We're back with another installment of our short series that tells the story of world premiere musical Freak The Mighty, Bringing the Page to the Stage—this time with composer Ryan Fielding Garrett and Seattle Rep Communications Manager Nicole Bearden. Read on to learn more about Garrett's role in this phenomenal musical.

^{Ryan Fielding Garrett. Photo courtesy of the artist.}

Nicole Bearden (NB): How did Freak The Mighty come to be (from your perspective)?

Ryan Fielding Garrett (RFG): My collaborator, Anthony Drewe, had been suggested this story back in the mid-90’s and it lived in the back of his brain ever since. In 2021, during the pandemic, Anthony approached me to see if I’d be interested in adapting Rodman Philbrick’s novel together, and I was immediately drawn to the story. We wrote the show over the following 9 months—a fairly quick process!

It's been such a joyful collaboration in the writing and throughout its development process. Songs have been re-written and replaced, but the story of these two boys has always remained at the forefront of our minds.

^{From left: Netza Jimenez, Cornelius Kittrell, Astrid Van Wieren, and Kanoa Sims in Freak The Mighty (2026) at Seattle Rep. Photo by Bronwen Houck.} 

NB: You’ve mentioned before that this is your first written musical. How would you describe your musical style brought to life in this show?

RFG: Yes! This is the first musical that I’ve composed! My background is as a music director, orchestrator, and conductor. It’s been exciting to move into this role and bring in myriad musical styles to this score. The music embraces many genres, but also puts those genres in a blender to create a hybrid sound that (I hope!) keeps the audience’s ear engaged in our story.

^{Cornelius Kitrell as Kevin "Freak"Avery in Freak The Mighty (2026) at Seattle Rep. Photo by Bronwen Houck.}

We’ve got some specific 90’s pop/rock in the songs, and we’ve also got some incredibly cinematic film-score-type music at some specific moments. I’m always aiming for something that’s accessible, but also harmonically surprising.

At our first preview in Seattle, the greatest compliment I got was hearing an audience member humming the song "I’m a Freak" in the bathroom during intermission!

Time is running out to experience this "perfect regional theater musical" (The Seattle Times) for yourself—see Freak The Mighty at Seattle Rep before it closes September 6!

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