Austin J Foster's New Musical “Next Big Hit” Brings the Highs and Heartbreaks of Fame to NYC for One Night Only
Playwright
What starts as a glittering tale of dreams come true quickly unfolds into something far deeper in Next Big Hit, a new original musical from playwright Austin J. Foster premiering for one night only as part of the Next Step Festival on Thursday, May 30th at 8:00 PM at the Jeffrey and Paula Gural Theatre in New York.
Directed by American Idol favorite Justin Guarini, with music and lyrics by Matthew Jordan and additional lyrics by James Blount, Next Big Hit follows Lara, a young woman thrust into the spotlight after winning a televised singing competition. But as the cameras keep rolling and expectations mount, the story evolves into a poignant exploration of identity, pressure, and the quiet courage it takes to say, “this isn’t me.”
“We started out telling the story of Lara’s dreams coming true — and found our own dreams along the way,” says Foster. “This show isn’t just about fame. It’s about truth. It’s about what we lose, and what we fight to keep, when the world tells us who we should be.”
Foster, who started acting at just four years old — with his first job on Friends — is no stranger to performance under pressure. Now based in California, he brings his passion for live storytelling to the New York stage with Next Big Hit and reflects on the unique magic of live theatre:
“It’s the energy between story and audience, live and unfiltered. That’s what we’re bringing with this show.”
Aimed at anyone who’s been told to shrink, Next Big Hit is an anthem for the too-much dreamers — a love letter to anyone chasing something bigger than themselves.
“It’s a show that dares to ask what happens when the spotlight finds you — and won’t let you go,” Foster adds.
With a team described by Foster as “no ego, no posturing — just people who care deeply about the story and the message,” this one-night-only event promises to resonate deeply with anyone navigating the performance of self in an always-watching world.
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- Websites: nextbighitmusical.com, theatre33productions.com
