Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program alum Katya Stanislavskaya (Cycle 17) had a reading of her new musical THE USEFUL CITIZEN at SUNY New Paltz on September 17th-18th, 2022.
The show, written by Professor Katya Stanislavskaya, examines America's relationship with poverty vis-a-vis morality. Set in post-Civil War New York State, the musical follows a controversial historical figure, Josephine "Effie" Lowell, a privileged Civil War widow who dedicates her life to being a "useful" citizen and becomes a renowned charity reformer. Through her journey, Effie learns that some of her reforms are hurting the people they are intended to help.