We are raising funds to develop BALLBOYS-- and we need your help!
BALLBOYSisa new American comedy musical that explores the intersection of class, youth identity, and regional New England lore through the lens of a fictional 1983 tennis tournament while celebrating the silliness and excess of the 80’s with an all-original score.
BALLBOYS is inspired by the experience of twin brothers (James & Sean Mahoney) as ballkids at the Volvo International Tennis Tournament in the Mount Washington Valley of New Hampshire. David Salmela is the show's composer and music director. (To learn more about the history and inspiration for BALLBOYS, visit our web site!)
Our dream is to produce a hilarious yet heartfelt musical that offers audience members the chance to experience joy and laughter through new live theatre.
We recently completed our most meaningful and fulfilling development experience with an Actors' Equity Association 29-Hour workshop with eight incredible actors and a full band, culminating in two packed performances at Open Book Performance Hall.
Prior to the AEA workshop, we completed a table reading at the Playwrights' Center, revised and reworked the entire show with extensive dramaturgical and musical feedback, hosted two "friend-raiser" salons with new songs and a full band, and shared songs from the show at public events, including Morningside After Dark, Musical Mondays @ LUSH, and the USTA Northern Annual Gala.
With real momentum and growing audience enthusiasm, we aspire to produce a fully realized stage performance of BALLBOYS in 2026. We have three primary steps to reach this goal:
1) Recording of high-quality song demos with top Twin Cities singers and musicians to bolster our applications for festivals, grants, and production opportunities;
2) A public concert reading to share the full show with a wider audience and explore design, movement and costume possibilities and to showcase the piece for possible producers;
3) A summer workshop and/or production experience to further the show's development and growth.
Our recent presentations generated real excitement for the piece, with attendees praising BALLBOYS:
