A Work Forever in Progress

Like the author who writes a story about his inability to write a story, or the filmmaker who directs a film about his struggle to conjure anything worth filming, the self-reflexive meta-work is an inevitable rite for any artist at a creative loss. But few examples of this narcissistic genre have enjoyed such a jubilant and enduring shelf life as composer Jeff Bowen and author Hunter Bell’s [title of show], a musical about two people not unlike Bowen and Bell who write a musical about the struggles of writing a musical. Stay with me now: It gets better, especially for Broadway aficionados, who will feast on the show’s countless musical-theater references and inside jokes. But anyone who’s ever fought to bring any creative seedling to full bloom will appreciate this witty show’s exploration of the subject. And if you’re still not sold, buy a ticket just because it contains a song called “Die, Vampire, Die!”
Fridays, Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 7 p.m. Starts: May 30. Continues through June 15, 2014