NICO JUBER

Book, Music and Lyrics by Nico Juber and Joe Barros

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If everyone’s losing, who wins?

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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.

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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.

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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.​​

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Future life

Winner continues development as an original musical with potential for professional, educational, university, and licensing pathways.

With its flexible casting possibilities, contemporary queer coming-of-age story, and 90s-inspired theatrical language, Winner is built for young performers and audiences who understand that identity is not always a straight line.