Angelica Chéri '09

---

Angelica Chéri (née Nutt) '09, who earned her B.A. in theater, with a playwriting concentration, announced that her musical "Wanted" (formerly "Gun & Powder") is officially going to Broadway. It will begin previews Oct. 15 and officially open Nov. 8 at the James Earl Jones Theatre.

Inspired by the true story of Chéri’s great-great-aunts, Mary and Martha Clarke — African-American twins who passed for white and were notorious outlaws — the musical, set in post-emancipation Texas, follows Mary and Martha’s journey of defying racial boundaries and seizing what rightfully belongs to them, until a little romance shakes everything up.

"This musical is 12 years in the making," Chéri said. "I am the bookwriter and lyricist — and as my producers have discovered in their research, this makes me the first Black woman in history to write both the book and the lyrics of a wholly original Broadway musical. There was a show, "Dont' Bother Me, I Can't Cope," written by Micki Grant in 1972, but it was a musical revue — no book, just songs.

"I'm also honored to share that the show earned a New York Times Critics' Pick for its production at Papermill Playhouse in 2024, then Variety Magazine recognized me as one of Broadway's Top Ten Stars to Watch in 2025, and earlier this year the Washington Post recognized my collaborator Ross Baum (the show's composer) as one of the Post's Next 50 people shaping society and culture in 2026. Quite an honor!

"It brings such joy to my heart to share this wonderful news with my Bruin Family. You all are where it all started!"

Read Chéri's earlier class note here.