NICO JUBER

Book, Music and Lyrics by Nico Juber and Joe Barros

​

If everyone’s losing, who wins?

​

Winner is an original musical comedy about coming out and coming of age. Set in Southern California in 1999, the show follows Autumn, a high-achieving senior whose future depends on winning student body president and the college scholarship that comes with it. But when her secret girlfriend Stevie unexpectedly becomes her opponent, the election turns into something much bigger than a school race.

 

As Riverside High rolls out a suspicious new electronic voting system, there's a sci-fi twist to the story: the day resets three times. Each time, a different girl wins. And each time, Autumn is pushed closer to the truth she has been trying to outrun.

​

Inspired by the queer journeys and bi erasure of its writers, Winner centers a female-identifying bisexual coming-of-age story in a theatrical world of late-90s pop culture, election chaos, secret relationships, Y2K anxiety, and songs imagined like their own 90s MTV music videos.

​

Reception

"In it's first outing with students ... Winner: A New Musical performed at Leicester Square Theatre, is a joyous new show with lots of heart. Think, a queer mash-up of Groundhog Day and Back To The Future, set in the late 90s, with some lovingly added The Matrix vibes. Great music and original ideas." - Ask The Ushers, TikTok

​

Development

Winner has been developed through New York Theatre Barn, Goodspeed Musicals Johnny Mercer Writer's Grove, the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts, The London Summer Music Theatre Academy, Blindspot Collective/UC San Diego, American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and selected works with Florida State Music Theatre. The show has had a concept EP released on Theatre Barn Records and received a high school production at Monroe Township High School, where it won a Foxy Award.​​​