The Millennial Existential Crisis - but make it a MUSICAL
An interview with Nico Juber, creator of MILLENNIALS ARE KILLING MUSICALS
In one of my 18 mom’s groups (I’m a joiner), I heard about a new musical having it’s world premiere at a theater right down the street from me. Original music exploring themes of motherhood, social media, and identity. My first thought: was this written for me?
Having worked full-time in digital media for over a decade, I’ve come to describe myself as a “recovering social media manager”. I still do part-time work in this space but have actively avoided any job that requires me to be “highly online” and “live and breathe social trends”. I literally shudder at the thought.
So when Nico offered comp tickets to the preview night I grabbed two friends and headed to The Colony Theater to see the first ever public performance of …
MILLENNIALS ARE KILLING MUSICALS
BOOK, MUSIC, AND LYRICS BY
NICO JUBER
DIRECTED BY TONY AWARD NOMINEE KRISTIN HANGGI
MUSICAL DIRECTION, ARRANGEMENTS, AND ORCHESTRATIONS BY
ANTHONY LUCCA
WORLD PREMIERE PRIOR TO ITS MOVE TO NEW YORK
APRIL 30 - MAY 17, 2026
With my theater-loving friends in tow, the giddiness was palpable as we took our seats and drank in the beautiful stage in front of us. “It feels so good to be in a theater!” and “This makes me want to do a play again!” escaped our lips as we excitedly awaited the show to begin.
We were informed this cast had just three weeks of rehearsals and we were the first ever public audience to be seeing the show. As the musical began I was floored by how polished, professional, and seamless it all was. The music and the singing were incredible, the story was highly relatable, and the entire experience left me and my friends buzzing with inspiration and creative energy. There were so many laugh-out-loud moments and the entire experience was an absolute delight.
Besides being impressed by the timely and highly entertaining content of the show, I was amazed by the creation of it and so curious to ask Nico Juber, the creator as well as a fellow mom, about her experience bringing this show into the world:
How long have you been writing, and when did you know you wanted to be a writer?
I grew up in a family of storytellers - musicians, songwriters, comedy writers, and I always did these things. I started writing songs around 14 (I learned guitar after playing flute and piano). I recorded an album and used to play shows around my college campus at coffee shops. I would also write sitcom spec scripts for fun. When I was 19, I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, and that put me on a path towards a corporate job with benefits so I would have stability. Thankfully, I’ve been in remission since my treatment, but I really put all artistic pursuits on hold because it didn’t feel like a viable path for me. I worked in high-tech marketing for over a decade before I had my millennial existential crisis and started writing again. I didn’t set out to write a musical; it kind of just happened when all of my weird skills came together.
What are your kid(s) ages?
My girls are nearly 13 and 11. They’ve grown up with me writing this show as long as they can remember.
What’s the “elevator pitch” for Millennials Are Killing Musicals (MAKM)?
In one line: This show is where millennial identity and adulting meet the algorithm.
A little more: Set in 2019, it’s about a mom who has been so focused on taking care of everyone else that she has lost touch with herself. She has an influencer sister who shows up at her house eight months pregnant and completely unprepared. There is a seemingly perfect school mom who has it all together online. Her own mom cuts through all the noise and tells the truth. A trio of social media filters pushes all the women to curate their lives to the point of addiction, with an Algorithm behind the scenes controlling them. With lots of laughs and a pop/rock score.
How did MAKM find a home with The Colony Theater?
I grew up in LA and have been excited about the opportunity to make theater in my hometown. I had an amazing opportunity last year with IAMA Theatre Company to do a two-week workshop on the show, and had such a fantastic experience working with a women-led company right in my backyard. I knew our home for our world premiere production would be with a woman-led theater company, and after spending time chatting with Producing Artistic Director Heather Provost, I knew The Colony Theatre’s location and ethos were the perfect home for our next step.
What did you think your creative life was going to be like once you were a parent, and how was it different from what you expected?
It’s interesting for me because I didn’t really rediscover my creativity until after having kids - they were 3 and 5 when I started working on the show. So, I didn’t have any expectations, other than not knowing how tight my time would be to work on a project at the scale of a musical.
What are some ways social media has made motherhood harder, and in what ways has it helped or supported you (if any)?
When I first became pregnant, I joined an online mom group on Facebook that became my social circle and support system. I made so many amazing friends through that group. The other side of it is the constant pressure to perform online, curate your pictures, and make everything look effortless.
If a soon-to-be-mom friend asked you for advice, what would you say?
I’d say, parenting-wise - don’t listen to any prescriptive parenting advice! Every kid is different. My first was a totally different experience from my second. Otherwise, don’t lose your identity. If you had creative passions before becoming a mom (or even after), it’s never too late. Your goals are important too. How cool is it for our kids to see us accomplish our dreams?
Get tickets to Millennials Are Killing Musicals HERE
