A NEW MUSICAL
PARIS 1884. A portrait that shocked the world. A love affair that had to remain hidden.
BOOK & LYRICS
JESSE AYALA
MUSIC & LYRICS
BRANDON SCOTT GRAYSON
STAY UPDATED ON NEXT STEPS
HEAR THE SCORE
See what Paris wasn't supposed to see.
"THE WHOLE WORLD OF PARIS" - LIVE FROM POWERSTATION, 2025
IN PARIS 1884
Light is nothing without shadow.
John Singer Sargent has mastered the art of painting what society wants to see. But behind his most scandalous portrait lies a secret romance that could cost him everything.
As ambition, desire and reputation collide, John must decide whether to protect the life he's built, or reveal the truth he's spent years hiding.
THE CHARACTERS
EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM HAS SOMETHING TO HIDE
THE PAINTER
John Singer Sargent
A rising portrait painter whose greatest masterpiece may expose the one truth he cannot afford to reveal.
The muse
Albert Belleroche
John's secret lover and muse, unwilling to remain hidden behind the success he helped inspire.
The sitter
Amelie Gautreau
A celebrated beauty determined to control how Paris sees her, even as a portrait threatens to redefine her.
The PATRON
Dr. POZZI
A powerful patron who knows that in Paris, controlling appearances is the surest way to control people.
WHY THIS STORY, WHY NOW?
WHO GETS
TO BE SEEN?
Who gets to live openly?
Who must disappear into the shadows?
In a world where reputation is everything,
Madame X explores the price of being seen,
and the cost of remaining invisible.
MORE FROM THE SCORE
“WHAT I WANT THEM TO SEE” LIVE AT THE GREEN ROOM 42
“BY DESIGN” AT POWERSTATION STUDIOS
BEHIND THE CANVAS
The real people behind the portrait.
FIGURE STUDIES AND SKETCHES BY JOHN SINGER SARGENT
DEVELOPMENTAL JOURNEY
FROM THE WORKSHOP TO THE STAGE
2026
EQUITY SHOWCASE - ACT ONE
National Asian Artists Project
Discover: New Musicals, New York City
Directed by Nina Lam
Music Direction by Minhui Lee
Austin Ku as John Singer Sargent
Ellis Gage as Albert Belleroche
Jillian Abaya as Amelie Gautreau
Brayden Co as Dr. Pozzi
2024 - 26
ADVANCED WORKSHOP
BMI LEHMAN ENGEL MUSICAL THEATER WORKSHOP
MADAME X was developed at the industry’s leading training ground for musical theatre writers.
2024 - 25
EQUITY SHOWCASE
POWERSTATION AT BERKLEE NYC
MADAME X was originally conceived at the Berklee NYC Musical Theater Writing and Production Masters Program in New York City.
Directed by Lee Summers
Music Direction by Jacinth Greywoode
Project Advisor Julianne Wick-Davis
Aaron Young as John Singer Sargent
Conor McShane as Albert Belleroche
Tess Primack as Amelie Gautreau
THE WRITERS
JESSE AYALA
BOOK & LYRICS
First-generation Latino storyteller trained at the BMI Workshop, Berklee, and Harvard. Musicals include Marlise! (Dir. Joe Barros, The Players Theatre, 2026; New Musicals Project finalist), June Moon (SparkFest 2026), Madame X (NAAP Discover New Musicals 2026), Salt & Pepper, and Twin or Lose. His documentary films have premiered at Tribeca, Cannes, and SXSW. Broadway investor (The Wiz, 2024), Managing Editor of TheaterLife, and member of the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences.
More at JesseAyala.com
BRANDON SCOTT GRAYSON
MUSIC & LYRICS
Brandon Scott Grayson is a New York based composer, lyricist, music director, and orchestrator for the theatre. He earned a Master of Arts in Writing and Production for Musical Theatre from BerkleeNYC, as well as a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies in Musical Theatre Composition &
Performance from Southern Utah University.
Brandon’s work has been heard at Berklee Power Station, 59E59 Theaters, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Majestic Repertory Theatre, Creede Repertory Theatre, and Southern Utah University.
His major compositions include Madame X and The Brain That Wouldn’t Die. Others include bloodline, Clown Bar 2, Pizza Boy, Best Foot Forward!, As You Like It, Minutes: A Song Cycle, and Heart of the West.
In addition to his compositional work, Brandon has served as a music director, arranger, and orchestrator for many productions in New York City, Las Vegas, and Utah. He currently serves as a Staff Accompanist and Music Director at CAP21/Molloy University, and he previously served as the Resident Music Director and Accompanist for Southern Utah University's Department of Theatre Arts and Dance. Brandon is a proud member of The Dramatist's Guild.
More at BrandonScottGrayson.com