Born Fighter
A brand new original musical blending elements of jazz and hip hop with musical theatre to tell a powerful story about homelessness and underprivileged communities in the education systems across the world.
History
Book, lyrics, and composition by Joseph R. George, first written in 2025 at Cal State Fullerton. Born Fighter has been produced twice so far independently as a table read with the support of producer Gabbrielle Jackson and school faculty. The musical has gone through several drafts, with a major cut from 6 hours’ worth of story down to roughly 2.5 hours with an intermission, removing approximately 40 songs, leaving a powerful 23 for the audience to capture a focused story. With the help of other musicians, songwriters, and storytellers, Born Fighter continues to develop into a generational work, leaving audience members excited for the fully staged production.
LISTEN TO THE OPENING SONG HERE
Synopsis
The story begins with an introduction at an abandoned warehouse with Melody, our protagonist’s little sister. She wakes up hungry, eagerly scavenging around while trying to keep quiet and not wake her brother, Jordan, who has fallen asleep at a table studying Melody’s materials to teach her before a board meeting he must attend tomorrow. At the board meeting, Jordan is silenced while trying to advocate for his school at his friend Jonathan’s request. The principal of their school speaks up, presenting evidence to support the motion to shut down the school, and it passes. When school begins, the vice principal learns his alma mater is being shut down, and the principal strikes a bet with him to give him a chance at keeping it open. Jordan and several other students are then put into a class under Vice Principal Westwood’s teaching to get a rebellious Jordan to graduate and secure him a future at a university. Things go south when Melody falls sick, and it’s no longer about keeping the two together but whether or not Melody will live and what Jordan is willing to sacrifice to make that happen.