”Hope” Douglas Lyons Part 2 on his future, writing, and the 2020 civil rights movement

Clayton Howe’s Entertainmentx

Douglas Lyons (douglaslyons.net)(IG:@chocolatehipster)(@douglassings) During my training at The Hartt School's BFA Musical Theatre program, I took a year hiatus to tour on Tony Award wining show RENT. Post graduation in 2009, I went on to perform on Broadway and tour with shows such as The Book of Mormon, Dreamgirls, and currently I'm an Original Broadway Cast member of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Some of my other favorite credits include: Pirates ( The Huntington Theatre Company) , Pageant (BCEFA Off Broadway), Galileo Galilei (Yale Rep) and The Human Comedy (Astoria Performing Arts Center).

As a composer/lyricist, I'm half writing team Lyons & Pakchar. Our work has been workshopped and featured at Lincoln Center’s Broadway Songbook Series, Theater Latte Da, The 11th hour Theatre Company, Seattle Rep, The Music Theater Factory, The Sheen Center, The Johnny Mercer Writing Colony at Goodspeed Musicals and more. Lyons & Pakchar’s debut album #Love(Live) was nominated Best-Live Album of 2014 by Broadwayworld.com. Lyons & Pakchar have recently been commissioned by Seattle's 5th Ave Theatre to write a brand new musical with Cheryl L. West. I've been commissioned by Casa Mañana Theatre for a new Peter Pan titled Peter, Darling and also serves as lyricist on the new musical feature film in development "Back to 1."

My original show Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical, inspired by Civil Rights Pioneers Ruby Bridges and The Little Rock Nine, is getting multiple theatrical productions around the country including a commercial run at the Children's Cincinnati Theatre in February 2018 and production at The Atlantic Theater Company in NYC . Polkadots also has a recording/distribution deal with Sony's Masterworks Broadway with a World-Premiere Album that features cast members from The Wiz live, Hamilton, Glee and more.

Most importantly, I strive to use diverse stories to inspire children through art and remind them of their fullest potential and worth.