About the Project
THE STORY:
MUTT is a dark musical comedy that follows a three-legged shelter dog and his chew toy on their epic journey to find fame, fortune, and a forever home in Hollywood.
Poking a nose into the hidden corners of friendship, loneliness, and disillusionment, this wonderful piece of theater highlights the plight of the underdog — one willing to do what most will not in order to fulfill a dream. It is a fresh, bold, adult-themed (not a family show) rollercoaster ride that sits and stays somewhere between feel-good cult classics like Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure and transcendent dramas like Thelma & Louise! Our unlikely titular hero, Mutt, opens the door for us to explore themes of transformation and liberation, and to escape the constraints of conformity, class, and disability, one foul-mouthed bark at a time.
*34th Annual National Alliance of Musical Theatre Select (originally named Pup! A Chew Story)
THE ARTISTS:
Marcus Terrell Smith (Producer, Book & Lyrics) graduated from the University of Arizona with a BA in Linguistics. The following year he was accepted into the Actors Studio Drama School (ASDS) at Pace University in New York City, receiving an MFA in Acting. After graduating, he joined the national tour of Broadway’s Book of Mormon. Smith then moved to Los Angeles, where he diversified his talents as an actor on TV/Film and continued his work in theater. He is also a prolific storyteller, currently writing narrative lore for League of Legends (Riot Games) and Magic: The Gathering.
Robin Schäfer (Music & Arrangements) is a composer, guitarist, and music instructor based in Cologne, Germany. With over two decades of experience, Schäfer has established himself as a versatile musician, both as a solo artist and as a member of various original bands spanning different genres. With his Folk solo-project “Robin Shepherd” he has released an album, two EPs, and several singles to date. Recently he founded the instrumental Soul-Funk band "Malako Zoo” as guitarist. Furthermore, he works as a media composer as well as a session musician for musical theatre, commercial bands and local artists.
Chris Sargent (Orchestration & Arrangements) has been an active member of the Chicago music scene for more than fifteen (15) years as an arranger, musical director, and conductor. Credits include “Mamma Mia!” (2nd National, associate Conductor), “Dirty Dancing” (1st National Tour, Associate Conductor), “The Book of Mormon” (2nd National), “Beauty and the Beast” (Drury Lane Theatre – Oakbrook, IL, Musical Director), “Mary Poppins” (Drury Lane Theatre, conductor). In 2016, he MD’ed, sang, and rapped in a revue of 80’s pop music, “Reunion ’85”, at the Lone Tree Arts Center in Colorado. He was most recently Musical Director of Drury Lane’s “An American in Paris” (winner of four 2020 Jeff Awards).
Linda Joe (Producer) A Los Angeles native and a graduate of the University of Southern California, Linda Joe is a production executive and a powerhouse producer with an impressive track record across film, television, live events, theater, sports, and gaming. She’s collaborated with industry giants like Paramount Pictures, NBC Entertainment, and more, bringing high-impact events and productions to life around the globe. With a dynamic, versatile background and a passion for storytelling, Linda thrives on creating unforgettable experiences, and she’s always ready to take on her next big producing adventure.
ARTISTS’ STATEMENT:
“Time is our most valuable commodity, but time together is priceless.”
As musical theatre writers, our objective has always been to craft narratives that champion human (and animal) connection. In the case of Mutt, this theme is examined through the journey of an unlikely duo — two best friends — who are thrust into an impossible situation and must work together to overcome adversity in a pleasantly unexpected way. Given the fact that we have laid the groundwork for what we consider to be a deeply meaningful, cleverly nuanced, and incredibly entertaining piece of theater, without ever being in the same room, Robin and I can fully relate. You see, the two of us live an actual ocean apart — Robin resides in Cologne, Germany, and Marcus lives in Los Angeles, California. So while technology has been a wonderful and necessary tool to help create, share, and develop this show, especially during COVID times, it in no way compares to the kind of magic that can be made when two talented, dedicated artists, are working side-by-side in real time.
OUR SHOW’S HISTORY:
Virtual Reading (March 2021)
Live Staged Reading, The Broadwater Theater LA (August 20-21, 2021)
The Great Homecoming – LA’s First Musical Pet Adoption, The Montálban Theatre (September 10-11, 2022)
34th Annual National Alliance of Musical Theatre (October 23-25, 2022)
Mutt at Arizona State University (September 13-15, 2024)
OUR WORKSHOP: YOU JUST MISSED IT! : )
April 23-27, 2025: We hosted our first Developmental Workshop of the show at Thymele Arts Center – Shirley Dawn Space. This performance was mainly for the producers and creatives to see the show on its feet and get feedback from the public. Not only did this help the creatives improve the show, but it served as an incredible opportunity to prepare for our full production at the Hollywood Fringe Festival this summer (June 9-24, 2025).
THE HOLLYWOOD FRINGE FESTIVAL & LA’S SECOND MUSICAL PET ADOPTION
Not only will the Hollywood Fringe Festival be super fun and entertaining, we are also looking to host LA’s Second Musical Pet Adoption (the first was at the Montalbán Theater in 2022) at the same time. Our goal is to partner with local rescues to put on an incredible adoption event complete with activities like doggy tarot, doggy sound baths, ice cream photography booths and more. We would love for you to come and see the show and be a part of all the fun. Stay tuned!
Learn More at themuttmusical.com
Production Team
