Theatre alum invited to write new musical for Wright State fine and performing arts students

Wright State alum Ronvé O’Daniel was invited to select the cast and write an original musical that current theatre students will perform in 2026. (Photos by Erin Pence)

Usually in the world of theatre, a play is written and later cast. A special project for Wright State University turns that upside down: actors have been picked, and a show is being written for them, thanks to a Wright State alumnus and a vision by the School of Fine and Performing Arts.

“This is definitely unusual, even for me,” said Ronvé O’Daniel, who earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting with a concentration in musical theatre from Wright State in 2006. “Normally I write the show first. Whoever is producing the show seeks the talent.”

In this case, the talent is at his alma mater. In December, he got to know the 14 students performing in his show during a four-day residency at Wright State.

“My job is to craft a show that plays to the strength of the cast,” said O’Daniel, an award-winning songwriter, lyricist and composer whose work has been produced Off-Broadway. “In this case, I needed a sense of the talent, which was the whole point of my trip.”

The School of Fine and Performing Arts invited O’Daniel to write a musical for a cast he picked.

“We’ve been watching his work and have been intrigued by it,” said Marya Spring Cordes, associate chair of the school and professor and artistic director of Wright State Theatre.

In particular, Cordes was attracted to O’Daniel’s use of R&B, hip-hop and rap, types of music Wright State students have little theatrical experience with.

Ronvé O’Daniel, who graduated from Wright State in 2006, returned to the Creative Arts Center to conduct masterclasses for the cast of his new musical in December.

“What he writes is unique and the aspect of a new piece was intriguing,” Spring Cordes said. “We were looking for a new voice with a new story.”

In December, O’Daniel conducted masterclasses for the cast of five men and nine women.

“I got a sense of their singing range, acting range, ability to take critiques, how fast they learned the material,” he said. “The ones who were cast are amazing, even compared to my class. I graduated in a very strong class, and I can definitely say these actors today measure up to that, if not more.”

O’Daniel then returned to his home in New York to write. The working title of his full-length, two-act musical is “How to Survive in New York City.”

As he explained, “Kenya, a struggling screenwriter-turned-bartender, is navigating the demands of motherhood, marriage and an unforgiving city that seems determined to break her spirit. After a career setback, she takes a job at The Renaissance Bar, an upscale cocktail lounge. As she juggles late nights at the bar and early mornings with her infant daughter, the weight of her stalled career and crumbling marriage to her overworked husband begins to mount. But amid the chaos, Kenya discovers an unexpected passion for mixology — one that teaches her what it truly means to survive in the city that never sleeps.”

He hopes to have the script finished in August and will return to Wright State in February 2026 for the performances.

Wright State Theatre expects to premiere the show on Feb. 13, 2026, with six additional performances.

“The show is going to be great,” O’Daniel said. “It tackles the themes of parenthood, motherhood, identity, dreams, how old is too old to follow your dreams, mental health — to be talked about in a fun, entertaining way. I encourage people to see the talent that Dayton has to offer at Wright State.”

Cordes said this project is good for Wright State theatre students and the university overall. When the play is published, Wright State will be in the credit page and the students will be listed as the original cast.

“This is a great part of their education,” she said.

The importance is not lost on cast member Noah Funderbunk, a sophomore acting major from Fairfield.

“Being chosen to help breathe life into an original project that is written by an alumnus and put together by current students fills me with an overwhelming sense of gratitude,” he said. “In the professional world, opportunities like this are how actors can show their professionalism, spontaneity, commitment, passion and talents.”

Funderbunk added that he’s excited to “show the world the creative passion behind Wright State.”

Ronvé O’Daniel’s artist residency helped him better understand the strengths of the students selected to perform in his new musical.

O’Daniel said he’s also excited to give back to Wright State.

“The opportunity to create something for my alma mater is the driving force,” he said. “It’s such an honor to give back to the program that shaped a lot of my artistic sensibilities and education.”