Lisker admits the choice of his former pen name—inspired by Harper Lee—failed to resonate as intended, often causing confusion with television programming. The transition back to his original identity coincides with a precarious period for the project. A technical dispute with a web developer has shuttered the musical's primary digital hub, leaving the creator without his only remaining advertising outlet or income stream.
Playwright David Lisker Reclaims Identity for Musical In America
After decades of writing under the pseudonym Hal Harper, 68-year-old playwright David Lisker is stripping away the mask. The Oakland-born educator announced he will now market his thirty-year-old musical, In America, under his birth name, hoping to finally secure a production for the project he first copyrighted in 1997.
Written during his tenure as an English as a Second Language teacher, the musical follows a rookie instructor named Mr. Johnson who rallies his immigrant students against school budget cuts and rising social hostility. The score features 18 original numbers composed in a classical theater style. Despite the current digital setbacks, Lisker continues to seek theater companies interested in the work, offering potential licensing fee waivers to smaller troupes willing to bring his long-gestating vision to the stage.
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first!