Don’t Stop Me Development Workshop

Dave Malloy, composer/lyricist

In 2015, YMTC commissioned composer/lyricist Dave Malloy (Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812, Ghost Quartet, Octet) and playwright Krista Knight (Kirk at the SF Airport Hyatt, Doomsurfing, Lipstick Lobotomy) to write a new musical specifically written for and starring teenagers. After three workshops with the writers and YMTC students – first, a brainstorming session in January, followed by two week-long development workshops in March and May, Don’t Stop Me premiered in July 2015 at the Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts. Since its world premiere at YMTC, Don’t Stop Me has been performed at University High School in 2019, been workshopped in 2021, and had its New York premiere at Manhattan School of Music in 2022.

Krista Knight, playwright

Don’t Stop Me, inspired by – and at times, directly quoting – the words, thoughts, and lived experiences of 21st century teenagers living in the Bay Area, tells the story of a group of high schoolers competing in an all-night dance-a-thon hosted by a cool and mysterious DJ. Each student has their own reason for attending, but they all want to win “the prize” – a college scholarship, Internet fame, a better SAT score, the perfect relationship. We get to know the pairs of contestants as they compete in “heats” that take them back in time to famous dances in different historical eras. As the dancers begin to drop like flies, it becomes clear that the demonic DJ has very special plans for these teenagers – it’s a dance-a-thon to the death.

In May of 2023, Dave Malloy and Krista Knight will return to YMTC to continue to workshop the musical with a new group of YMTC students. Students will work closely with the writers to continue fine-tuning the script, score, and lyrics, developing the characters further and offering new perspectives on what it means to be a teenager in the 21st century. The week-long development workshop will culminate in an invited performance.

Learn more and submit your video audition for the Don’t Stop Me workshop here.

YMTC students rehearse choreography in the “Danceathon” workshop, March 2015

Jennifer Boesing, Krista Knight, and Dave Malloy listen to student feedback during the “Danceathon” development workshop, May 2015

Sophia Sinsheimer and the company of the world premiere of Don’t Stop Me, July 2015