Ride the Cyclone: A Musical That Celebrates Life After Death

A quirky cult-classic musical blending dark humor, heartfelt storytelling, and a rollercoaster ride through life, death, and everything in between.

A couple of years ago, I stumbled across Ride the Cyclone during a theater series at The Arena Stage in Washington, DC. As a self-proclaimed musical nerd, I pride myself on knowing about nearly every musical theater production out there, from the glittering Broadway stages to the obscure, experimental gems. But I’ll admit it—Ride the Cyclone had completely slipped under my radar.

When we snagged the tickets, I was intrigued by the premise: a quirky, offbeat musical that promised to be unlike anything I’d seen before. I was on board for something unique, sure—but I had no idea how weird it would get. And honestly? I loved every single bizarre minute of it. By the time the final curtain fell, I had only one thought: How on Earth did a musical like this even exist?

What is the musical about?

At its core, Ride the Cyclone tackles heavy themes like death, grief, and the meaning of life. The story follows a high school choir on a field trip to a local fair. When they hop on the Cyclone rollercoaster, tragedy strikes—the ride malfunctions and the kids are killed. But their story doesn’t end there. They’re offered a chance to plead their case for a miraculous second chance, though only one can return to the living. Sounds intense, right? And trust me, this is just the beginning.

How it all began

Canadian playwright Jacob Richmond came up with the idea for Ride the Cyclone after receiving a grant to develop a new play. Richmond, no stranger to loss himself, channeled his personal experiences with grief into the project. Tragically, his family had endured both a house fire and the loss of his younger sister as a result of gun violence. Those experiences shaped the concept of a group of teens suddenly facing the afterlife.

While Richmond’s initial script brimmed with emotional depth, it leaned heavily into tragedy—so much so that it felt overwhelming. Enter Brooke Maxwell, a composer and collaborator who helped infuse the show with much-needed humor and fun through music. Together, they struck a delicate balance: a heartfelt exploration of grief wrapped in a vibrant, darkly comedic package.

The original production was an experimental theater piece performed in Richmond’s hometown of Victoria, British Columbia. It featured a headless girl, a Zoltar-inspired fortune-telling machine, a bass-playing rat, and nods to Dante’s Inferno. It was, in a word, wild.

From Canada to the US.

After its debut with the Atomic Vaudeville theater company, Ride the Cyclone garnered enough buzz to make the leap to Toronto, Canada, in 2010. But the transition required significant changes—storylines were condensed, characters were merged, and the tone was adjusted to appeal to broader audiences. The result? A surprise hit. Critics raved, and tickets became nearly impossible to snag during the show’s festival run.

Eventually, theater producer Kevin McCollum (Rent, Avenue Q, In The Heights, Six) saw the potential for Ride the Cyclone in the United States. But once again, the show needed a transformation. This time, the creative team introduced a more straightforward plot and polished the production for US audiences. The revised version premiered in Chicago in 2015, with Kholby Wardell, the only original cast member from the Canadian production, reprising his role as the unforgettable Noel Gruber.

A Cult Classic is Born

Despite its Chicago success, Ride the Cyclone faced challenges when it moved to New York’s off-Broadway scene in 2016. While the show resonated with audiences, it struggled to find mainstream commercial success. Yet, its unique blend of heartfelt storytelling, dark humor, and offbeat characters struck a chord with fans, earning it cult-classic status.

Today, Ride the Cyclone thrives in regional theaters, schools, and smaller productions worldwide. Its legacy proves that musicals don’t need Broadway stardom to make an impact—they just need a story that resonates.

If you’re a fan of quirky, thought-provoking theater that doesn’t shy away from life’s big questions, Ride the Cyclone is a must-see. From Stevie Wonder to New Orleans funeral processions and even Taylor Swift, the behind-the-scenes journey is just as fascinating as the show. And if you want to dig deeper into how this extraordinary musical came to life (not to mention all the recent controversy, which I was completely unaware of when I saw the Arena Stage production), check out The Ballad of Ride the Cyclone by Wait in the Wings:

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