A World Premiere Musical Comes to Olney Theatre Center

A brand-new musical is making its way to Montgomery County this spring, and it's one DC-area theatre lovers won't want to miss. Olney Theatre Center presents the world premiere production of I & You: The Musical on its Roberts Mainstage from April 22 through May 24, 2026, in a co-production with McCarter Theatre Center and by special arrangement with Alchemation.

I & You: The Musical at Olney Theatre Center

The show is based on the celebrated play by Lauren M. Gunderson, with a book by Gunderson and music and lyrics by Ari Afsar — best known to many as a veteran of American Idol. The story centers on two high school students, Anthony and Caroline, who are thrown together one evening to work on a homework assignment about Walt Whitman's "Song of Myself." Anthony shows up at Caroline's bedroom door with waffle fries, a worn copy of the poem, and an assignment she has no memory of agreeing to. Caroline, who has been chronically ill and out of school for some time, is immediately suspicious of this stranger — and her "snark-o-meter" goes into overdrive. But as the two begin to open up to each other, a deeper and more unexpected mystery slowly comes to light. Whitman's sweeping poetry threads through Afsar's music and lyrics, giving the show an emotional resonance that builds toward what promises to be an unforgettable ending.

The production is directed by Sarah Rasmussen, who also helmed an earlier version of the show at McCarter Theatre Center last fall. The Olney mounting arrives with revisions to the material and a new cast. J. Antonio Rodriguez, who portrayed Orpheus in the national tour of Hadestown, takes on the role of Anthony, while Alex De Bard — remembered by Olney audiences for playing Anna in the theater's production of Disney's Frozen — steps into the role of Caroline. Understudies Alexandra Lopez and Kishan Rao round out the principal cast coverage.

For Olney's Artistic Director Jason Loewith, the project carries particular meaning. "Producing the rolling world-premiere of Lauren's breakout hit play I And You in 2015 marked a triumphant shift in our work here at Olney Theatre," he said. "I'm thrilled to be working with Lauren, along with composer/lyricist Ari Afsar and McCarter Theatre's amazing artistic director Sarah Rasmussen to bring Lauren's unforgettable story to an even larger audience."

The creative team from the McCarter production largely reunites for the Olney run. Movement Director Steph Paul, Music Supervisor Bryan Perri, Scenic Designer Beowulf Borrit, Costume Designer Kara Harmon, Lighting Designer Japhy Weideman, Sound Designer Elisabeth Weidner, and Projection Designer Stefania Bulbarella are all returning, joined by Hair, Wig & Makeup Designer Kate Casalino, Dramaturg Julie Felise Dubiner, Voice & Text Director Hannah Tamminen, and Intimacy Coordinator Alicia Rodis. Original Music Direction is by Sujin Kim-Ramsey, with orchestrations by Yair Evnine and Ari Afsar and arrangements by Sujin Kim-Ramsey and Ari Afsar.

I & You: The Musical runs April 22 through May 24, 2026, at Olney Theatre Center's Roberts Mainstage, located at 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney, MD 20832.