamsburg, NYC.
Developmental History:
As a freshman in college, I began writing about my experience of living in the aftermath of a school shooting. As a senior in college, following a transformational internship with Broadway composer Andrew Lippa, a 14-person cast performed a staged reading of YOU GO ON for an audience at Otterbein University.
April 14, 2019 - Staged Reading: Otterbein University (Director: SMJ; Stage Manager: Lindsay Lisanti).
2020 - Readings: two completed (full cast/zoom).
2020 - Reading (scheduled): Duquesne University (canceled due to COVID-19).
2020 - Submission finals: The Village Theater Festival (canceled due to COVID-19).
2021 - Semi-Finalist: The Eugene O’Neill New Music Theater Conference.
2021 - Winner: The Colorado New Musical Festival.
July 12, 2021 - Performance: “Therapists’ Montage”; The Colorado New Musical Festival, Denver, Colorado.
2021 - Featured: A Moment of Your Time Podcast (CurtCo), Song: “Get By”. *Hear “A Moment of Your Time” below.
2021 - Featured (and re-contextualized): ViOp Productions: The Strong Ones, Song: “Get By”. *See Media/Vocal Reels page.
2022 - Semi-Finalist: The Eugene O’Neill New Music Theater Conference.
2023 - 2024: current cast album recorded; rewrites completed.
2024 - Semi-Finalist: The Eugene O’Neill New Music Theater Conference.
April 13th, 2024 - Reading: Cincinnati, Ohio, (in partnership with) The Cincinnati Black Theater Company (Acting Chair: Jackie Jackson; Executive Director: Don Sherman and Jahkim Group).
June 10th, 2024 - Finalist: Write Out Loud. “Happiness” (originally sung by Anthony Ghali; recording found here).
September 9th, 2024 - Performance: Write Out Loud Concert: “Happiness” performed live at 54/Below in New York City by F. Michael Haynie (Broadway: The Heart of Rock and Roll; Wicked; Charlie and the Chocolate Factory). *See F. Michael Haynie below.
January 2025 - Team (expanded): Thayne Jasperson (from the original and current Broadway cast of Hamilton; other Broadway credits: Newsies and Matilda) and Liam Roth (Technical Project Manager, Playhouse Square, Cleveland).
F. Michael Haynie performing "Happiness" from YOU GO ON, in collaboration with Write Out Loud 2024
Write Out Loud 2024 Finalists and Winners
The “Therapists’ Montage” from YOU GO ON was performed at the COLORADO NEW MUSICAL FESTIVAL on July 12th, 2021 in Denver, Colorado.
April 2024 full reading in partnership with the Cincinnati Black Theater Company
“Get By” featured on CurtCo’s podcast A Moment of Your Time (episode #286). Thank you to CurtCo for having me. Access this episode on Apple Podcasts or listen here: LINK: 286 - “Get By” By Matt Gittins
If you would like to support YOU GO ON, click on the short form to choose your donation amount. Any amount is greatly appreciated and will go towards licensing fees, sheet music engraving, payment/housing for actors, musicians, and crew, deposits for theaters, props, costumes, and other expenses. Thank you very much for your generosity.
For a more complete and updated breakdown of donations (including a wish list), visit the Donation Page (button below).
Just as YOU GO ON is about community, I’d like to hear from you. Please reach out (leave a comment or click the email envelope below). Again, thank you so much for your support!