MUSE: THE SHAKESPEARE MAYHEM MUSICAL to be featured at Edinburgh Fringe and will host Virtual Open Call

New musical Muse! by Hanna Andréa to hold national virtual open call for a cast to star in its Edinburgh Fringe debut.

NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, April 1, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The new musical comedy Muse! by Hanna Andréa (music and lyrics, co-writer), devised by students at Interlochen Arts Academy with Lisa Sanderson, directed by Mindy Coooper will be presented as a featured production at the 2026 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the world’s largest arts festival. The production will play at Cowbarn, a flagship venue of Underbelly, one of the festival’s leading theatre operators.

Blending pop musical comedy with absurdist theatrical flair, Muse! invites audiences into the imagination of a young William Shakespeare—before he became the Bard—when his own characters revolt and battle for the chance to become his first great play.

Before he was the Bard, he was just Will… with a problem: his publisher will only print one of his plays. With Puck as instigator, Lear, Cleopatra, the Macbeths, and more of Shakespeare’s greatest characters erupt into rebellion in a chaotic race to become the chosen tale. Pop musical comedy meets absurdist theatre in this riotous story of ambition, ego, and the birth of a legend.

Muse! is a fast-paced theatrical showdown as icons of literature compete for the spotlight in a pop-infused musical spectacle that celebrates creativity, ego, and the unpredictable nature of storytelling.

Concept Album Now Available - Ahead of its Fringe debut, Norwegian-American pop artist Hanna Andréa released the official concept album for Muse! online, giving audiences an early taste of the show’s energetic pop score and irreverent humor. The album is available on major streaming platforms (Apple Music, Amazon Music, Spotify).

Nationwide Virtual Casting Search

To bring this ambitious new production to life, the producers will launch a nationwide casting search in partnership with Murnane Casting (Chad Eric Murnane, CSA & Amber Snead, CSA) to discover the performers who will originate the roles at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The search will invite actors from across the United States to audition for the opportunity to debut the musical on one of the world’s most celebrated international stages. For more info and to submit an audition, please visit www.musethemusical.com

Muse began at Interlochen Arts Academy, where eleven students—guided by their teacher, Lisa Sanderson, and led by composer Hanna Andréa—found themselves without roles and chose to create their own opportunity. Together, they devised what became Muse, a bold, original musical that mirrors its own story of young artists taking control of their creative futures. Following a successful New York premiere at the Clark Theatre at Lincoln Center featuring the original student cast, the show is now moving into its next chapter, supported by a seasoned team of Broadway professionals and heading to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

The creative team includes Music and Lyrics by Hanna Andréa, who is also a Co-Writer, Lead Writer Lisa Sanderson, Director Mindy Cooper (Chicago, Titanic), with music director Seth Farber (Soul Doctor) and orchestration by James Conner. Casting is by Murnane Casting/Chad Eric Murnane, CSA and Amber Snead, CSA., the stage manager is Marissa Councill, assistant director and assistant stage manager is Matthew Dunivan. General management by LDK Productions/Michael Shannon. Muse! is produced by Leikari Lochlann, LLC, and executive produced by Lisa Dozier Shacket (Be More Chill, Mama I'm A Big Girl Now, and Without You), with associate producer Logan DeWitt (Pen Pals).

Underbelly's the Cowbarn is at Bristo Square (Bristo Square, Teviot Place, Edinburgh EH8 9AG)


Hanna Andréa (Music & Lyrics / Co-Writer) is a pop artist, songwriter, composer, and lyricist whose work for the stage bridges pop music and theatrical storytelling. Her songs combine contemporary musical styles with witty lyricism and character-driven storytelling, helping shape the energetic sound of Muse!.

Lisa Sanderson (Lead Writer / Co-Creator) is a playwright and theatre educator whose work explores bold storytelling and inventive theatrical form. She is currently on faculty at the Interlochen Center for the Arts, where she develops new works with emerging artists. Muse! represents her latest collaboration, blending literary inspiration with contemporary musical theatre.

Mindy Cooper (Director) is a director and theatre artist known for developing new musicals and visually inventive productions. Her work focuses on bringing bold new voices and imaginative staging to the stage, making her an ideal collaborator for the playful theatrical world of Muse!.

For over 25 years, Underbelly has been at the forefront of Fringe programming as one of the largest venue operators at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Each year, they are proud to present an eclectic and exciting mix of theatre, comedy, circus, children’s shows, cabaret, music, and more. In 2026, Underbelly will be returning with around 170 shows in 21 venues over 4 central Edinburgh hubs, and will be celebrating 20 years of Udderbelly, the iconic purple upside-down Cow synonymous with the best in Fringe entertainment

An extremely comfortable, elegant space, Cowbarn (aka Reid Concert Hall) sits next to the bustling Bristo Square. With wonderful acoustics and a large raised stage, this space is an excellent environment for ambitious, mid-to-large scale performances, including comedy, theatre, musicals, cabaret, and dance.

Tickets and additional information about Muse! at the 2026 Edinburgh Festival Fringe will be available through the show’s official website and the Fringe ticketing platform.

For updates, music from the concept album, and future casting announcements, visit:
www.MuseTheMusical.com

Joe Trentacosta
JT Public Relations Corporation
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