Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre announced that it will be presenting the world premiere of “Like Father,” a new coming-of-age musical centered on America’s fascination with true-crime, as part of its 2026–27 season.
Created by Jacob Ryan Smith, with book, music and lyrics by Smith and Caroline Pernick, “Like Father” follows 17-year-old Chris, whose life is upended after her father’s arrest forces her to move in with her estranged mother and stepfather. However, when a popular true-crime podcast exposes the family’s past, they are forced into facing the truth of what brought them together, according to a synopsis.
Featuring a folk-pop score, the musical dives into a number of themes like legacy, identity and the cost of obsession, with the story being inspired by “the loved ones left in the wake of infamous serial killers,” said a press release.
Directed by Alliance Theatre Jennings Hertz Artistic Director Tinashe Kajese-Bolden, “Like Father” will make its debut after being named as a semi-finalist at the Eugene O’Neill New Music Theater Festival and winning the inaugural Open Jar Musical Shark Tank, an event in which musical writing teams showcase their original show ideas to a panel of industry experts.
“At its core, ‘Like Father’ is about learning to live beyond the shadows we inherit — a journey through grief, forgiveness and the radical act of reclaiming your own name,” said Kajese-Bolden.
“It’s a surprising, darkly funny, deeply human story that speaks to so many of us reckoning with the weight of our histories and the hope of transformation. New work like this needs room to take risks, and regional theaters are where those stories are given oxygen; I’m thrilled to work alongside artists and producing partners with an unflinching belief in bold, emotionally intelligent storytelling, and proud that the Alliance is a national home where artists are trusted to push boundaries, deepen our empathy, and imagine what’s possible.”
The musical is set to hit Alliance Theatre’s Hertz Stage beginning in October of this year.