Reviewed by Martin Hernandez

“Virginia (a divinely voiced Queenie Navarro), a twenty-year-old college dropout, escapes  an ill-defined conflict with her mom by hopping on a bus to the Great Beyond Ashram in the Arizona desert. There she meets a bevy of Devotees (Michael Deni, Ryan Foreman, Katherine Heflin, and Kim Taleas, all performing in blissful harmony) who invoke the psychic charms of their sanctuary (“The Great Beyond”).  Blu, Connie Monroe offers up a heartfelt contemplation on her own familial angst in the touching “I Wonder,” while Navarro’s and Demi’s vocals resonate in the tender ballad, “Standing on a Star.”

Reviewed by Elaine Mura

“ADVENTURES IN THE GREAT BEYOND achieved a karmic – and very emotional – ending to a mystical evening. I doubt that anything could have made a more lasting impression on the audience.  Tom Chiodo (Book/Lyrics) & Joe Nedder (Music), present the musical with attention to mysticism and self-realization.”

Review by Samantha Simmons-Ronceros

“It’s a particularly wonderful treat to witness the very beginnings of a brand-new musical. Adventures In The Great Beyond is a blissfully naive story of a young college dropout, Virginia, looking for her place in the universe. She takes a late-night bus to anywhere and ends up in the Arizona desert at an ashram and the magical, funny and sweetly moving story unfolds from there. 

The cast is wonderful. All hopefully and gleefully smiling their way through some really terrific songs, 

accompanied by a brilliant rock band hidden away somewhere in the wings. The Guru is played with swagger and superb aplomb by Steven Wishnoff and he is your classic well-meaning and almost accidentally wise, aging hippie. 

All in all, Adventures In The Great Beyond is a funny, warmly wise musical with not a cynic in sight. How very refreshing! I thoroughly enjoyed it and truly hope this is the first step in its journey to fulfilment and success! Bravo and Namaste!!!”

The world premiere musical opens Nov. 9. This pop-rock musical combines themes of reincarnation, comedy and self-discovery. 

A college dropout joins a guru and others on a spiritual quest in the Arizona desert in this new immersive musical rom-com with book and lyrics by Tom Chiodo and music by Joe Nedder.

The Great Beyond Company & The Hudson Theatre have announced the new musical, Adventures In The Great Beyond - featuring music by Joe Nedder, with book, lyrics & direction by Tom Chiodo, previewing at the Hudson Mainstage Theatre beginning November 1, 2024. READ MORE

A twenty-year old rebellious devotee of new age philosophy drops out of college to follow a gregarious guru and a band of soul-searching pranksters in the middle of the Arizona desert. READ MORE

Reviewed by Carol M. Becker

“Visually impressive stage design.  I wholehearted praise Joe Nedder for a fabulous score.  This musical was a feast for the ears.  Navarro & Deni were vocally sublime.  Tom Chiodo (writer/creator) was most successful with his lyrics.  A healthy balance of warmth, charm, humor and pathos!”

Reviewed by Amalisha Hueck

“Clever lyrics…Delightful cast…The musical themes by Joe Nedder were all enjoyable.

The actors' dedication, enthusiasm and joy created the world of magic and true blessings. Everyone had fun, the actors on the stage and the audience laughed out loud at the clever, comical way of approaching the issues. The live band behind the stage added greatly with Piano (Joe Nedder), Guitar (Jacob Abraham) and Drums (Joe Kattampallil) and made this production grand."

On this episode we head out west to talk about the creators behind the new work Adventures in the Great Beyond. This is a fabulous new work that we are so excited to share with all of you. SO make sure you tune in and get your tickets while you still can! CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

Plays Fri & Sat (8pm), Sun (3pm) at The Hudson Mainstage Theatre. Tickets on sale now: onstage411.com/greatbeyond 

Adventures in The Great Beyond is a brand-new musical. Written by the very talented Tom Chiodo, book and lyrics and Joe Nedder, music. They have assembled a mind-blowing cast of musical theatre veterans and fresh-faced young performers. READ MORE

Tom Chiodo’s “Adventures In The Great Beyond” emerges as a kaleidoscopic voyage of spirituality in the post-Aquarian age. This pop-rock musical, set to premiere at the Hudson Mainstage Theatre, combines themes of reincarnation ... READ MORE