Every day is opening night.

Press Contacts:
Rick Miramontez / Michael Jorgensen
rick@omdkc.com / michael@omdkc.com
212 695 7400

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, PLEASE 

SKYLAR ASTIN, BRENT COMER, CLAYBOURNE ELDER,
ELIZABETH GILLIES, TAYLOR LOUDERMAN, & JOY WOODS
JOIN 

AMERICAN HISTORY UNBOUND’S RETURN TO
CARNEGIE HALL WITH
“WE CHOSE TO GO TO THE MOON”
ON TUESDAY, APRIL 7 & WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2026

MULTIMEDIA MUSICAL SPECTACLE
CHRONICLES THE DRAMA OF AMERICA’S RACE TO SPACE
THROUGH ARCHIVAL FILM AND PHOTOGRAPHY,
LUNAR FLAGS, AND LIVE PERFORMANCES
FEATURING LEADING BROADWAY VOCALISTS

WITH NARRATION BY WRITER AND HISTORIAN JOHN MONSKY

TWO SPECIAL PERFORMANCES AT CARNEGIE HALL
DIRECTED BY TONY AWARD-WINNER MICHAEL MAYER

TO BE FILMED FOR FUTURE NATIONAL TELEVISION BROADCAST
BY ACADEMY AWARD-PRODUCING RADICALMEDIA

LANDMARK PRODUCTION PRESENTED WITH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF KENNETH C. GRIFFIN AND GRIFFIN CATALYST

New York, NY (March 25, 2026) – American History Unbound has set an all-star lineup of performers for its return to Carnegie Hall with We Chose to Go to the Moon. Directed by Tony Award-winner Michael Mayer (Spring Awakening, Chess), the program features vignettes and vocal performances by stage and film star Skylar Astin (Pitch Perfect, Spring Awakening), who will portray Neil Armstrong, Grammy Award nominee Brent Comer (The Outsiders), Claybourne Elder (Company, “The Gilded Age”), TV star Elizabeth Gillies (Netflix’s “Dynasty”), Tony Award nominee Taylor Louderman (Mean Girls), and Grammy and Tony Award-nominee Joy Woods (Gypsy, Six). As previously announced, Neil Armstrong’s son Mark Armstrong and granddaughter Kali Armstrong will perform a special tribute to the astronaut.

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We Chose to Go to the Moon is an immersive sensory theatrical experience that tells the dramatic tale of America’s race to space and decision to land a man on the Moon in one of the most ambitious scientific and exploration achievements in history. The production is a “living documentary,” blending theater, concert, and documentary storytelling to create a vivid on-stage experience of an iconic moment in history.

John Monsky tells the story through multiple perspectives, following the journeys of pioneers in space exploration including: astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Michael Collins, and Ed White; Mission Control trailblazer Poppy Northcutt and NASA “Hidden Figures” mathematician Katherine Johnson; and the families behind America’s ambitious space program such as Janet Armstrong and Betty Grissom. Audiences are transported from quaking launch pads at Cape Canaveral to the tension-filled rooms of Mission Control and into the living rooms where families watched their loved ones literally disappear into the skies as people around the world watched history unfold in real time.

Set against a cultural soundtrack of music from the era performed by this outstanding cast of acclaimed Broadway actors with Orchestra of St. Luke’s – the performance reaches a crescendo in the fulfillment of President John F. Kennedy’s 1961 challenge to land a man on the Moon and return him safely to Earth before the end of the decade. The words of the astronauts, engineers, and their families recall the excitement, the fear, and the triumph of the race to space. In a breathtaking moment, viewers will see American flags that the astronauts brought to the Moon and back.

Developed over several years by historian, writer, and narrator John Monsky, the production is directed by Tony Award-winner Michael Mayer (Spring Awakening, Chess) and will be performed for two nights only—Tuesday, April 7 and Wednesday, April 8, both at 7:30 p.m.—in Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage. Ian Weinberger (Chess, Hamilton) conducts top Broadway vocalists and the Orchestra of St. Luke’s in music from the era—popular, patriotic, and protesting, including, “Fly Me to the Moon,” “Rocket Man,” “Space Oddity,” and “My Generation.”

This landmark multimedia production is presented with the generous support of Kenneth C. Griffin in partnership with his civic engagement initiative Griffin Catalyst.

We Chose to Go to the Moon will be filmed by Academy Award-producing RadicalMedia – Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) – for a national television broadcast this Fall, coinciding with the commemoration of America’s 250^th anniversary and Veterans Day.

These performances are presented by Carnegie Hall as part of its citywide United in Sound: America at 250 festival.

The Carnegie Hall performances are produced by American History Unbound, Inc. John Monsky is writer, creator, narrator, and executive producer. Michael Mayer is director for the stage. Ian Weinberger is music supervisor, arranger, and conductor. Austin Regan is associate director. Emily Maltby is choreographer. Meredith Wagner is executive producer. Bethany Weinstein Stewert is general and production manager. Eric Duran is media producer. Gene Graham, Rick Miramontez, and Reece dos Santos are producers. Josephine Hurshell-Hobson is associate producer. Casting is by Jim Carnahan, CSA and Liz Fraser, CSA.

We Chose to Go to the Moon is produced for television by RadicalMedia. Executive producers are Jon Kamen, John Monsky, Dave Sirulnick, Meredith Wagner, and Karla Zambrano. Michael John Warren directs. Declan Quinn serves as director of photography.

ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES

Skylar Astin can most recently be seen opposite Marcia Gay Harden on CBS’s “So Help Me Todd.” Prior to that, he starred in NBC’s award-winning series “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist,” and was previously seen in Disney’s “Secret Society of Second Born Royals.” Prior to “Zoey’s,” Astin starred in the final season of The CW’s “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” and is best known for playing “Jesse” in the Pitch Perfect franchise. Additionally, he starred as “Isaiah Miller” alongside Nick Nolte in the Golden Globe-nominated dark comedy Graves. Other notable film roles include starring opposite Miles Teller in the comedy 21 And Over, Taking Woodstock (dir. Ang Lee), the Sundance cult-hit Hamlet 2, as well as Flock of Dudes, Cavemen, Ghosts of War, Hot Air, and the beloved Disney animated film Wreck-It Ralph. In television, he starred in Bill Lawrence’s multi-camera comedy “Ground Floor” and has appeared in shows such as “Girls,” “Halt and Catch Fire,” “House,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” and “Love Bites.” Astin’s first break came as “Georg” in the 2006 cultural phenomenon Spring Awakening. The show went on to win eight Tony Awards and a Grammy Award. He portrayed the role of “Tony” in Carnegie Hall’s 2016 production of West Side Story and appeared in Encore’s production of Kurt Vonnegut’s God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater. He was also seen in Pulitzer Prize nominee Theresa Rebeck’s play, What We’re Up Against. Astin performed at the iconic Hollywood Bowl in Into the Woods (“Baker”), Rent (“Mark”), Everybody Rise, and Do You Hear The People Sing. Astin currently has original music on Spotify and everywhere else you can stream music. @skylarastin

Brent Comer most recently starred as “Darrel Curtis” in the Broadway production of The Outsiders (OBC), which received the Tony Award for Best Musical and a Grammy nomination for Best Musical Theater Album. National Tour: Les Misérables. Regional credits include Tame That Bitch, Titus Andronicus, King Edward III, and Orpheus Descending. Upcoming: the Netflix feature film The Mosquito Bowl, directed by Peter Berg. Training: James Madison University.

Claybourne Elder is a Drama Desk, Lucille Lortel, Grammy and SAG Award nominee and is known for his performances on Broadway as “Andy” in the Tony Award-winning revival of Company, Sunday in the Park with George, Torch Song, and Bonnie and Clyde. On TV, he played “John Adams” for three seasons on HBO’s hit series “The Gilded Age” and also appeared in the Hallmark Channel Original Deck the Walls. Other credits include: “Hollis” in Sondheim’s Road Show at The Public Theater, Sondheim on Sondheim at the Hollywood Bowl, Do I Hear a Waltz, this season’s The Wild Party at City Center Encores, One Arm at The New Group, Allegro at Classic Stage, Venice at the Public Theatre, Strike Up the Band at Carnegie Hall, and Passion at Signature Theatre. His solo show has played to sold-out crowds across the country and in London and his debut album, “If the Stars Were Mine,” was released on April 3 by Center Stage Records. @claybourneelder

Elizabeth Gillies is an actress, singer, and director known for her roles as “Fallon Carrington” in the popular Netflix series “Dynasty” and “Jade West” in the generation-defining Nickelodeon series “Victorious.” Gillies returned to her Broadway roots last year, starring in the acclaimed Off-Broadway revival of Little Shop of Horrors as “Audrey.” A few of her TV credits include “The Hunting Party,” “The Orville,” “White Collar,” “Family Guy,” and the FX series “Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll,” where she starred opposite Denis Leary for two seasons. On the film side, Gillies can be seen in Vacation, Arizona, Animal, Catwoman: Hunted, and Spread, which she also produced. In addition to her acting career, Gillies is a singer who performs regularly to sold-out audiences across the country. She has two records out with her longtime friend and collaborator, Seth MacFarlane.

Taylor Louderman is a Tony Award-nominated actress, educator, and philanthropist, best known for originating the role of “Regina George” in Broadway’s Mean Girls. She made her Broadway debut leading Bring It On: The Musical and went on to star as “Wendy” in “Peter Pan Live!” (NBC) and “Lauren” in Kinky Boots on Broadway. Her TV credits include series regulars on NBC’s “Kenan” and Nick Jr’s “Sunny Day” as well as roles on “The Good Fight” (CBS), “Evil” (CBS), “The Loudest Voice” (Showtime), and “High Maintenance” (HBO). Beyond performing, Louderman co-wrote a teen musical, Pitch In, now being performed in middle schools nationwide and founded the nonprofit Write Out Loud Project, supporting emerging musical theatre songwriters.

Joy Woods is a Chicago-born, New York–based performer who has quickly established herself as one of Broadway’s rising stars. She received Tony and Grammy Award nominations for her performance as “Louise” in the Broadway revival of Gypsy opposite Audra McDonald, and recently starred in London’s 30^th Anniversary Concert of Jason Robert Brown’s Songs for a New World. Woods made her professional debut at 19 as “Chiffon” in the 2019 Off-Broadway revival of Little Shop of Horrors, and later returned to the show in the leading role of “Audrey.” She made her Broadway debut in SIX as “Catherine Parr” in 2022, and gained widespread attention for her breakout performance as “Middle Allie” in the 2024 Broadway adaptation of The Notebook. Other stage credits include performances at Carnegie Hall, the Met, 54 Below, Classic Stage Company, New York City Center, and regional theatres across the US. She is committed to telling stories that center on women of color and expand the emotional vocabulary of contemporary musical theater. @joynwoods

ABOUT AMERICAN HISTORY UNBOUND

The American History Unbound series combines live music—performed by leading orchestras and celebrated Broadway actors—lecture, photographs and film from the National Archives, historic American flags, and material culture to explore watershed moments in American history.

These symphonic and visual journeys through history are commissioned by the Carnegie Hall Presents series. Created and narrated by historian John Monsky, programs to date have explored the Vietnam War, D-Day, and World War I.

These works have been presented at Carnegie Hall, Boston’s Symphony Hall, the John F. Kennedy Center Opera House, Miami’s New World Center, New Orleans’ Orpheum Theater, Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts, The New York Historical, Parrish Art Museum in Water Mill, New York, Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach, Florida, Yale University, New York University’s Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, and the New York Stock Exchange. In December 2024, The Eyes of the World: From D-Day to VE Day was performed at the White House commemorating the anniversary of Pearl Harbor. A performance with the legendary Boston Pops is currently streaming via PBS Passport.

American Heart in WWI: A Carnegie Hall Tribute, filmed at Carnegie Hall in April 2025 by the Academy Award-producing RadicalMedia – Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) – and directed for the stage by Tony Award-winner Michael Mayer (Spring Awakening), is currently streaming on PBS Passport, presented by Kenneth C. Griffin and Griffin Catalyst. American History Unbound Inc is a 501(c)(3). For more information, visit americanhistoryunbound.com

ABOUT GRIFFIN CATALYST

Griffin Catalyst is the civic engagement initiative of Citadel founder and CEO Ken Griffin, encompassing his philanthropic and community impact efforts. Tackling the world’s greatest challenges in innovative, action-oriented, and evidence-driven ways, Griffin Catalyst is dedicated to expanding opportunity and improving lives across six areas of focus: Education, Science & Medicine, Upward Mobility, Freedom & Democracy, Enterprise & Innovation, and Communities. For more information, visit griffincatalyst.org.

ABOUT RADICALMEDIA

RadicalMedia is among the world’s leading producers of premium content, developing and creating award-winning film, television, advertising, design, live events, digital, and immersive experiences. The company’s work includes the 2026 SXSW Film Festival Audience Award-winning Noah Kahan film Out of Body (Netflix), the Academy Award–produced documentaries Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) and The Fog of War, and acclaimed films of Broadway shows, including the Emmy Award–winning Hamilton (Disney), David Byrne’s American Utopia (HBO), and Merrily We Roll Along. RadicalMedia has also produced a series of historical documentaries with Doris Kearns Goodwin for History Channel exploring defining figures in American life, including Lincoln, Grant, Theodore Roosevelt, and FDR. Recent projects include Ladies & Gentlemen… 50 Years of SNL Music, SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius), and Bono: Stories of Surrender (Apple). Upcoming projects include a documentary about Earth, Wind & Fire (HBO).The company has earned Academy Awards, Emmy Awards, Grammy Awards, Golden Globes, the Sundance Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award, SXSW Awards, Independent Spirit Awards, BAFTA Awards, Peabody Awards, amongst others.

ABOUT CARNEGIE HALL

Since 1891, New York’s Carnegie Hall has been the aspirational destination for the world’s greatest performers, the home of landmark concerts that have helped to define music history. From American icons like Leonard Bernstein, George Gershwin, Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, Judy Garland, and Bob Dylan to international legends from Tchaikovsky, Dvořák, Mahler, and Bartók to The Beatles, every form of music has filled Carnegie Hall throughout its history—the only prerequisite: that it be the finest. Today, Carnegie Hall presents a wide range of performances each season on its three stages each season including concert series curated by acclaimed artists and composers; citywide festivals featuring collaborations with leading New York City cultural institutions; orchestral performances, chamber music, new music concerts, and recitals; and the best in jazz, world, and popular music. Complementing these performance activities, Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute creates extensive music education and social impact programs that annually serve hundreds of thousands of people in the New York City area, nationally, and internationally, playing a central role in Carnegie Hall’s commitment to making great music accessible to as many people as possible. For more information, please visit carnegiehall.org.

TICKET INFORMATION

A limited number of general admission tickets for We Chose to Go to the Moon, starting at $55, are on sale now. Tickets may be purchased on the Carnegie Hall website, carnegiehall.org, by calling 212-247-7800, or by visiting the Carnegie Hall Box Office at West 57^th Street and Seventh Avenue. When purchased through carnegiehall.org or by phone, a non-refundable service charge of $11 applies per ticket. There is no service charge for any tickets purchased in person at the Carnegie Hall Box Office. Artists, program, and prices are subject to change.

For more information on Carnegie Hall’s United in Sound: America at 250 festival, visit carnegiehall.org/unitedinsound.

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