“The Merboy Next Door”: Joel B. New’s new queer musical gets its first public showcase on 16 November in Queens

A new queer musical is preparing its first public outing on New York stages: “The Merboy Next Door”, the musical comedy by Joel B. New, will have its first concert presentation before an audience on 16 November at the Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning (JCAL) in Queens, as Playbill reports. The presentation will be directed by Elliott Mattox, with musical direction by Gillian Berkowitz.

The work is described as a campy musical comedy that lovingly parodies original Disney Channel films, with book, music and lyrics by Joel B. New himself. Set in 2003, it follows Finn, a Californian teenager raised in the foster-care system with a hypnotic voice. After a disastrous audition for his new school’s bizarre production of “Moby Dick”, Finn discovers something he didn’t know about himself: his voice may have the power to control people.

Entangled with competitive swimmers, quirky theatre kids, the sea’s supernatural mythology and a terrifyingly glamorous principal, Finn experiments with his newfound power — and must decide whether belonging is something that can be commanded, or something worth risking trust for. Beneath the glittering chaos, the musical explores queer identity, foster care, chosen family, attention versus connection, and the messy magic of being yourself.

The concert presentation cast includes Gavin Guthrie, Catherine DeVincenzi, Adam Grant Morrison, Zibby Nolting, Olivia Reiter, Keslie Ward, Victoria Huston-Elem, Marco Miralles, Charles Sanchez and Andrew Cristi. The project is a recipient of the 2026 Queens Arts Fund grant, administered by the New York Foundation for the Arts with public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. This will be the work’s first public presentation, following two private readings in Kingston in April and July of this year.