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Meet the
writers

In 2015, Billy and Chris connected over a recent article that had just caught their eye. That afternoon, STRAIGHT FORWARD was born.

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Billy Aberle and Chris Sabol

book, music, and lyrics

Billy Aberle & Chris Sabol

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Billy & Chris are writers and directors with works produced at the New York Theatre Festival and Off Broadway at Theatre Row. Their partnership began as co-founders of the student-run musical theatre program at Wagner College in 2009 now in its 17th year, where they produced and directed for five years. Chris has musically directed over sixty shows holding multiple musical director positions for the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, New Jersey, and St. John's University. His original music can be heard in the audio play, Arrow of Time, which premiered at the 2026 Exponential Festival and featured at the New York Indie Film Festival. His original score for the 2010 Off-Broadway play, Friends, premiered at Theatre Row. He holds a Bachelor in Arts Administration from Wagner College, Masters of Music Education from Boston University, and Doctorate Degree in Education Policy and Leadership from American University, where his research centered on preserving musical theatre programs to maintain growth and development of student identity. Chris served as president of the New Jersey All-Shore Chorus from 2016-2023. His self-titled debut album of original music is streaming on all major platforms.

Billy has worked with esteemed organizations such as The Public Theater on Hamilton prior to its Broadway transfer, Telsey + Company, multiple productions at The Nederlander Organization including Finding Neverland on Broadway. Billy holds a Bachelor Degree in Arts Administration from Wagner College and Masters Degree in Creative Advertising from Falmouth University in the UK, and is owner of Billy Boy Studio, a creative agency specializing in content creation, branding, photography, and social media.

Billy & Chris are co-founders of Pivotal Productions, a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing and producing new works across theater, film, and other forms of entertainment. They are developing their next musical together based on an American dramatic film, to be announced in the near future.

Behind the show

Creative team

Billy Bustamante

director

Billy Bustamante

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BILLY BUSTAMANTE most recently choreographed the regional premier of Soft Power at the Signature Theatre, served as associate choreographer for Here We Are at The Shed and assistant director for the Broadway production of Here Lies Love. Off Broadway/ regional credits include Notes From Now (Prospect), Whisper House (Civilians), Finn (Kennedy Center), Gold Mountain (Utah Shakespeare Festival), Into The Woods (Arden Theatre), Virginia Stage Company, Goodspeed, Lincoln Center, and NAAP. Broadway performing credits: Miss Saigon, The King and I. Off-Broadway/Regional: Soft Power and Here Lies Love at the Public Theater, Center Theatre Group, Arena Stage, Old Globe and Paper Mill Playhouse. Billy is co-founder of Broadway Barkada and on faculty at Jen Waldman Studio and Circle in the Square Theatre School.

billybustamante.com (opens in a new tab)

Bryan Perri

music supervisor

Bryan Perri

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BRYAN PERRI was most recently Music Supervisor and Conductor of Almost Famous which San Diego's Old Globe world premiere earned him the prestigious Craig Noel Award for Best Music Direction. He served as Music Director and Conductor of Jagged Little Pill, a production that earned nine Tony nominations. His extensive Broadway credits extend to the hit musical Wicked, where he spent five years, and the original company of Chaplin, for which he not only served as Music Director, but Dance and Vocal Arranger. He also served as Music Director for the Broadway National Tour of Next to Normal, starring Tony Award winner Alice Ripley.

bperri.com (opens in a new tab)

Michael Starobin

orchestrator

Michael Starobin

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MICHAEL STAROBIN is a well-known orchestrator and arranger working on Broadway and in Hollywood. He has been the orchestrator for some of Broadway's most innovative musicals such as Falsettos, Sunday in the Park with George, Assassins (2004 Tony Award for Best Orchestrations) and Next to Normal (2009 Tony Award for Best Orchestrations), and most recently, Suffs. He was the conductor and orchestrator for Disney's animated film The Hunchback of Notre Dame, orchestrated the songs for Tangled and contributed orchestrations to the film versions of Chicago, Nine, Beauty and the Beast (2017), Mary Poppins Returns and Tick, Tick… Boom!

starobin.com (opens in a new tab)

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