(HOLMDEL, NJ) -- Broadway's Daniel Kutner directs We'll Meet Again, a new American musical presented by the Axelrod Performing Arts Center in association with Loveliest Village LLC and Mount Jefferson LLC at Bell Theater at Bell Works for 12 performances from June 18-28, 2026. It is inspired by the real-life story of Heinz "Henry" Stern, a five-year-old Jewish boy who along with his family escaped from Nazi Germany in 1937 and immigrated to America.
His family settled in Alabama, where they were welcomed with open arms by the community. Through extraordinary storytelling and the iconic music of the era, the story follows one family's journey from fear and uncertainty to compassion, friendship and community.
Created and written by James R. Harris with musical arrangements by well-known choral composer Mark Hayes, We'll Meet Again tells the story of young Henry and his family. It's a powerful testament to the enduring strength of humanity, resilience and the bonds that unite Americans even in the darkest times. Through heartfelt storytelling and a rich soundtrack of beloved Jewish melodies and timeless American classics from the 1940s, including "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" and "I'll Be Seeing You," this moving production honors the power of community, faith and the human spirit.
Playing the leading role of Henry Stern is five-decade Broadway veteran Herndon Lackey, whose impressive career includes seven Broadway productions (Les Misérables, Parade, Kiss of tthe Spiderwoman and more). The principal cast also includes Joy Hermalyn (Broadway's Fiddler on the Roof, Caroline, or Change, Candide), Adam B. Shapiro (Off Broadway's Fiddler on the Roof), James C. Harris (Off Broadway's An American Soldier), Erikka Makic and Jordan Patrick Blake.
Tickets range from $69-$79 and are available for purchase online or by calling 732-531-9106, ext. 14. Bell Theater is located at 101 Crawfords Corner Road in Holmdel, New Jersey inside the iconic Bell Works complex with plenty of free parking.
"As the nation begins the celebration of its 250th anniversary of freedom," shares Executive Artistic Director Andrew DePrisco, "the story of We'll Meet Again feels more relevant than ever and reminds us of the importance of human kindness and the hope for a better America. We are honored to be presenting the first professional production of this vital piece of theater with such a distinguished creative team, led by one of Broadway's most beloved actors."
The creative team led by Daniel Kutner (Broadway's Prince of Broadway, LoveMusik) includes choreographer Michele Mossay; Music Director/conductor Charles Santoro (Broadway's MJ the Musical, School of Rock); Lighting Designer Joel E. Silver (Broadway's Carousel, Next to Normal); Sound Designer Jon Weston (Broadway's The Wiz, An American in Paris); Scenic Designer Zoe Hurwitz; Costume Designer Mariah Anzaldo Hale; Properties by Hiro Kupferman; Production Stage Manager Patricia V. Tyler; Executive Producers Cody Lassen and Andrew DePrisco.
Bell Theater is a new cultural hub at the historic Bell Works. Their mission is to provide exceptional cultural programming to the community in a state-of-the-art facility. They believe in the transformative power of the arts and are committed to making it accessible to all.
