Laura Goodenow is ready to see her musical take the next step in the development process.
The 1995 Carmel High School graduate is the librettist and lyricist for “Exposed,” which is part of the Actors Theatre of Indiana LAB Series, which helps musicals and plays develop. It will be performed at 2 p.m. Nov. 12 at the Studio Theater at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel.
“It’s the first time we’ve had actors reading and singing the parts,” Goodenow said. “I’m exposing myself, which is somewhat of an uncomfortable feeling. You have to do what you write about. I’m interested to see what this community feels about the piece.”
Goodenow said some Lab Series projects have been further along with more workshops and readings.
“We are the very first step for what it is for a musical to become a musical,” she said. “We have music, and we have a story. It hasn’t got as many rewrites and layers as something ready to be produced. We’ve had couple of table readings and shows in the past year and the show has continued to evolve after receiving feedback from actors as well as any audience who might have seen it.”
There was a Zoom reading in January and another reading in September.
The story follows an undocumented immigrant, Rosa Maria, who — after being flashed by a peeping Tom — grapples with the desire to be seen in a world in which she must hide. When her American-born son is bullied, she fights back.
Justin Rayna is the composer and Sebastián Eddowes-Vargas is the dramaturg. Goodenow said the story tries to examine immigration from all sides.
“I’m constantly honing in on the story and working with my dramaturg and other people who can bring perspective to the story,” she said. “It’s an exploration and I’m trying to honor all the different perspectives. I want it to be a conversation starter.”
Tickets are $10. For more, visit atistage.org.
