Once in a Lifetime, Again
an original musical


When Jesse Davidson’s wife of 30 years dies, he is crushed by grief and remorse. He must find a new path as he embarks on the tender, funny roller coaster of searching for love again.

The Story

It was love at first sight when Jesse and Lydia met at a college party in 1974. Soon enough, they were one of many couples in the generation thrown into new gender roles: two careers, shared parenting —and with that, new stresses, conflict, and pressures.

When Lydia dies of cancer in her late fifties, Jesse is devastated by grief and remorse that he had allowed his all-consuming career to take priority over his love for Lydia. After lashing out at work, he is told he must begin therapy.

We meet Jesse as he begins seeing Dr. Carrie Little, a therapist with no patience for bullshit. Through their work, Jesse discovers that he can examine his failings and regrets with unsparing honesty by writing original songs. Finally ready to try again, 65 years old and a bit lost in a dating world with new rules, Jesse sets out on an often awkward, occasionally comic, and tender search to find love anew.

Listen to songs from
‘Once in a Lifetime, Again’

The score includes sixteen original songs, with lyrics and music by Stephen H. Gardner. Click on the tab for links to all the songs.

Artists featured.

The recordings on these links and photos feature the extraordinarily talented actors and musicians we worked with in the course of producing four readings of ‘Once in a Lifetime, Again’.

They have kindly allowed me to use these recordings and photos on this website.


  • Logan Medland is a NY-based composer, lyricist, playwright and music director. BROADWAY: DR. ZHIVAGO, CRAZY FOR YOU (national Broadway tour), A BRONX TALE, CATS (national tour), JERSEY BOYS (national tour). Original work as Writer/Composer: FINGERS AND TOES (NY Music Theatre Festival), LOVE GODDESS, THE RITA HAYWORTH MUSICAL (London 2022).

  • Donnie Kehr is a singer-songwriter, musician, and producer. He co-founded the band Urgent on EMI-Manhattan Records and their album ‘Cast the First Stone’ sold over 400,000 copies.


  • John Dossett is a Tony Award and Drama Desk nominee who is currently starring on Broadway as the Wizard in WICKED.


  • Kevin Kuhn is the lead guitarist for the Broadway production of ALADDIN, and was lead guitarist on THE LION KING, also on Broadway.

  • John Mullen is the lead guitarist for “Not My Problem,” a popular bar band based in Connecticut.

  • Adam Weiss is the drummer for “Not My Problem,” a popular bar band based in Connecticut.


  • Lyn’s Broadway/National Tours include GYPSY (starring Bernadette Peters), Monty Python's SPAMALOT, Cinderella starring Eartha Kitt, Disney's On the Record.

  • Steve Gardner wrote the book, lyrics, and music to “Once in a Lifetime, Again.” Learn more at www.stephenhgardner.com.

  • Lisa Kaine is the lead vocalist for “Not My Problem,” a popular bar band based in Connecticut.

  • Fran Southworth is a singer, songwriter, and actress who wrote over 40 songs for “As the World Turns” and as appeared on dozens of television and radio commercials.


  • Lisa Ratner is a composer, record producer, and performer who co-owned East West Music, one of New York’s leading commercial music houses. Her original songs have been performed by Barbra Streisand, Dolly Parton, Vanessa Williams and many other notable performers.

Creative Development

  • The first version of ‘Once In A Lifetime, Again’ was a solo play with music. A virtual reading during the pandemic featured Broadway actor Bruce Sabath, with music direction by Logan Medland.

    Based on excellent feedback from attendees, the show was expanded into a full-length musical with a full cast.

  • The first reading of the full-length ‘Once in a Lifetime, Again’ was on-line and featured an international cast. British stage & screen actor Steve North played Jesse Davidson, live from London, accompanying himself on guitar. New York stage actor Lyn Philistine played Carrie Little and the female characters, live from NYC. Laura Lundy of Blue Panther Productions was Creative Producer and Script Consultant. Five new songs were written for the full-length musical.

  • Under the direction of Logan Medland, Broadway musical performer Donnie Kehr recorded seven of the original songs in ‘Once in a Lifetime, Again’ at Millrose Studios, New York City.

  • Music Director Logan Medland, Writer/Composer-Lyricist Stephen H. Gardner, and Creative Producer Laura Lundy convened for a 5-day script development workshop and private reading at Open Jar Studios, New York City. Jen Wineman directed AEA actors Tait Ruppert and Michele Ragusa.

  • An Actors’ Equity Staged Reading of 'Once in a Lifetime, Again' was held at New York City's Pearl Studios In September, 2022. The cast featured:

    John Dossett* - Jesse Davidson
    Broadway: Currently starring as the Wizard in WICKED, PARADISE SQUARE, WAR PAINT, CHICAGO.
    Off-Broadway: DEAR EVAN HANSEN. Film: THE ORANGES, LITTLE MANHATTAN.

    Michele Ragusa* - Carrie Little and supporting female characters
    Broadway: FLYING OVER SUNSET, YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, URINETOWN THE MUSICAL.
    Off-Broadway: THE BUTCHER BOY, Irish Rep.

    Jason Smith - Akila, Bass player NYC: SKINFOLK, dir: Mei Ann Teo, BEULAHLAND.

    The 4-piece band included Kevin Kuhn, lead guitarist for ALADDIN and THE LION KING on Broadway. The AEA reading for producers and theater professionals was directed by Jay Stern, with Music Direction by Logan Medland, and produced by Laura Lundy, Blue Panther Productions.

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Here are some quotes

from attendees at the readings

  • “’Once in a Lifetime, Again’ is a poignant and thought-provoking play that will have you rooting for its protagonist, a widower struggling with grief and trying to move on and find love again. It adeptly blends deep emotion with witty humor, laugh-out-loud moments, and catchy tunes, resulting in a highly engaging and entertaining experience that will stay with you long after you leave the theater.”

    Cathy Zales, September, 2022 Equity Reading, Pearl Studios, NYC

  • "We are musicians, so when we go to a musical, we are very focused on the score. Sometimes musicals might have two or three songs that stay with you after you've left the theater, but this was different. Each song had a distinctive hook, a catchy melody, and clever, well-crafted lyrics."

    Lisa Kaine and Adam Weiss, September, 2022 Equity Reading, Pearl Studios, NYC.

  • "Interesting show! I've have never seen a show dealing with an older man’s grief before, it’s a unique and interesting perspective. Nice framing, a guy at a bar telling his story between songs, it works well. I liked the world of the play, being in the bar, and returning to it. I loved the character & portrayal of the therapist, Carrie Little."

    Tracey Rhys, Actor, New York, Equity Reading, Pearl Studios, NYC, 2022

  • “Anyone who has questions about their marriage should see this show. Men, in particular, might get new ideas of what’s at risk, and even more important, why new thinking might change the outcome. Women may just be thrilled to know that someone has finally gotten the point of what they’ve been trying to say for so long.”

    Sherrye Henry, Equity Reading, Pearl Studios NYC, September, 2022

  • “I have lived in Manhattan most of my life and was raised on theater. This play has two things that I found unique and quite wonderful: (1) Multi-genre music, paired with sophisticated lyrics that are sometimes hilarious; sometimes dark and raw — but always memorable! (2) And a flawed, sad, angry ‘every-man’ protagonist who still believes in love and yearns for a second chance to do it right — as do we all!”

    Deborah Heineman, Virtual Reading, May, 2021

  • "This is a wonderful musical for older actors, it's a great vehicle - and would be ideal for an intimate space or cabaret theatre. The small cast and 3-person band is a great selling point, and it all worked well up on its feet. I particularly enjoyed the moment when the title song "Once in a Lifetime" kicks in. I found it to be quite moving on the whole and look forward to its future life."

    Michael Cassara, CSA / Casting Director, Broadway, NYC, Equity Reading, Pearl Studios, NYC, 2022

  • “Five days after the reading, my sixty-something husband turned to me out of the blue and said, ‘do you think I’m like the guy in that play?’ The play clearly struck a chord…”

    Holly C., Equity Reading, Pearl Studios NYC, September 2022

  • “There aren’t many plays about people in their sixties and seventies… they’re usually dark explorations of impending death or comedies that make fun at the expense of older people. This is a play about what it is really like to be sixty, alone, and believing there is still life to live and love to be found. It is deeply poignant, evocative, and at times hilarious.”

    Jean Schoenleber, Virtual Reading, May, 2021

  • "I really enjoyed it! I liked the story. I was interested and engaged. Great use of the female roles, great songs, and characters. Fascinating that the main female character is a therapist. I LOVED Michele Ragusa playing all the women, each character was just as good as the next. Totally believable! All of her accents were great, very authentic."

    Bradley Reynolds, Broadway Producer, LAMS Productions, Equity Reading, Pearl Studios, NYC, 2022

  • “It spoke to me as a universal story — the main character gets a second chance to live his life in a better way. It reminded me of classics like ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ or ‘A Christmas Carol.’”

    Jane Mandelbaum, Equity Reading, Pearl Studios NYC, September, 2022

To receive the script and information about presenting ONCE IN A LIFETIME, AGAIN please get in touch at stephen.hayes.gardner@gmail.com