Bruisers is a song cycle: the musical theater equivalent of a short story collection, usually characterized by a series of songs that function both as self-contained narratives while also contributing to a larger thematic premise with the other numbers of the show.

One of a song cycle’s greatest strengths is that of its unique presentation of many different perspectives within one performance. Bruisers aims to source those perspectives from Tucson’s student playwrights and songwriters, using open submissions from our community.

The prompt for our writers:

"For many submitting songwriters, this year marks the end of your childhood. Before you leap off its precipice into adult life, what value or ideal do you want to cling to from your youth? Or, what unique insight has your experience given you? Find an answer to this question, and capture it in your submission."

Bruisers premiered on 3/1 at the Catalyst Creative Collective to a sold-out run.