A STORY ABOUT INCLUSION
To view Different the Musical full length stage performance CLICK HERE!
Sneak Peak
This is our time to change lives through music, words, story, humor, and drama. It is our mission to seize this opportunity and send a message of inclusion, self worth, love, hope, change, and differences.
Listen
We are pleased to release all nine songs! Different the Musical can also be found on your favorite streaming service.
“BMOC” (Big Man On Campus) Composers Larry Farnes, Jefferson Daynes, and Josh Sohn. Performed by Joseph Hansen
The show opens with the complete cast singing this number. The setting is the entrance or main quad at the high school. The audience does not know it right away, but this number is a dream. Henry badly wants friends and to be part of campus life, but he is far from obtaining that. However, in his over-the-top imagination, he is already there. He is, at least in his mind, the BIG MAN ON CAMPUS.
“Nothing Left” Composers Jefferson Daynes and Joshua Sohn. Performed by Calee Reed Adams
Ms. Woodruff is a single mother of a special needs family. She works tirelessly to support them financially, emotionally, and give them everything they need. She is pushed beyond her breaking point again and again, but continues to support, fight, and advocate for her kids. It is a sobering tale of a mother who has given every ounce of her life to her children, but realizes they need so much more.
“My IEP” Composers Jefferson Daynes and Joshua Sohn. Performed by Hannah Gould, Joseph Hansen, Abby Kooyman, Isaac Dowdle, Lizzie Stewart, Alden Marriott, and Harrison Buchanan
Henry’s mom took his IEP home to read through and sign. She gave it to Henry to return to school. Embarrassed that he has an IEP, Henry reluctantly takes it to Ms. Karen. However, he drops the document on the floor and before he can react, his new friends discover it. When his buddies discover that Henry is ashamed to have an IEP, they convince him through this song, just how rad it is to have one.
“No Filter” Composers Jefferson Daynes and Joshua Sohn. Performed by Alden Marriott
Freddie is the most brutally honest person you have ever met. Whatever pops in his head comes out his mouth. He has no shame in this. In fact, he owns it and cannot understand why everyone is not like him.
“Let’s Dance” Composers Jefferson Daynes and Joshua Sohn. Performed by Alden Marriott
There is a moment at the dance, when Jessica shows up and has been transformed from frumpy to phenomenal. When Henry sees her, all time stops. Then Freddie unfreezes, grabs the microphone, and says, “It is moments like this that there is really only one person who can sing this song.” Freddy narrates the moment as only a teen with no filter could.
“It Isn’t Real” Composers Jefferson Daynes and Joshua Sohn. Performed by Abby Kooyman, Alden Marriott, Lizzie Stewart, Joseph Hansen, Hannah Gould, and Isaac Dowdle
The funeral of the most loved person on campus is too much to bear, especially for Henry. They mourn the passing of their friend and try to make sense of the inexplicable.
“Nothing Left (reprise)” Composers Jefferson Daynes and Joshua Sohn. Performed by Calee Reed Adams, Joseph Hansen, and Harrison Buchanan
Following the funeral, the Woodruff family is broken and searching for answers. They attempt to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives and make decisions about the future.
“Best Buddy” Composers Jefferson Daynes and Joshua Sohn. Performed by Abby Kooyman, Alden Marriott, Joseph Hansen, Isaac Dowdle, Harrison Buchanan, and Lizzie Stewart
The club reunites and determines that if Eli were around, he would want them to stop slouching and throw themselves a party!
“BMOC (reprise)” Composers Larry Farnes, Jefferson Daynes, and Joshua Sohn. Performed by Alden Marriott, Abby Kooyman, Isaac Dowdle, Hannah Gould, Harrison Buchanan, Lizzie Stewart, and Joseph Hansen
Show closes with the same song it opened with. However, this time around it is not a dream, but a reality.
Vocals recorded at Sound Bridge Studio
Music mastered by Mix at 6 Studios
Special thank you to Landon Alley - Recording Engineer, Derek Campbell - Mastering Engineer, Rachel Robison - Vocals (My I.E.P. - Student 8), Dennis Richard Fuller - Trumpet (B.M.O.C. and its reprise), Kaitlin Findlay (It Isn't Real, Nothing Left and its reprise), Lauren Keller Smith - Violin (It Isn't Real, No Filter, Nothing Left and its reprise).
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Tyler Daynes
Tyler Daynes is the creator and principal author of, “Different the Musical.” Diagnosed with autism and other health impairments at an early age, this kid has led a different life. Before turning six years old, he had been kicked out of two sports leagues, suspended from his own special day class, and offered a private education outside of the public school district. They recognized their inability to teach or even handle him so tried to send him elsewhere.
Ever the spokesman for special needs, Ty progressed through his autism spectrum disorder classes and eventually went full inclusion with an aide. Ty ditched his aide in high school and is currently a senior at Del Norte High School in San Diego, CA. He will graduate this Spring, 2022, as a three sport varsity letterman with a 3.6 GPA and ready for college.
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Jefferson Daynes
Jefferson Daynes wrote every song in “Different the Musical” except one. And that one song, he spun and tweaked, and made it radder than it already was. For seven weeks in covid isolation with his family, wearing a pair of black athletic shorts and nothing else, he sat at an electric piano and cranked out hit after hit. Jefferson is also founder and lead singer of the band, “Dudes in Canoes.”
A sophomore at Brigham Young University, Jefferson is currently serving as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints deep in the jungles of Costa Rica. He has no idea his songs have been orchestrated, recorded, and launched. Won’t he be surprised to see this!
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Samantha Daynes
Born in Hong Kong and raised in Singapore, Samantha is a senior in the Theatre Arts program at Brigham Young University. Along with Different, some of her plays include Long-Term Care and Time Management, which premiered at the Microburst Theatre Festival at BYU in Fall 2021. Along with playwriting, Samantha has also been an actor, director, dramaturg, stage manager, and costume designer. She lives in Utah with her husband.
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Rick Daynes
Rick Daynes is the executive producer and coauthor of “Different the Musical.” He is an accomplished public speaker, educator, and author of several published articles. His book: Keep It Together Man, for Dad’s with a Special Kid, features his son and fellow coauthor, Tyler Daynes. In his quest to bring awareness and advocate for families with special needs, Rick is delighted to bring this musical to the public.
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Joshua Sohn
Steeped in the traditions of both classical music and rock 'n roll, Josh has made a career in performing, teaching and composing music. As a performer, he played music all around the world in places such as Shanghai, China with various bands including Stereotype, Inc. SLAPercussion, and the University Utah Jazz Ensemble. Ultimately changing careers to composing, Josh continues to write music for TV broadcasts (Air Force Reserve, Dwight In Shining Armor), feature films (Resilience and the Lost Gems, The Adventure of A.R.I.: My Robot Friend) and songs (Gingerbread Jimmi: Magical Storybook, Come As You Are).