As we were closing A Beautiful Noise on Broadway and digging our way out of the post-pandemic rollercoaster, I sought some advice.

Not from one person. From several actually.

Mentors. Investors. Colleagues. People I trust.

And they all said some version of the same thing:

“The pandemic accelerated the aging of the Broadway audience. You’ve got to stay connected to what younger audiences want, Ken.”

Now here’s the part that hit me.

I realized . . . I was on the other side of the theatergoer.

For years, I’ve talked about understanding your audience. Sitting in the back of the house. Listening to what they laugh at. Feeling when they lean forward.

But suddenly, I wasn’t just the producer watching the audience.

I was the audience.

And I wasn’t 32 anymore.

The pandemic didn’t just change Broadway’s economics. It changed its demographics. Tourists came back slower. The average age of the Broadway ticket buyer ticked up — including me.

And that was a wake-up call.

If You Want a Younger Audience, Hire Younger Eyes

One mentor said something incredibly simple:

“If you want to know what younger audiences care about . . . hire younger people to scout for you.”

Brilliant. Obvious. Humbling.

So I did.

I empowered members of my team and gave them a mandate:

• Find what’s resonating right now.
• Find what’s building audiences without permission from traditional gatekeepers.
• Find the artists who are speaking in the language of today and tomorrow.

So when my Marketing Director Mary Dina connected with writer Joey Contreras about his new musical called In Pieces, she made the introduction with my Associate Producer Jonathan Hogue.

The TikTok-to-Theatre Pipeline Is Real

If you’re on TikTok or even Instagram, you’ve probably seen In Pieces going viral online.

Songs circulating. Fans sharing clips. Young performers singing it in bedrooms, rehearsal studios, and college showcases.

It wasn’t waiting for a Broadway stamp of approval.

It was building its own audience.

And when I started digging into it, I had this strange déjà vu moment.

It reminded me of the day I received a CD of Edges from Pasek & Paul (remember that song cycle?) and an email from their agent saying how excited he was about this new writing team and what they could do.

That feeling of: “Pay attention. Something’s happening here.”

That instinct has served me well over the years. And when I listened to In Pieces, I felt it again.

Meet the TheaterMakers Putting The Pieces Together

The musical is written by Joey Contreras, a musical theater writer whose work is already resonating globally online. He and lead producer Andrew Patino aren’t just building a show — they’re building a community.

And they’re doing it in a way that feels native to 2026.

Not waiting for permission.

Not waiting for a traditional out-of-town tryout to “discover” them.

They’re letting the audience discover the show first.

That’s powerful.

From Social Media to London: The Next Step

The momentum has already crossed the Atlantic.

The London premiere of In Pieces is a one-night-only staged concert, set for Monday, March 30, 2026 at The Other Palace.

And it sold out in 3 hours.

And due to the demand, another TWO performances were just added yesterday! 

And then those sold out before the end of day.

When a contemporary musical builds demand online and converts it into a sold-out London concert? That’s not an accident.

That’s an audience.

Why I’m Producing In Pieces

I’m co-producing this show for a few very specific reasons.

First, because my team brought it to me. And I trust my team.

Second, because it reminded me of that Edges moment. The early days of something before the rest of the industry catches up.

Third, because I believe Joey Contreras and Andrew Patino are going to make an impact. And I want to be part of that impact.

Not just Broadway’s past.

Broadway’s present and future.

If the pandemic taught us anything, it’s that this industry doesn’t survive by protecting what was.

It survives by nurturing what’s next.

In Pieces feels like what’s next.

And if we want younger audiences in our theaters, we have to champion the writers they’re already listening to.

We have to be part of today and tomorrow — not just yesterday.

That’s why I’m producing In Pieces.

And I have a feeling this is only the beginning.

If you want to keep an eye on what’s happening with In Pieces (especially after its sold-out London premiere at The Other Palace) now’s the time.

Because sometimes the most important shows aren’t the ones that open with billboards.

They’re the ones that start with a song going viral in someone’s bedroom.

Can’t make it to London to see this concert? Here’s how else you can support this new musical:

• STREAM Joey Contreras’ In Pieces Deluxe Edition Album
• FOLLOW In Pieces on social media for content and updates
• SHARE your favorite songs on your own social media

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