The Angel Makers
A New Musical Based on a True Story
Book by Amanda Freedman
Music by Lorenzo Pipino
Lyrics by Amanda Freedman & Lorenzo Pipino
Honorable Mention, Relentless Musical Award 2025
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Best Production of a Musical, SheNYC Arts Festival 2024
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Best Score, SheNYC Arts Festival 2024
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Best Actress in a Leading Role for Holly Hinchliffe, SheNYC Arts Festival 2024
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Semi-Finalist, Syracuse New Works/New Voices 2024 & 2026
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Semi-Finalist, O’Neil NMTC 2024
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Honorable Mention, Relentless Musical Award 2025 ✳︎ Best Production of a Musical, SheNYC Arts Festival 2024 ✳︎ Best Score, SheNYC Arts Festival 2024 ✳︎ Best Actress in a Leading Role for Holly Hinchliffe, SheNYC Arts Festival 2024 ✳︎ Semi-Finalist, Syracuse New Works/New Voices 2024 & 2026 ✳︎ Semi-Finalist, O’Neil NMTC 2024 ✳︎
Based on a true story, The Angel Makers is a new musical about a group of women in 1920s rural Hungary who systematically poison their husbands to escape abusive marriages.
As men return to the Hungarian village of Nagyrév after fighting in The Great War, Suzsanna, the midwife—and the only medical professional in town—begins treating the women for various injuries inflicted by their husbands. When one woman appears at Suzsanna’s home in desperate need of a solution, Suzsanna reluctantly offers her a vial of poison. This small act spreads like wildfire throughout the women of the town, leading them to seek Suzsanna’s “remedy” for their marriages. With the help of the town coroner’s wife, Júlia, they form a group known as “The Angel Makers,” who are willing to do whatever it takes to fight for their newfound freedom.
But as the women gain power in their village—and the men grow terrified—Suzsanna starts to question the morality of their methods for seeking justice.
“Accident” from
The Angel Makers
Performed by: Chelsea Zeno, Sherz Aletaha, and Bobby Cook Gallagher
Joe’s Pub, May 2023
“Through The Year” from
The Angel Makers
Performed by: Holly Hinchliffe & Gabriella Joy Rodriguez
Green Room 42, October 2023
“The Stranger” from
The Angel Makers
Performed by: Chloe Chappa
Green Room 42, October 2025
Development History
February 2027
29-hour reading: San Diego State University
October 2026
Scene & Song Workshop at Norwalk Conservatory
March 2026
Table Read at Open Jar Studios
February 2025
Presented The Angel Makers: In Concert, a one-night only, 90-minute concert version of the show with an expanded eight-piece band at The Five Angels Theater
August 2024
Premiere production of The Angel Makers at SheNYC Arts Summer Theater Festival. The Angel Makers was selected as one of eight shows out of 450 submissions, and was given two bonus performances due to popular demand for a fully sold-out run.
May 2024
29-hour reading: Western Connecticut State University’s New Works Class
March 2024
29-hour reading: NYU’s Graduate Acting Program’s The 29 Project
August 2023
29-hour reading: Abrons Arts Center’s @Abrons Series
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