Winter Session

Feb 4th - 16th

Catwalk Institute proudly welcomes Alex Higgin-Houser and Dan Gibson, award-winning musical theatre collaborators. Alex’s Haymarket won Chicago’s Joseph Jefferson Award, while Discovery (mus: Gibson), developed with NASA astronauts, was thrice selected for Catwalk. Dan, a composer and music director, has had his musicals workshopped at universities and has led music direction for major theaters. Both hold MFAs from NYU Tisch and continue to develop innovative new works, including Discovery.

Alex Higgin-Houser and Dan Gibson

Alex Higgin-Houser

Dan Gibson

Alex Higgin-Houser and Dan Gibson are developing Discovery, a new musical about NASA astronauts navigating the aftermath of the 1986 Challenger disaster and the return-to-flight launch of Discovery in 1988. Written in consultation with former astronauts and based on extensive research, the piece explores resilience and the decision to try again after catastrophe. At Catwalk, they are working toward completing a full draft, continuing a process that began with archival research in 2021 and early drafting at Catslair in 2022. Discovery is being developed by Broadway’s Drama Club Productions.

Affiliation: NYU