Rails

Rails is a new musical with music and lyrics by Tom Kenaston and book and lyrics by Tom Paitson Kelly. Jerry's life is a trainwreck. His fiery Irish grandmother Maggie is losing her mind, his mom wants to put her in a home, and his boyfriend is ready to take a hike. Could a bunch of dusty model trains and old stories fix things? He's counting on it. He fills their living room with the model trains Maggie gave him growing up. Convinced they will trigger her memories, he draws her into their beloved childhood storytelling game. Each flip of a switch resurrects stories from her adventures on a multitude of trains. Together they dive into the colorful, musical, and sometimes terrifying landscape of Maggie's mind. She remembers it all. Until she doesn't. And Jerry is left with an impossible decision. 'Rails' blends the poignant queer family drama of 'Fun Home' with the exuberant theatricality of 'The Drowsy Chaperone'. It's a celebration of storytelling as a lifeline — preserving the heartbreak, triumph, struggle, and joy that shape every life. The concert will be performed at 54 Below in New York, NY, with rehearsals on February 22 and 26, 2027, the concert on February 28, 2027 at 7pm, and an industry salon on March 1, 2027.