Development History
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Developmental Journey
The musical was first conceived in November 2012 and had a completed first draft in April 2013. Following a reading in Queens, NY the musical began a long period of major developments. A complete second draft was showcased in an open workshop by the Random Access Theatre in July 2013.
After this workshop, The King’s Legacy went through several major changes. By the time the show was performed again in March 2014 for the Emerging Artists Theatre Festival, the show’s structure was entirely different and over half of the score was new. Since that time, The King’s Legacy has taken a new form that best suits Henry’s journey, the women’s perspective, and the unique storytelling. The show was presented in this format in an Industry Reading in November, 2016, as well as highlighted in "The Songs of Michael Radi" at Feinstein's/54 Below in October 2017.
In August of 2019, The King’s Legacy received its Premiere Production at the Bristol Valley Theater in Naples, NY to great success and fantastic review. Since that period, the show received a second Industry Reading through The Dramatists Guild’s Friday Night Footlights program in November 2019 after performing a concert at the first ever TudorCon in October.
The show has had two more developmental readings since the pandemic (May 2021 and August 2024), officially putting the piece into a ready state for a large regional production or a NYC premiere!
Production History
5/19/13 - Reading – First, NYC
7/28/13 - Workshop – Random Access Theatre, New York, NY
3/31/14 - Staged Reading – Emerging Artists Theatre Festival, New York, NY
4/17/16 - Reading – Developmental, NYC
11/20/16 - Invited Industry Reading – New York, NY
10/16/17 - The Songs of Michael Radi – Feinstein's/54 Below
8/22/19-9/1/19 Premiere Production – Bristol Valley Theater (Naples, NY)
10/19/19 - Concert – The first annual TudorCon (Lancaster, PA)
11/16/19 - Dramatists Guild Friday Night Footlights Reading – New York, NY
5/17/21 - Reading - Developmental, Zoom
7/27/24 - Reading - Developmental, NYC
This show is through development and is production-ready.
Developmental Highlights
The Dramatists Guild Friday Night Footlights Industry Reading November 2019
On Saturday, November 16th, 2019 The King’s Legacy was performed in an Industry Reading at The Mary Rodgers Room at the Dramatists Guild in Times Square, with a phenomenal cast and featuring Teal Wicks as Anne Boleyn!
The evening was a tremendous success, and I couldn’t have been more thrilled! The room was filled and absolutely abuzz after the performance. And the constant refrain across the room was "So where to next?!"
Here was the cast list from the evening:
Teal Wicks - (B'way) Lady in "The Cher Show," Mary Barrie in "Finding Neverland," Emma Carew in "Jekyll and Hyde," Elphaba in "Wicked"
Wes Hart - (B'way) "Anastasia," "West Side Story" (National Tour) "Jersey Boys" (Off-B'way) Buckaroo in "Lucky Guy"
Jacque Carnahan - (National Tour) "Cinderella" (Off-B'way) "A Child's Christmas in Wales" at Irish Rep, "Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice" NYMF, "The Baker's Wife" at The York, "The Boyfriend" at Musicals Tonight
John Michael Dias - (B'way) "Beautiful: The Carole King Musical" (National Tour) "Beautiful: The Carole King Musical," Jersey Boys" (Chicago) "Jersey Boys"
Jillian Jameson - (National Tour) "The Sound of Music" (NY Theater) "Missing Gemini," "Close Than You Think," "The Christians" at Playwrights Horizons, "Grand Hotel"
Jillian Louis - (B'way) "It Shoulda Been You" (Off-B'way) "Soul Doctor," "Chick Flick the Musical," "Midnight Street" as Assistant Director (National Tour) "Cheers"
Mark Poppleton - (National Tour) Merlyn/King Pellinore in "Camelot," Mal Beineke in "The Addams Family," "Spring Awakening," "Man of La Mancha" (Off-B'way) "Bravo, NY!"
Lauren Weinberg - (National Tour) Adelaide in "Guys and Dolls" (NY Theater) "On The Town," "Smile" (Regional) Adelaide in "Guys and Dolls" at Olney Theatre Center, Belle in "Beauty and the Beast" at Theatre By The Sea
Bunny Baldwin - (National Tour) Molly in "Annie," "Kenny Rogers Christmas" (Regional) Susan Waverly in "White Christmas" at Ogunquit Playhouse, Young Cosette in "Les Mis" at Theatre at the Mount
BVT production logo
The King’s Legacy Premiere Production at Bristol Valley Theater August 2019
The King’s Legacy received it’s premiere production at the Bristol Valley Theater in Naples, NY in 2019!
August 22nd - September 1st
featuring the music of “the king’s legacy”
"The Songs of Michael Radi" at Feinstein's/54 Below October 2017
Performers IncludeD:
Jackie Burns (B'way) Wicked, If/Then OBC, Hair (Off-B'way) Rock of Ages, Hair (Tour) If/Then, Wicked - Currently Elphaba in Wicked on Broadway!
Libby Servais (B'way) Wicked, Lysistrata Jones - Current Standby for Glinda in Wicked on Broadway!
Betsy Struxness (B'way) Hamilton OBC, Matilda OBC, Scandalous OBC, Leap Of Faith OBC, Memphis, Wicked (Tours) Wicked, All Shook Up
Jillian Louis (B'way) It Shoulda Been You (Off-B'way) Soul Doctor (Tour) Cheers
Jacque Carnahan (Off-B'way) A Child's Christmas in Wales at Irish Rep., Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, The Baker's Wife at The York, The Boyfriend at Musicals Tonight (Tour) Cinderella
Samantha Bruce (Off-B'way) Luisa in The Fantasticks (Regional) Laurie in Oklahoma! at Goodspeed Opera House, Johanna in Sweeney Todd at Denver Center, The Royal Family at Shakespeare Theatre of NJ, Cyrano at Sierra Rep.
J. Michael Zygo (B'way) School of Rock, Once OBC - Currently in School of Rock on Broadway!
Kenneth Quinney Francoeur (Off-B'way) A Child's Christmas in Wales at Irish Rep., (Tour) Memphis
Gregory Maheu (Off-Broadway) I Am Harvey Milk at Lincoln Center (Regional) Austen's Pride: A New Musical of Pride and Prejudice at Merry-Go-Round, Sunday in the Park With George at Signature Theatre
Patrick Mulryan (Off-B'way) Fiasco Theater's Into The Woods at The Roundabout Theatre, London's Menier Chocolate Factory, McCarter Theatre, and the Old Globe, Cymbeline at Fiasco Theater, Bum Phillips: All-American Opera at La Mama
Lizzie Becker: Lizzie is a private voice student of Michael Radi's at From Stage To Screen studio. She played Young Elizabeth in the Industry Reading of The King's Legacy, and she has also studied at USDAN. (Favorite Roles) Cinderella in Into The Woods, Millie in Thoroughly Modern Millie
Press & Reviews
What Are People Saying?
“Historic, Hilarious, and Humbling”
“I Laughed. I Cried. I Want to Go See it Again!”
“Great Music, Clever Lyrics, and a Thought-Provoking Script”
(Scroll down for full Audience Reviews)
Press and Interviews
Podcast Interview - Renaissance English History Podcast: A Show About the Tudors
Episode 127: Michael Radi on The King's Legacy
Aug 1, 2019·34 min
Mendon-Honeoye Falls-Lima Sentinel Interview
Em Radi talks about his original musical debuting at Bristol Valley Theater
August 13th, 2019
Wayland, NY Library Talk - Highlights Video
Daily Messenger Article
Bristol Theater partnering with local libraries
July 3rd, 2019
https://www.mpnnow.com/news/20190703/bristol-theater-partnering-with-local-libraries
On The Road Playwrights Interview
Wood Library - Geneva, NY
July 16th, 2019
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yR3Fwru5qCnDWVWF2yPxOng6Xq_workD/view?usp=sharing
The King’s Legacy Profile Video
Bristol Valley Theater Production
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QSp1BcxSsILPLlxJFLSeBKK4rFmpUoH5/view?usp=sharing
Audience Reviews
from the premiere production at Bristol Valley theater
“Em Radi, I can only say that I loved it. I don’t know how many first runs and tryouts I have seen over the years, LOTS, both here and in England, and never before have I felt that I was watching a play that I believed would move, expand, and grow into Broadway and London. I think you’ve got a smash.”
“In a world with so much bad news, I’d love to gush with some great news ⭐️
History untold and uncritically remembered repeats itself, as we’re seeing all too clearly, across too many continents.
With immense joy, I just witnessed The King’s Legacy at the Bristol Valley Theater and Friends, it is SO worth your time, your attention, your dollars, your slight edge of hope for our species.
It’s the genius, timely depiction of King Henry VIII at the height of the Tudor Court, told through the voices and gorgeous, many-part harmonies of his (six) wives and subsequent daughters. Yes, Henry shreds every ounce of his integrity, humanity & the social fabric of his nation in a vain vision to replace himself with a male heir. After Queen Elizabeth I was crowned, she changed the world with the kind of care only borne in seeing & surviving such injustice.
This is ✨such✨ an important story for our times, that much more impactful for being written by Michael Radi, western New York native, who has chosen to leverage his white male privilege to share this historic, hilarious, humbling and cautionary tale so brilliantly. I laughed, I cried. I want to go see it again.
This is final weekend of The King’s Legacy, with performances each day through Sunday. Here’s more info: http://bvtnaples.org/kingslegacy/ ⭐️
Throughout the story, young Elizabeth reads a letter written to her by Ann Boleyn, her mother, here excerpted:
“My darling daughter Elizabeth: Never forget that you live in a man’s world. Women do have their ways of playing the game, and you must use the gifts you are given to your advantage. Align your desires with the men around you, if you can, and the path will be much smoother. But if you cannot, forge ahead and persist. And if you play your cards right, you may become exactly what Henry, and all of England, has always needed and hoped for. I know you can, and you will.
Listen to those around you and learn from all. Heed counsel and remember, sometimes the best advice comes from the most unlikely places.
Allow my death to be a new beginning for you, Daughter. May it spark in you a desire to change this world. Lizzy, outshine us all.”
ps - Thanks to all the extraordinary women (and men 🙌🏽) in this world who help me see and shape the world as we know it, every day, in every way, and especially you, MamaBird ✨♥️✨”
“WhateveJust got home from the World Premier of the King’s Legacy. What an amazing experience! If you like theater, if you like music, if you like English history or royal dynasties - you should go see this play. Really. I’m not kidding. It’s great.r it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.”
“I have to say... This is AWESOME!! The story is great. The music is wonderful. It’s funny.. it shows how women are powerful too! You have to see how talented the actors are! Em Radi is so talented, he is definitely on the rise, I love that he was in it! See it now and then see it again. I know this will be big!! Congrats Michael Radi! U done good! Get to BVT! #BVT”
“Excellent cast right down to the young lady who played young Elizabeth! Beautiful singing with great music, clever lyrics and a thought-provoking script. Hope to see this play in other venues - maybe NYC? It certainly belongs there!”
“We saw the show on Saturday night, and we must say that BVT outdid itself on this one. Great performances by everyone. We were so impressed by the writer of this original show, and hope that it gets selected by theatres elsewhere this winter, too. BRAVO”
“I absolutely LOVED it!
Oh my gosh. So incredibly well done. Very impressive Chris J Handley and Em Radi cast and crew and Rich Miller-loud and clear! I want the soundtrack!
I am still amazed by it. The music and creativity. I might have to see it again tomorrow.”
“Opening night of the new musical “The King’s Legacy” by Em Radi. Wow! So good. Amazing music! Amazing cast! Amazing creation! Kudos to Mark Poppleton and Michael for their comedic moments. And to Chris J Handley for his direction. Seeing it again next Fri. This Tudorphile is a happy camper.
Second time seeing “The King’s Legacy” last night. Even better than opening night. I got to meet a couple of the ladies who are also in the “Queen Anne Boleyn “ group on FB. They came from Dallas, MN and all over to our Bristol Valley Theater to see Em Radi’s show. They were dressed in costumes that were amazing. Hope the word continues to grow and sees more and more venues. Sadly, it was our last show of the season and what a great season it was. Can’t wait to see what next year brings.”
“Amazing play. The acting the songs and singing are wonderful I enjoyed it so much.”
“Such an awesome cast in an amazing show!”
“It was fabulous! So glad we got to enjoy, congratulations to Michael, AND his proud parents for an outstanding production!!”
“It was wonderful! So happy we got to experience it and talk with Em. Beautiful music, amazing voices and great script ❤️”
“Here’s what audiences are saying about BVT’s world premiere musical, The King’s Legacy—plays today thru Sunday. Catch it while you can!:
”BVT outdid itself on this one. Great performances by everyone.”
”What an amazing experience! If you like theater, if you like music, if you like English history or royal dynasties - you should go see this play. Really. I’m not kidding. It’s great!”
”This is AWESOME!! The story is great. The music is wonderful. It’s funny.. it shows how women are powerful too! You have to see how talented the actors are! Em Radi is so talented, he is definitely on the rise.””
