Todrick Hall will present workshop performances of his original new musical Midnight at Sadler’s Wells East this November.
The production will run for seven performances only, from Tuesday 11 to Saturday 15 November 2025, marking the first public presentation of the show.
Set in America’s South during the nineteenth century, Midnight is a sweeping sung-through musical in the tradition of Hamilton, Les Misérables, and Rent. The score blends gospel, rhythm and blues, classical, pop, rock, opera, folk, and classic musical theatre.
Todrick Hall said:
“I was ten years old when I first dreamed of writing my own musical. But when I looked at the greats: Sondheim, Schwartz, Webber, Rodgers & Hammerstein amongst many more – I noticed not only that I looked very different from them, but also that given the roots of my upbringing, I could never have imagined a path for my name to sit alongside theirs. For a long time, I believed that dream might belong to someone else…
In a pivotal and defining moment for humanity, I decided it was time for me to put pen to paper, and make that dream a reality for myself. I began developing Midnight during the pandemic, at a time when the world felt deeply divided and fractured – politically, socially, and racially. I didn’t have the words to express what I was feeling, but my heart ached for connection.
So, I turned to music…to the arts. I wanted to create something that could help unify us, something that would compel audiences to imagine what it’s like to walk a mile in each other’s shoes, to feel empathy for those less fortunate, and to find patience and understanding for those who have more.
Midnight is an artistic work with a strong sense of social responsibility and cultural depth. It uses artistic means to call on people to cross racial boundaries, learn to understand, tolerate and empathise.
Earlier this year, during a private presentation of Midnight held on my birthday, I looked out at an audience of striking contrasts – strong conservatives seated beside passionate liberals, people with opposing perspectives and experiences. I wondered how they might respond to sharing that space for two and a half hours, amongst a story I had created, how this might make them feel or react. My heart could not have felt more pride as when I saw people crying and consoling together, it gave me full-body chills. It was at that moment that I realised that this piece had the power to connect people in a way I could only have hoped for.
I am, and always have been, a passionate theatre lover. My partner and I have seen 161 musicals in the past two years alone. At this moment, I think people are craving new stories, original music, and experiences that move them, that remind them what it means to be human. That is what I’ve tried to create with Midnight. It’s a story about empathy, identity, & hope, and I can’t wait to share it with the world.”
The cast includes Todrick Hall as Rail, Jeremy Beloate as Richard, Charlotte Odusanya as Lily Rose, Ailsa Davidson as Scarlet, Charlotte Jaconelli as Violet, Georgina Onuorah as Happy, and Barney Wilkinson as Harry.
The creative team features Todrick Hall as Director/Choreographer, with Charlotte Jaconelli as Assistant Director, Rory Beaton as Lighting Designer, and Sound Quiet Time as Sound Designer.
More information can be found here.
