Muse: The Shakespeare Mayhem Musical sets Fringe cast

The student-born musical Muse! has announced its cast ahead of its 2026 Edinburgh Festival Fringe debut at Underbelly’s Cowbarn. After a sold-out Lincoln Center presentation, the production is moving to Edinburgh with a concept album already streaming online.

Why it matters: - Muse! is moving from a student-driven project to an international Fringe production, giving the show a larger launch platform. - The 2026 Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the world’s largest arts festival, which can amplify visibility for new musicals. - The show’s concept album is already available on major streaming platforms, including Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Spotify.

What happened: - The producers of Muse announced the cast of Muse: The Shakespeare Mayhem Musical on June 30, 2026. - The production is a featured presentation of the 2026 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. - The show played a sold-out industry presentation at Lincoln Center before the casting announcement. - Muse will play at Underbelly’s Cowbarn in Bristo Square, Edinburgh. - The show’s official website is MuseTheMusical.com.

The details: - The cast includes Dallyn Vail Bayles, Karis Brizendine, Thom Bergamo, Megan Colton, Eleni Kutay, Nate Janis as Shakespeare, Sydney Kamel, Luis Rivera as Macbeth, Maya Rowe, and Maya Sta. Ana. - The musical was created by students at Interlochen Arts Academy. - Hanna Andréa wrote the music and lyrics and co-wrote the book. - Lisa Sanderson co-wrote the book and is the lead writer. - Mindy Cooper is directing. - Seth Farber is the music director. - James Conner is handling orchestration. - Murnane Casting, Chad Eric Murnane, CSA, and Amber Snead, CSA are handling casting. - Marissa Councill is the stage manager. - Matthew Dunivan is the assistant director and assistant stage manager. - LDK Productions and Michael Shannon are serving as general management. - Leikari Lochlann is producing Muse!. - Lisa Dozier Shacket is executive producing. - Logan DeWitt is the associate producer. - The production is described as a pop musical comedy with absurdist theatrical flair. - The story follows a young William Shakespeare before he became the Bard. - Shakespeare’s characters revolt after his publisher says only one of his plays will be printed. - Puck, Lear, Cleopatra, the Macbeths, and other characters fight to become the chosen story.

Between the lines: - Muse! is being positioned as both a new musical and a meta-story about young artists fighting for creative control. - The move from an interlochen student project to a Fringe feature suggests the producers see commercial and artistic potential beyond the classroom. - Broadway and Off-Broadway veterans on the team add industry experience to a show that originated with students.

What's next: - Tickets and additional information will be available through the show’s official website and the Fringe ticketing platform. - The production team says future casting announcements and updates will continue online. - Audiences can hear music from the concept album now through the show’s streaming releases and website.