Book & Lyrics Sheryl Berk | Music and Lyrics Ray Andersen
SEPTEMBER 17-20, 2026 | Times Square, NYC
SOUND MIND is a raw, electrifying new musical about teens entering an inpatient mental health facility, where group therapy becomes a space for connection and healing. When words fail, music takes over, transforming hidden pain into shared strength. The show is a powerful reminder that owning your truth is the first step toward change.
The 30th Street Theater
259 West 30th Street
(btw 7th and 8th Avenues)
New York, NY 10001
Train Access: Conveniently located very close to Penn Station
Subway: 1/2/3, A/C/E, B/D (34th St / Penn Station)
Tickets are SOLD OUT for all performances.
Join the wait list (Full Name, Performance Date & Time, # of Tickets, Email)
CAST
Creative Team
Book & Lyrics Sheryl Berk | Music and Lyrics Ray Andersen
Produced by Laura Luc
Directed by Avery Rose Pedell
Music Director Jack Richman
Choreographer Adara Allen
Associate Producer Olivia Kuan-Romano
PA & Projection Designer Douglas Mu
House Manager Ida Santiago-Gutierrez
Lighting Design Ryan Sautner
Costume Design Alyssa Luc
Stage Manager Keala Henry
Asst. Stage Manager Danielle Becht
Minor Guardian Katelyn Karcher
Social Media Kaelyn Matsushita
Asst. Lighting Designer Ellie Sweeney
The idea for Sound Mind came from witnessing a loved one go through an extreme mental health journey.
From the beginning, I had a vision for an educational assembly program for middle and high school students, one that would combine storytelling and music in a very personal way. I imagined finding young people who were on their own mental health recovery journeys, giving them a chance to share a little of their experiences, and then transitioning into songs that expressed the emotions they were struggling to put into words. But the idea ultimately evolved into something much bigger after I shared it with my dear friend and phenomenal playwright and author, Sheryl Berk.
Sheryl immediately saw the potential for a full-scale stage production. She crafted a compelling book, and together we co-wrote the lyrics to complement the emotional depth of the music I had written. The arts have a beautiful and unique way of finding the thread that connects all of us. Whether we’re experiencing the light, the darkness, or everything in between.
If Sound Mind resonates with even one person who is struggling through a dark place, and helps them feel less alone — hopefully reminding them that what has taken over their life can be faced, worked on, and perhaps even transformed — then my heart will be full. That, ultimately, is why I started writing it. We are so very grateful for Laura Luc and the amazing Kids of the Arts (KOTA) for believing in our work and staging it so beautifully.
- Ray Andersen (Music & Lyrics, Sound Mind)
