On Earth Day, the Howard Gilman Opera House at BAM will host the New York premiere of Dear Everything: A Musical Uprising for the Earth, featuring Academy Award winner and climate activist Jane Fonda. The one-night event on April 22 shines a spotlight on climate action, youth leadership and intergenerational responsibility, combining folk-pop music with urgent environmental storytelling.
Created by Tony Award-winning playwright V (formerly Eve Ensler) and directed by Tony winner Diane Paulus, the musical brings together a powerhouse team including songwriters Justin Tranter, Caroline Pennell and Eren Cannata. Orchestrator Daniel Crean and contributions from Tony winner Idina Menzel round out the creative roster.
"I am honored to have the opportunity to stand on the BAM stage, alongside these powerful performers to bring Dear Everything to New York. Our planet is burning from human-made climate catastrophe, and we need to join together to confront this. Dear Everything is about the power of solidarity and it gives us the anthems we need for the job," said Fonda.
The work was originally developed by the American Repertory Theater and produced in partnership with V-Day, the global activist movement co-founded by V that focuses on ending violence against women, gender-expansive people and the Earth.
Dear Everything centers on the story of teenager Sophia, who rallies her peers to defend local forests from development, showing how collective action can challenge entrenched powers. The musical combines an electrifying rock score with a narrative that emphasizes solidarity, empowerment and civic responsibility.
Youth participation is central to the production. Local teen choirs, including the Broadway for Arts Education Choir and Brooklyn Music School Choir, form the “Earth Choir,” underscoring the intergenerational nature of climate advocacy. Emerging voices also shaped the production visually and conceptually, including filmmaker and activist Maya Penn, who designed artwork for the show and contributed to its development.
The cast blends seasoned performers and rising stars, featuring Crystal Monee Hall, YDE, Paravi, Luke Ferrari, Michael Williams, Brittany Campbell, Javier Muñoz, Terence Archie and Benny Elledge, with casting by Whitely Theatrical. Fonda serves as the narrator, lending her voice and climate advocacy experience to guide the audience through the story.
Set against the backdrop of a global climate crisis, the show asks whether communities can unite to prevent environmental destruction before it’s too late. By weaving together music, storytelling, and activism, Dear Everything positions art as a catalyst for action and a platform for youth voices.
The Brooklyn premiere is part of a broader national tour that has already brought the musical to audiences across the country, highlighting the power of performance to engage communities in conversations about climate change and collective responsibility.
Click here for tickets.
