Queensbury graduate Ben Rowley will premiere his original musical, “Solstice,” at The Charles R. Wood Theater on May 22 and 23.
“Solstice is a new musical that follows the story of two brothers who are living in their childhood home one year after their mom’s passing alongside their girlfriends,” said Rowley, who graduated from QHS in 2015. “It’s a story of overcoming loss through the relationships that define us as brothers, as fathers, as mothers and as community members.”
The show takes place in a fictionalized setting that will remind audiences of Queensbury.
“Queensbury naturally shapes the imaginative context of the show in a sense — the mountains, the lakes, the roads, the neighborhoods, the sense of community,” Rowley said. “It’s interesting to see how those two have connected through the creative process.”
Rowley started writing the musical in 2020 and staged a sold-out reading in 2023. Now, “Solstice” returns as a fully staged developmental production directed by Brittany Martel. Solstice is presented in partnership with the newly established Arts Academy at St. Mary’s, where Rowley serves as the artistic director.
The show features a pop-contemporary music style and a cast of artists from around the region, including Queensbury grads — Stephanie Willis ‘12, Josh Willis ‘17, and Amelia Murray ‘21 — and soon-to-be-grads — Delaney Sano ‘26 and Adam Spero ‘26. Brendan Klippel ‘14 will play violin in the pit.
“It’s a great mix of generations from Queensbury,” said Rowley, who graduated from the Music Composition program at New York University after Queensbury.
At Queensbury, Rowley was in the band, the jazz band and the Madrigal Singers. He played percussion in the pit for productions of “Damn Yankees” and “Beauty and the Beast” and performed in “Seussical.” He worked closely with music teachers Laura Lee DeLand and Penny Schiek.
“I feel like Queensbury was always a naturally inspiring place to learn and create,” he said, “and I can tell by working with people who are grads of Queensbury in recent years, that it still is a place that continues to instill a passion for the arts and foster a lot of creativity in many directions.”
He advised Queensbury students to embrace their high school journey and to follow their passions.
“It’s a beautiful thing seeing where your creativity leads you,” he said. “Just be open to that winding path.”
