The Girl Who Cried Different

Book and Additional Lyrics by Lauren Kahane

Music by Tommy Barbarella

Lyrics by Mariella Elm

Former-Prince keyboardist Tommy Barbarella gives up his glamorous rock star life and takes a job at a music house in Minneapolis to be around for his kids. But the ad industry changes, and Tommy finds himself a stay-at-home Dad, forced to work his music gigs around his family’s schedule. In his “spare” time, Tommy’s working on a solo album. When Bennie, an influential Minneapolis DJ, hears about the album, he promises Tommy he’ll promote the album straight to the top of the charts on two conditions: (1) The album is worthy of a man who played with Prince; and, (2) Tommy never do a musical. (Because Bennie hates them.)

Then Tommy’s 13-year-old daughter Mariella, who lives with a rare disability called Williams syndrome, begs Tommy to write a musical with her. Tommy adores Mariella. He agrees on the condition that the musical stay private. All goes well until the day the school calls to say it wants to do the musical. What’s Tommy to do? The school doing her musical is the best thing that’s ever happened to Mariella. But Tommy is terrified of putting his music out in the world and being judged.

Based on the true story of Tommy his daughter, Mariella Elm, The Girl Who Cried Different is about a man forced to face his greatest fear to help heal his daughter who, in the process, heals himself.