About

Who was Robert Johnson?

Call Me From the Grave tells the true story of Robert Johnson (born 1911, died 1938), a Black blues musician from the Mississippi Delta who, legend has it, sold his soul to the Devil in exchange for musical prowess. Although he only lived 27 years, Robert, known for his unique and matchless guitar playing technique and his chilling vocals, went on to posthumously become one of the most influential musicians and songwriters of the 20th century.

Brief Summary

Call Me From The Grave explores the life and myth of the legendary Blues guitar player, Robert Johnson. In Greenwood, Mississippi, a young sharecropper, Robert, dreams of becoming a Bluesman. When his loving girlfriend, Virginia, becomes pregnant, Robert puts his dreams on hold to build a life and a family with her. However, Robert’s life comes crashing down when Virginia dies of complications in childbirth and their newborn son is taken into the exclusive custody of her unapproving father. Feeling he has failed as a husband, father, and a musician,
Robert is at his lowest when he is approached by the Devil. Robert exchanges his soul for the music career he has always dreamt of, on the condition that he never returns home. As the years go by, Robert gains all the fame and renown that he is promised. However, after learning that the people he loves are in need back home, Robert must choose between his fame and his family.

Developmental History

● Yale University - Workshop Production (Spring 2019)
● Bluemont Virginia- Sold Out Charity Concert (Fall 2019)
● New York Song Space - Three-Month Residency (February 2020)
● Eugene O'Neill National Music Theater Conference - Semifinalist (Summer 2020)
● NAMT- Semifinalist (Fall 2020)
● New Musical Inc - Workshop (Spring 2021)
● Eugene O'Neill National Music Theater Conference - Finalist (Summer 2021)
● Greenroom 42 - Sold Out Concert (Fall 2021)
● Stanley Drama Award - Finalist (2022)
● The Theater Center Incubator (Off-Broadway) - 2 Sold Out Staged Readings (Spring 2023)
● American Music Theater Project - Finalist (Spring 2023)
● ASCAP Musical Theater Workshop with Stephen Schwartz (Summer 2023)
● ASCAP Foundation Harold Arlen Musical Theater Award (Charlie Romano, 2023)
● NYC Equity Reading (Amas Musical Theatre) - (December, 2024)
● Goodspeed Musicals Johnny Mercer Songwriters Grove (February, 2025)