MOURNING SONGS

WRITTEN BY RYAN LANGER

DIRECTED BY JACK CUMMINGS III

MOURNING SONGS

A New Musical by Ryan Langer

Mourning Songs is a dark comedy that explores: When grief goes viral, how far do you go to turn heartbreak into a breakthrough? Aspiring musical theatre composer, Ryan Langer, is on the verge of giving up—until an unexpected tragedy triggers a creative spark he never saw coming. On an impulse, Ryan starts a social media project to cope with his grief…and it explodes. As likes turn into shares and re-posts, an unexpected career opportunity emerges, and Ryan must confront the cost of turning personal pain into public art.

THE JOURNEY SO FAR

MARCH 2025
1-week READING

SEPTEMBER 2025
ASPEN SOLO FLIGHTS FESTIVAL

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ryan Langer is an LA-based composer/lyricist whose work leans toward the darker side of musical comedy. As a composer/lyricist for the stage, he’s written Mourning Songs, The 40th Year, Everything is Fine, and Bow & Arrow (co–music/lyrics). He also recently wrote the book/music/lyrics for the animated musical short, Role Reversal for Toonstar. He was awarded the Jerry Harrington Award for Creative Excellence by the BMI Foundation, was selected for the Dramatists Guild Fellowship and ASCAP/Disney Workshop, and his songs have been heard at several esteemed venues in New York City, from Joe’s Pub to Lincoln Center.