‘Young John Lewis’ musical premieres at Theatrical Outfit

In 2019, as the first Trump administration came to a close, Theatrical Outfit artistic director Matt Torney called his colleague and musical director Gregory “Psalmayene 24″ Morrison with a simple pitch: “Young. John. Lewis.”

The concept immediately intrigued Morrison, who was already deeply familiar with Lewis’ legacy. The longtime congressman and civil rights icon represented unity in a time of division and oppression.

The country’s political trajectory under the first Trump administration only deepened the urgency and relevance of telling Lewis’ story.

On Saturday, after six years of development, Theatrical Outfit will debut the “Young John Lewis” musical at the Balzer Theater at Herren’s.

Brought to life by Psalmayene 24, Torney and composer Eugene H. Russell IV, the production invites audiences to experience Lewis’ formative years and the turbulent era that shaped a movement — right in the heart Atlanta.

The show began its previews Wednesday. Opening night is Saturday and the show runs through June 29.

Psalmayene 24 believes there’s no better time to tell Lewis’ story. He sees the musical as a timely response to the current political climate and a call to action for a new generation.

“The many things that John Lewis risked his life for are not only at stake, but they’re being also rolled back,” he said. “So now is actually the perfect time to not only reexamine his legacy, but to look at the blueprint of exactly how he was able to make social change at a young age.”

Lewis represented Georgia’s 5th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1987 until his passing in 2020. Throughout his life, he championed racial equality for African Americans and fought against systemic oppression through the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee.

He was the youngest speaker at the 1963 March on Washington, and his photographed image during “Bloody Sunday” — in a tan trench coat on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama — is forever tied to the Civil Rights Movement.

The musical features young, rising talents including Atlanta native Michael Bahsil stepping into the role of Lewis. Through a compelling theatrical retelling, audiences see pivotal moments that shaped Lewis’ life and his lifelong commitment to justice and equality.

Credit: Casey G Ford

Actor Michael Bahsil plays the titular character in "Young John Lewis," running through June 29 at Theatrical Outfit in Atlanta. (Casey G Ford/Access Atlanta)

To ensure historical accuracy and honor Lewis’ legacy, Theatrical Outfit partnered with the John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation throughout the production process. The musical is also sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts and Kilpatrick.

Detria Austin Everson, CEO of the John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation, said because the musical was six years in the making, Lewis was fully aware of the project. She also expressed confidence that the production faithfully represents Lewis’ life, citing the cast and crew’s deep commitment to research.

“They were able to engage with people throughout that time frame to really dive into the true facts of his life,” Everson said. “The amount of research invested gives me confidence that people are going to walk out even more educated and informed about specific details in the critical tenure of his life.”

The Foundation also created a graphic handout, guiding audiences through key moments in Lewis’ journey and highlighting major events that defined his roles in the Civil Rights Movement and government.

The musical arrives at a pivotal moment in American history, as debates over how African American history is taught and preserved intensify nationwide. In January, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the removal of diversity, equity and inclusion programs across federal agencies, labeling them as “radical and wasteful.”

The order, echoed by multiple Republican-led state governments, has sparked widespread concern among educators, artists and civil rights advocates.

Democrats in the House of Representatives have introduced the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025. Its goal is to combat modern voter suppression tactics by strengthening the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and establish new standards for identifying and dealing with discriminatory voting practices with federal oversight with the Department of Justice.

Credit: Brant Sanderlin/AJC/TNS)

Rep. John Lewis stands on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in February 2015. On March 7, 1965, he helped lead 600 civil rights activists across the bridge in a march for voting rights. The former congressman from Georgia died of cancer in 2020. (AJC 2015)

The “Young John Lewis” musical stands as a bold act of artistic resistance against these changes.

Everson emphasized that, regardless of the current political climate, celebrating Lewis’ life and legacy should be a daily commitment. She believes the musical serves as a powerful opportunity to educate audiences about his contributions and sacrifices.

“This year would have been Congressman Lewis’ 85th birthday,” she said. “We’ve been celebrating him all year long, and we’re going to have another opportunity to celebrate and promote and uplift his legacy. But most importantly, we’re going to have a chance to share and educate people on the civil rights in American history.”

For Psalmayene 24, the most important takeaway from the musical is the power of the individual and the profound impact one person can have on the world.

“We have the power to change the world at any age,” he said. “Young people have the power to actually get organized with the help of older people and create actions that not only transform the fabric of our culture and society but transform themselves as human beings.”

EVENT PREVIEW

“Young John Lewis”