Staff Reports | Happenings & Events
The Phoenix Theatre Company presents Daddy Long Legs, a two‑person musical based on Jean Webster’s 1912 novel, running April 1 through May 3, 2026, in the Hormel Theatre.
The production tells the story of Jerusha Abbott, an orphan whose life changes when an anonymous benefactor offers to pay for her college education, sparking a years‑long exchange of letters that shapes her independence and future, according to a press release.
Written by composer Paul Gordon with a book by librettist John Caird, the musical follows Jerusha as she navigates education, ambition and identity through correspondence with the mysterious figure she calls “Daddy Long Legs.”
“What really inspires me about this story is Jerusha herself,” Chelsea Anderson, director of Daddy Long Legs, said. “She’s a young woman learning about her rights, finding her voice, and claiming an education and an agency for herself at a time when that was a radical idea. Yes, we get the beautiful love story, but equally, she gets to have a backbone. She gets to be an independent thinker with really beautiful philosophical ideas.”
The musical unfolds through letters that document Jerusha’s growth and evolving worldview, using a chamber‑style score and a small ensemble to frame the narrative.
“This is a chamber musical,” Ms. Anderson said. “It’s small, just two characters and a small orchestra, but it feels expansive. The script is clever, the language is playful, and the music is gorgeous. I think folks will walk away humming the songs and thinking, ‘What a lovely evening at the theatre.’”
The cast includes Carmiña Monserrat as Jerusha Abbott and Liam Boyd as Jervis Pendleton. Understudies are Jasmyn Gade and Atticus Adair. Performers are appearing courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association.
Tickets start at $60 and are available at phoenixtheatre.com or by calling 602‑254‑2151.
