2026-2027 Season

She Persisted, the Musical JR

Performing October 23 – November 8, 2026, on the Spotlight Youth Theatre main stage.

She Persisted, The Musical JR is the trailblazing Theatre for Young Audiences musical based on the best-selling children’s book written by Chelsea Clinton and beautifully illustrated by Alexandra Boiger.

Script and Lyrics by Adam Tobin

Music by Deborah Wicks La Puma

Adapted from the book written by Chelsea Clinton

Illustrated by Alexandra Boiger

She Persisted, The Musical JR

About This Production

She Persisted, The Musical JR is the trailblazing Theatre for Young Audiences musical based on the best-selling children’s book written by Chelsea Clinton and beautifully illustrated by Alexandra Boiger.

Fourth-grader Naomi’s field trip to a Women’s History Museum turns into a time-travel adventure where she encounters inspirational women who have overcome barriers and made waves throughout U.S. history. From activists to athletes, artists and more, the musical features the stories of female trailblazers such as Harriet Tubman, Virginia Apgar, Ruby Bridges, Sally Ride, Florence Griffith Joyner, and Sonia Sotomayor.

Cast

RolePerformer
NAOMITriss Stovall
TIME 1Alyza Gabbay
TIME 2Ingrid Neilson
TIME 3Mischa Cavazos
SONIA SOTOMAYEREliana Lopez-Ball
DR. APGARQuinn Strait
HARRIET TUBMANCharli Brooks
FLORENCE GRIFFIN JOYNERLilah Shaffer
SALLY RIDEDagny Knoell
RUBY BRIDGESOlivia Carey
YOUNG SONIA/ENSEMBLENoelia Castillo
JUNO/ENSEMBLEReese Lai
ALEX/ENSEMBLELilly Rundle
BAILEY/ENSEMBLEHaskell Fagan
SKYLAR/ENSEMBLESydney Underwood
MS. CHAN/ENSEMBLELily Spears
TOUR GUIDE/ENSEMLBEVa’Nessa Madden
SONIA’S MOTHER/ENSEMBLELucy Salari
SONIA’S FATHER/DR. WHIPPLE, PRINCETON PRESIDENT/ENSEMBLELiam Davenport
DR. MAY/ENSEMBLEAmelia Geraci
ENSEMBLEAnnie Wolfley
ENSEMBLEMikey-Raby Rodriguez
ENSEMBLEViolet Sorby
ENSEMBLEEloise Kennedy
ENSEMBLEVada Sorby
ENSEMBLEValorie Nelson

Production Team

RoleTeam Member
DirectorMeribeth Reeves
Musical DirectorHeather Walker
ChoreographerBella Swope
Costume DesignerHeather Riddle
Set DesignerRob Adams
Stage ManagerTheo McComb
Hair & Makeup DesignerGriffin Wilbur
Properties DesignerKenny & Vicki Grossman
Light & Sound DesignerSarah Ray
Assistant Sound DesignerIzzy Haber
Assistant DirectorIzzy Myers