Musicals
Beneath the Surface: A New Musical (in development)
Book, Music & Lyrics by Markeisha Ensley
Exploring the themes of love, loss, rebirth, and legacy, Beneath the Surface: A New Musical honors the forgotten history of the people of Seneca Village, a once-thriving, largely African American community that was razed to build New York’s Central Park. With a score that combines contemporary musical theatre, gospel, and R&B, Beneath the Surface tells the story of Elisabeth and Andrew, a young couple who share in life’s joys and challenges, facing adversities as their lives flourish. In 1855, they and the Seneca Village community must come together to confront impending devastation as the city plans to seize their land via eminent domain to build Central Park. Strong-willed and ever defiant, Elisabeth and Andrew will do whatever it takes to keep fighting— to protect their home and leave a legacy for their children and their future descendants. Beneath the Surface celebrates the lost voices of Seneca Village and our own shared humanity between the past and present.
Residencies/Performances:
Looking Glass Arts Writer’s Residency – 2025
Central Park Conservancy 2026 Juneteenth Celebration (scene and song performance)
Connection: A 10-minute Musical (BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop 1st Year)
Book and Lyrics by Markeisha Ensley
Music by Miu Sato
In this darkly comic ten-minute musical, Adam is a 27-year-old data analyst in love with Jessica, the woman of his dreams. As Adam prepares to pop the big question, complications arise. What happens to human connection in a technology obsessed world?
I Say No! (in development)
Book, Music and Lyrics by Markeisha Ensley
In this children’s musical, Tommy is an intelligent 9-year old who loves learning and language, but is an outright bully— loud, stubborn and bratty. He struggles with his own insecurities and doesn’t EVER want to try new things. When he enters the local spelling bee contest and meets his toughest competitor yet, he must choose between winning at all costs or taking a risk and making a new friend. Tommy will discover the true impact of the words that he loves to learn and to say to others.