The Crossing:

A Revolutionary New MUsical

The Crossing was born from the belief that history isn’t something we leave behind—it’s something we continually step into with courage, clarity, and heart.

As our nation marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, our goal is to premiere The Crossing at the historic Patriots Theatre in Trenton, New Jersey, in December 2026—just miles from where Washington led his troops toward a new chapter in human liberty.

To bring this epic new musical to life, we invite partners who believe in purposeful art, living history, and the power of storytelling to inspire a new generation. Your support will help carry this production from vision to stage and into a landmark premiere worthy of this anniversary.

 Videos - Crossing: A Revolutionary New Musical

CREATIVE TEAM

John Allen Watts

Music

A native New Yorker, John, has decades of experience composing, performing and producing music in a wide variety of popular musical styles, including pop, rock, blues, r&b, reggae and Brazilian jazz. His deep passion for songwriting eventually led him back to the world of musical theatre. After completing his first musical and two subsequent 29-hour AEA readings, John enrolled at the Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program at NYU’s TISCH School for the Arts where he graduated in 2017. John is a theatrical composer and musical director at The Lucy Moses School in NYC. ASCAP, CTI, and Dramatists Guild.

Jason Huza

Book & Lyrics

From musical theater to film to novels, Jason enjoys writing in any form. His novels Delirium Tremens and Emma and Adam were published in 2017, Jason did co-book and additional lyrics for the musical It Happened in Key West which premiered on London’s West End in 2018. His play, Dante’s Omission was a Eugene O’Neill Playwriting Conference semi-finalist. An untitled pilot (co-written with Victor Colicchio - Summer of Sam)and a feature, The Ourang Medan, are both in early development. When Jason isn’t writing, you can find him in Manhattan earning his well-deserved reputation as the Greatest Husband and Father in the World.

Misti Wills

Director

Misti is an award winning theatre director and educator working regionally and in New York City. Select directing credits include; Off-Broadway: Brilliant (Theatre Row), My Real Mother (New York Musical Festival, Outstanding Lead Performance Award), Tempest at La MaMa Etc. (Assistant Director)  Regional:  A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (Greenville Theatre, SC), Sister Act (5 Star Theatricals, Ovation Recommended, Best Director Award for 5 Star Theatricals Subscriber Awards, L.A. Scenie Award Best Director for Larger Musical),  Hunchback of Notre Dame (5 Star Theatricals, L.A. Scenie Award Best Director of Larger Musical), My Fair Lady (Forestburgh Playhouse). Misti has assistant directed Karin Coonrod, Gabriel Barre and Scott Schwartz.  Misti holds a Master of Arts degree in Theater Education from Emerson College and is a certified K-12 performing arts teacher.  She has trained with Anne Bogart, Michael Mayer, David Mamet and Kristin Linklater.  She has been on the acting faculties of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and the New York Film Academy and Long Island University in Brooklyn.   Misti is a proud member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.  

ManagEment and consultancy

Roger S. Williams

Co-Producer, Non-profit Partner, Co-Founder, TenCrucialDays.org

TenCrucialDays.org (TCD.org) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the sites and venues of the Trenton and Princeton campaigns – from December 25th, 1776, to January 3rd, 1777. TCD.org operates tours for Friends of Washington Crossing Park to Trenton’s Old Barracks Museum and the Princeton Battlefield. TCD.org is also a consultancy group of professional and public historians that provides information about the events, the people, and the significance of the American War for Independence in the Delaware Valley. TCD.org coFounder Roger S. Williams is a former book publishing executive specializing in American History focused on British America, the American War for Independence, and the Early Republic. He is currently the Vice-Chairman of the History and Education Committees for the National Society, Sons of the American Revolution, State Historian for the New Jersey Society, SAR and the President of the Princeton Chapter.

Brishen Miller

Co-producer, Executive Artistic Director, Passage Theater Company

Brishen is originally from Kalamazoo, MI. He received a BA in Theatre from Wayne State University in Detroit in 2007. Returning to Kalamazoo, he helped establish Fancy Pants Theater from the ground up, 2010-2015,directing shows such as A Thousand Clowns and Kiss of the Spiderwoman and appearing in many roles. Brishen moved from Michigan to Pennsylvania and earned an MA from Villanova University in 2018, where he was named an Acting Scholar. A true Jack-of-alltrades, Brishen has held every role in theatrical production, from stagehand to producer and walk-on actor to Playwright. Brishen was hired as Passage Theatre’s production manager in July 2019. He was promoted to Managing Director at Passage Theatre Company in 2022, and ultimately, in 2023, he was promoted to Executive Artistic Director. He swiftly restructured the existing programming into the Passage Pillars: TrentonPREMIERES (the mainstage), TrentonMAKES (new play development), and TrentonPRESENTS (the community and education stage). He was proud to be the director to usher Passage Theatre across their 40th season and into their 41st, two of the most successful seasons in the history of the company. Brishen is an adjunct theater faculty at MCCC as well as an active playwright, actor, and solo performer.

William “Larry” Kidder

Historical Advisor

Larry has taught history for 40 years. He has been an active member of the Association for Living History, Farm, and Agricultural Museums and has served on the New Jersey Living History Advisory Council. He has been writer and editor for the Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area program Meet Your Revolutionary Neighbors and has been an active member in organizations such as the Hopewell (NJ) Valley Historical Society, the Ewing (NJ) Historic Preservation Society, the Princeton Battlefield Society, the Washington Crossing American Revolution Round Table, and TenCrucialDays.org. In addition to periodical articles and other short pieces, he is the author of several books on colonial history and the early republic including, Crossroads of the Revolution: Trenton, 1774-1783 (2017), and Ten Crucial Days: Washington’s Vision for Victory Unfolds (2018), Revolutionary Princeton 1774 - 1783(2020), and The Revolutionary World of a Free Black Man: Jacob Francis 1754-1836.

TERRI SEGGIO

Creative & Educationl Consultant

Terri has been teaching literacy, directing, and choreographing for over 35 years. Mrs. Seggio has given many workshops on enhancing the literacy classroom through the arts to help teachers make literacy come alive in their classrooms. She wrote the curriculum for the Little Toy Inventors Program which is part of the Toy Museum of NY. Currently she is the Chairperson of the Franklin Township Cultural Arts Council and is on the Board of Directors for Project Broadway in NYC. Mrs. Seggio has been recognized by Somerset County as Woman of the Year in Arts & Entertainment, in 2018, and with the Excellence in Arts Education Award, in 2017. (She continues to coach students 10 to 25 privately for theatre auditions, and 1 of her former students won a Tony award last year!) She is so proud of the over 50 shows that she has directed and choreographed in her career, and firmly believes “Arts education is vital and builds confidence on and off the stage! All children should experience a standing ovation once in their life!”

GARY BERTON

Historical Advisor

Retired professor of Political Science and math teacher, a 50-year independent scholar of Thomas Paine, former Coordinator and founder of the Institute for Thomas Paine Studies at Iona University, current President of the Thomas Paine National Historical Association and an officer for 25 years, author of numerous articles on Thomas Paine, and currently the research director of the international Collected Works of Thomas Paine for Princeton University Press. Married with six grandchildren.

 The Crossing Classroom

Here is an exciting opportunity that can connect directly to an educational Revolutionary War unit, literacy or drama class. This concert presentation of The Crossing is more than a theatrical performance — it is designed as a multidisciplinary learning experience that brings history, literature, and critical thinking to life.

The concert format highlights real historical events such as the winter of 1776, the crossing of the Delaware, and the role of Thomas Paine’s The American Crisis. It can be presented as a school performance or used to make history come alive in a classroom.

Through music and character perspectives, students encounter:

• Historical context – Washington’s leadership challenges, soldier morale, and wartime strategy

• Primary-source connections – excerpts and ideas drawn from Paine and the Declaration of Independence

• Multiple perspectives – soldiers, civilians, women on the home front, and diverse voices like Jacob’s experience

• Themes already in your standards – leadership, sacrifice, civic duty, courage, and the meaning of freedom

This material supports classroom learning by helping students:

• Hear the emotional reality behind historical events Analyze point of view and author’s purpose

• Explore figurative language, symbolism, and theme through lyrics Engage in discussion, writing, and critical thinking

Classroom materials include:

• Historical Background

• Vocabulary lists & Listening activities Discussion questions

• Writing prompts and reflection activities

Our goal is for students to leave not only entertained, but with a deeper understanding of the people, choices, and ideas that shaped the Revolution.

Enjoy - Terri, Larry & Jason

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