Veronica Mansour, a 2021 graduate of Notre Dame's College of Arts and Letters, has been honored with the Richard Rodgers Award for Musical Theater by the American Academy for Arts and Letters. Mansour, along with collaborator Abs Wilson, received the award for their new musical, Lighthouse.
Lighthouse is a compelling six-woman, fourth-wall-breaking pop-country musical that delves deep into the complexities of mental health, particularly anxiety and OCD, as experienced by women in rural communities. The story is narrated by Bus, an 18-year-old girl who longs to escape her small Minnesota town. As the narrative unfolds, it becomes clear that Bus's desire to flee is rooted in a deeper struggle to escape from herself and the fears of what she might become.
This musical is not just a story of personal struggle; it is a poignant exploration of the lives of women across different ages and backgrounds in rural settings. Through its rich characterizations and heartfelt narrative, Lighthouse celebrates the multifaceted nature of identity and the inherent worth of every version of oneself.
The Richard Rodgers Awards was established in 1978 by the famed composer and Academy member Richard Rodgers, to foster the development of new works in musical theater. These prestigious annual awards provide crucial support for readings and productions of promising new musicals by emerging composers and writers, specifically at nonprofit theaters in New York City.
As an undergraduate at Notre Dame, Veronica majored in English and Music, where her concentration was cello performance. She took the Creative Composition elective taught by Professor John Liberatore, as well as several musical theatre courses, creating two musicals (one as an alumna) in collaboration with Film Television and Theatre Professor Matt Hawkins. After Notre Dame, she went on to receive a Master of Fine Arts from New York University in Musical Theatre Writing.