Late summer 2020, Bligh Voth agreed to do a Zoom reading as the protagonist of a new musical, produced by country duo Florida Georgia Line. “There is something that Zoom does not capture,” she says. “We did our first in-person reading in September of this past year in New York City, and it was so nice to hear everyone singing and performing together.” Now the musical, titled May We All, is in its developmental production phase in Memphis, which Voth describes as “utilizing all this insane local talent and getting this show on its feet [in front of an audience].”
The musical centers around Jenna Coates, a young woman returning to her Tennessee hometown after trying to make it big in the Nashville music scene. “She comes back in a state of frantic energy, and is also met by the frantic energy of this town that has pinned a lot of its hopes on her success in Nashville and are doubling down on it as she comes back to visit because they are in such a state of panic for the longevity of their home, as small businesses are being pushed out by Walmart types.”
And of course, the musical includes a “shit-ton of great music” with country favorites and two new songs by Florida Georgia Line. “We kind of run the gamut of country music stylings,” Voth says. “For every Kenny Chesney song, there’s a more contemporary Kacey Musgraves song that balances it out.”
“In my opinion,” Voth adds, “beginning to end, this musical should feel like a great Hallmark movie. You sit down and you want to enjoy yourself and listen to some awesome music and follow a great story and know that two hours later you’re going to feel a little revived.”
May We All, Playhouse on the Square, 66 S. Cooper, performances run through February 20th, $27.