Karam authored book and score to the musical, which incorporates a cast of 12 young performers from the Professional Performing Arts School. Tamara Fisch directs the production that will run through May 14.
Emma is being developed through the New York-based company Waterwell and is the inaugural production of the organization's New Works Lab. The mission is to align emerging and established playwrights with a professional support team and casts comprising talented students.
The cast features Kirsten Harvey and Jay Reist, as well as Taylor Baskin, Dean Daneluzzi, Tony Grunin, Alex Gutarts, Kirsten Harvey, Amanda Hawkins, Toni Kisberg, Alyssa Lundberg, Adam Mandala, Alex Swift and Philip Zeligier.
Emma has orchestrations by Lauren Cregor Devine, music direction by Brett Kristofferson, choreography by Kyle Pleasant, scenic design by James Fenton, costume design by Melissa Trn and lighting design by Simon Cleveland.
Roundabout Theatre Company staged Karam's Speech & Debate Off-Broadway as the inaugural work in its Roundabout Underground series and will present the New York bow of Sons of the Prophet, which debuted at the Huntington Theatre Company with a cast led by Tony Award winner Joanna Gleason, Kelsey Kurz and Dan McCabe.
Karam's plays also include columbinus, Girl on Girl and Dark Sisters, an upcoming chamber opera with composer Nico Muhly. Karam is currently completing the screenplay for a film adaptation of Speech & Debate.
PPAS is located at 328 West 48th Street. For tickets, priced $15, visit BrownPaperTickets.