MEET THE SHOWS
THE KING OF HARLEM
Book, music, and lyrics by
David Gomez & John-Michael Lyles
The King of Harlem explores a forbidden gay love affair between Mercy Wheatley, an up-and-coming Black prizefighter, and Federico García Lorca, a celebrated Spanish poet who is studying abroad at Columbia University. As they fall in love amidst the Harlem Renaissance, they’re forced to overcome cultural barriers, the cut-throat boxing world, and Mercy’s impending wedding to Sarah Jeffries. It’s a sweaty, sexy, and surreal 1920’s musical that will leave you wondering: how hard would I fight for love?
David Gomez is a songwriter, librettist, and playwright. With John-Michael Lyles he co-created The King Of Harlem, which has received support from the Lucille Lortel’s 121 Project, The Dramatist Guild Fellows Program, The Rhinebeck Writers Retreat, The American Playwriting Foundation, and Musical Theatre Factory’s MAKERS. With composer Jude Obermüller he created the lyrics for Miss Havisham's Wedding, The Blue Shoes, and Feet Keep Me Flying. Recent commissioned musicals include Adelita (Paramount Theatre, IL) and Sugarplum (Music Theatre Kansas City). David is a Chicano theatre artist invested in continuing the tradition of corridos which use popular song forms to celebrate Latine stories. @gomez_zdavid
John-Michael Lyles is a guitar-wielding, Vivace & Obie winning, multi-hyphenate creative! His debut EP, “HOW TO STAY BRIGHT” is being released on all streaming platforms over the summer of 2025! He wrote additional music for the Second Stage production of Young Jean Lee’s We’re Gonna Die & theme music for The Great Gay Dadcast. He was selected to participate in the Dramatist Guild Foundation Fellows class of ’21, Musical Theater Factory’s 2nd MAKERS Cohort, the 2021 Rhinebeck Writers Retreat and the 5th Avenue Theater’s First Draft: Raise Your Voice commission program. He is currently co-writing book, music and lyrics with David Gomez for The King of Harlem, which was a 2022 finalist for the Relentless Musical Theater Award. As an actor, he has originated two roles on Broadway: Thought 3 in A Strange Loop (Obie-winning) and Eli in The Heart of Rock & Roll! @johnmichael_lyles | www.johnmichaellyles.com