Oakland University theatre professor’s new musical reaches national audience

An Oakland University faculty research fellowship helped theatre professor Jacob ben Widmar take a new musical from an idea in development to an industry presentation in New York City — and is now helping bring the work to the attention of theatre leaders and audiences across the country.

“Pringle & Finn, The Musical!” received an invitation-only industry reading Aug. 31 at The Creative Center at Manhattan Theatre Club in New York City, featuring a cast of Broadway performers. The 50-minute Theatre for Young Audiences musical is based on the children’s books by Seattle-based author and illustrator Paul Castle, with a book by ben Widmar and music and lyrics by Matthew Nassida and James Powers.

For ben Widmar, assistant professor of theatre in Oakland University’s School of Music, Theatre and Dance, the presentation marked an important milestone in a year of artistic research and creative development supported by OU’s Faculty Research Fellowship.

Jacob ben Widmar

“This project truly would not have been possible without the Faculty Research Fellowship,” said ben Widmar. “The support has allowed me to pursue a level of artistic research and creative development that has challenged and expanded my work in ways I hadn't anticipated. I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity.”

The fellowship provided ben Widmar with the opportunity to develop the musical in collaboration with a composer and lyricist, bringing the project from its early stages toward a professional industry presentation.

The musical follows Pringle and Finn, two lovable penguins who travel from wedding to wedding delivering elaborate cakes with their overbooked friend Foxy, a wedding planner. Along the way, they encounter eccentric characters, unexpected obstacles and wildly theatrical festivities before the journey culminates in a wedding celebration of their own.

Inspired by the style of mid-century Looney Tunes cartoons, “Pringle & Finn, The Musical!” combines original songs with classical music, including opera, ballet and orchestral pieces. The result is a playful, visually imaginative theatrical experience designed for young audiences and families.

The project brings together a creative team led by ben Widmar, who wrote the book and directs the musical. Nassida serves as composer and Powers as lyricist, while Paul Castle provided the source material and illustrations.

Castle’s “Pringle & Finn” series began with Pringle & Finn in 2022, followed by The Secret Ingredient in 2023 and How to Raise a Baby Penguin in 2025. The books celebrate LGBTQ+ families and have developed a substantial following through Castle’s social media presence.

The Aug. 31 presentation brought together an accomplished cast and creative team in New York. Paul Castle and his husband, Matthew Castle, flew in from Seattle to attend the presentation and immediately afterward shared a post about the project with their social media audience of more than 8 million followers.

The cast of 11 actors had a combined 40 Broadway credits and was led by Tony Award nominee Grey Henson. Broadway performers Josh Daniel and Tari Kelly also were part of the cast, giving the developing musical an opportunity to be read and experienced by accomplished professional artists.

The presentation also featured several connections to Oakland University. Recent OU graduate Evelyn Shelton served as stage manager, overseeing the room and cast, while OU student Zander Brown handled all graphic design for the presentation, including the program.

Brown’s program incorporated an accessibility feature that allowed cast members to introduce themselves by name through an audio component. The feature was created with Paul Castle in mind, as he is visually impaired. The program included an audio link and also acknowledged the support provided by Oakland University through its Faculty Research Fellowship.

The response to the reading was enthusiastic, with the presentation generating interest from theatre leaders beyond Michigan and expanding the project’s reach.

“We're already seeing responses from theatre leaders across the country, providing terrific visibility for both the project and Oakland University,” said ben Widmar.

Matthew and Paul Castle are now creating additional content to engage their followers and build excitement around the musical as the creative team determines the next steps in its development. Video footage from the New York reading also is being shared through their social media channels, including Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube.

The project was recently featured in Playbill, in an announcement of the New York presentation. The article highlighted Oakland University’s support of ben Widmar’s work and the Faculty Research Fellowship that helped make the project possible.

For Oakland University, that visibility reflects the broader impact of supporting faculty research and creative activity. Faculty fellowships can provide the time and resources needed to explore new ideas, develop original work and connect university expertise with professional communities beyond campus.

In ben Widmar’s case, that work has taken the form of writing, directing and collaborating with professional artists to develop a new musical for young audiences.

As “Pringle & Finn, The Musical!” continues to evolve, additional funding and producing partnerships will support future development, including orchestrations, recording sessions, licensable performance tracks and continued collaboration with Castle.

The New York presentation therefore represents not an endpoint, but the next stage in the musical’s development.

“I’m excited to represent Oakland through this work, and I look forward to seeing where the project goes from here,” said ben Widmar.