Casting "Emily and Mel", a musical. It is the story of Emily, a young 20s dancer, singer-songwriter (guitarist) coming to the Big Apple in the early 1970s. She is looking for a stage role and liberation from her restrictive Midwestern upbringing. While busking, she makes eye contact with Mel, a 30s-something black female, a medical resident. This is the story of their romantic relationship, the growing joys, the disapproval of Mel's family, Emily's sense of entitlement as she makes it big, the dissolution of the relationship, and its resurrection after deep anguish and soul-searching. The play is based on 11 original songs which build the arc of the story. The songs range from swingy to bluesy, from fun and funny to great and revealing. It ends happy and satisfying.