We are thrilled to be developing our musical under the guidance of Octopus Theatricals.
Get Out Alive is a new autobiographical musical by indie artist, actor and activist Nikki Lynette. Equal parts raucous, tender, intelligent and triumphant, this afrogoth musical breaks new ground as an unexpectedly energetic retelling of a young woman’s experience with abuse, grief, and suicide. Nikki’s offbeat and honest approach to sharing her mental health journey delights traditional theater audiences as well as newcomers to the arts. By using storytelling, dance, immersive visual media and a live DJ, Lynette's bold stage show has been wowing critics and is being regarded as the first of its kind.
Please enjoy select tracks from our score as you get to know more about our musical. It’s truly the most fun you will ever have while talking about depression.
Development History
Starting as an opening act for Pussy Riot on their first North American tour, Get Out Alive was developed into a full length musical at the American Music Theatre Project at Northwestern University in 2019, making Nikki Lynette the first Black woman to be produced at AMTP. The show sold out its debut in Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s LookOut Series in January 2020 and was adapted into an independent film that summer, which was selected for over a dozen film festivals around the world, nominated for five awards, winning three of them. In 2022, Get Out Alive completed a 19-show run at The Den Theatre in Chicago and was the breakout hit at the National Alliance for Musical Theatre’s 34th annual Festival of New Musicals in New York City. From that exposure, the show has received three developmental opportunities: a video art & animation workshop at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido, a music lab at Amas Musical Theatre in NYC, and a writer residency at Cove Park in Scotland. Get Out Alive is currently in development under the guidance of Mara Isaacs-Octopus Theatricals.
Recognitions
Nikki Lynette
First Black woman to have an original musical developed by American Music Theatre Project
Winner of Best Actress Award at BronzeLens Film Festival
First American writer to participate in the Musical Theatre Writing Residency in Cove Park, Scotland
Board member of National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Chicago Chapter
Get Out Alive
First AMTP project to debut at Steppenwolf, as part of it’s LookOut Series that highlights new works
First Steppenwolf LookOut Series work to add a 5th sold out show after selling out the initial run
Film adaptation selected for over a dozen film fests around the world, nominated for 5 awards, winning 3
Workshop production in Chicago was nominated for 3 Joseph Jefferson Awards
First AMTP-developed work to be selected for the NAMT Festival of New Musicals
The Full Experience
The Visitation (Pre-Show) – Before the musical begins, the audience enters a space that feels like an immersive art installation-meets-street memorial. While the DJ is spinning, a massive collage of design and technology covers the walls, waiting to be explored.
The Main Event (Performance) – The audience finds themselves as attendees at an afrogoth themed funeral service. This humorous and unapologetic celebration of life is a sensational theatrical experience, allowing the audience to see themselves in the highs and lows of Nikki's mental health journey. Elevated by tactile art and technology, Get Out Alive blurs the lines between live theater and documentary film, facilitating a more open conversation about mental health and inspiring attendees to spread the word.
The Reception (Post-Show) – The performance devolves into #partytime when the DJ resumes spinning while attendees explore the full space. Here, they can contribute testimonials, make their own mental health-focused art, and buy cool merch to take home. A mental health professional local to the region moderates a chat for those interested in sharing, while cast members mingles with attendees, creating an atmosphere that truly feels like a celebration of life.
