Erin McKeown: 2018

We're off to the theater for FUV Live today, talking with longtime FUV fave Erin McKeown about her new musical Miss You Like Hell, which is now playing at the Public Theater. McKeown makes her theater debut writing the music and lyrics for the show, alongside Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Quiara Alegría Hudes (Water by the Spoonful, In the Heights).

This bold new musical follows two-time Tony nominee Daphne Rubin-Vega (Anna in the Tropics, Daphne's Dive, Rent) as Beatriz — estranged mom to 16 year-old Olivia (played by Gizel Jiménez), and an undocumented immigrant facing deportation. Their reunion and ensuing road trip crosses state lines from Philly to L.A., and mixes a complicated and relevant story with heart, humor and dreams.

Although McKeown is no stranger to making records, going from script to songs to stage was new for her. It's also been a multiyear process, so it was great to talk to her about finally getting to this point of seeing her work produced in New York City.

In Studio A, McKeown was joined by actor and singer Latoya Edwards and Cody Owen Stine on piano. They treated us to two songs from Miss You Like Hell: "Yellowstone" and "Now I'm Here."

You can hear the session on The Whole Wide World tonight at 8 p.m. on FUV (90.7FM and wfuv.org), or anytime — with video — below.

[recorded: 4/12/18]