Independent Arts News Reporting Broadway's Jasmine Forsberg and Benji Santiago Take the Stage in McCarter Theatre’s World Premiere of I & You: The Musical
Reported Wednesday, August 20, 2025.
Pictured Above: Jasmine Forsberg. Photo Credit: Contributed.
NEWSROOM POST: PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY
I & You: The Musical will run September 13 through October 12.
Princeton, NJ — McCarter Theatre Center announced that Jasmine Forsberg and Benji Santiago will play the leads in its season opener, the world premiere of I & You: The Musical. Based on Lauren Gunderson’s internationally acclaimed play I and You, the new musical reunites Gunderson with director Sarah Rasmussen, who helmed the play’s original premiere in 2013 and now serves as McCarter’s Artistic Director. The production runs September 13 through October 12.
This intimate and moving two-person musical features an original score by composer and lyricist Ari Afsar. Commissioned by McCarter with support from the BOLD Theater Women’s Leadership Circle, the production will be co-produced with Olney Theatre Center.
Seventeen-year-old Caroline, stuck at home with an illness, is surprised by a visit from Anthony, an earnest overachiever armed with a class project, a copy of Walt Whitman, and a side of waffle fries. What begins as a reluctant homework assignment turns into a soul-searching all-nighter exploring fate, friendship, and the fragile wonder of being alive.
“I’m beyond excited to work with these two extraordinary artists,” says composer and lyricist Ari Afsar. “Jasmine brings a presence that’s both commanding and deeply emotional, while Benji’s vulnerability and heart are utterly captivating. Together, they will be a force of nature.”
“Jasmine and Benji have unbelievably incredible voices — and illustrious careers as young artists. Not only are they Broadway stars, they have the warmth, humor, and mature depth of Caroline and Anthony,” adds Director Sarah Rasmussen. “The creative team and I were blown away by their auditions, and we can’t wait for audiences to hear and see what we loved in the audition room. We’re also thrilled to welcome our phenomenal understudies — Alex De Bard and Kishan Rao — who delighted us with their gorgeous musicality, comic timing, and heart.”
Jasmine Forsberg’s Broadway credits include Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends with Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga, SIX (Broadway and first national tour), and Here Lies Love. She has also appeared in A Grand Night for Singing at Goodspeed Musicals, Love in Hate Nation at Two River Theater, and Wild Fire at the Denver Center. She earned her BFA from Penn State.
Pictured Above: Benji Santiago. Photo Credit: Contributed.
Benji Santiago made his Broadway debut as Younger Noah in The Notebook, and he also starred as Usnavi in In the Heights at The Muny. He studied at the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama.
The design team includes Beowulf Boritt (scenic), Kara Harmon (costumes), Japhy Weideman (lighting), Elisabeth Weidner (sound), and Stefania Bulbarella (projections). Boritt, a two-time Tony Award winner, returns to McCarter, where he previously designed Stones in His Pockets, Turning Off the Morning News, Skylight, and Murder on the Orient Express. Weideman also returns, having designed lighting for Stones in His Pockets as well as Harmon who did costumes for The Niceties.
The production team includes Sujin Kim-Ramsey (music director), Steph Paul (movement director), Alicia Rodis (intimacy coordinator), and Julie Felise Dubiner (dramaturg). Becky Reed serves as production stage manager. Tiger Brown is the BOLD Directing Fellow/assistant director. Casting is by The Telsey Office / Karyn Casl, CSA.
Tickets and subscription packages are now on sale at mccarter.org or by calling Patron Services at 609-258-2787.
Groups of 10 or more save 20%. For more information, contact groups@mccarter.org.
I & You: The Musical was commissioned in 2023 with support from the BOLD Foundation under the leadership of Artistic Director Sarah Rasmussen. This commission continues the organization’s decades-long commitment to cultivating new work under the auspices of the Emily Mann LAB, a creative incubator named in honor of the company’s former artistic director and resident playwright.
About McCarter Theatre Center
McCarter is one of the country’s flagship theaters and a vibrant center for community and the performing arts. Located on the campus of Princeton University, the company is an independent nonprofit, serving as a nationally renowned, multi-disciplinary creative hub for arts and ideas, offering theatre, music, dance, spoken word, and educational programs for all ages. A two-time Tony Award winner, McCarter’s legacy of artistic excellence dates back to its first performances in 1930. Our Town, You Can’t Take It with You, and Bus Stop all premiered at McCarter, paving the way for a long history of launching remarkable works that have gone on to tens of thousands of performances worldwide.
The company is equally revered for presenting global artists on its stages, including Alvin Ailey, Yo-Yo Ma, Samara Joy, Hasan Minhaj, Jon Stewart, Caetano Veloso, Rhiannon Giddens, Patti Smith, Esperanza Spalding, Lake Street Dive, and Herbie Hancock. Of the 100,000 community members who engage with McCarter each year, more than 5,000 are students participating in educational programs in Princeton, Trenton, and schools across the region. McCarter leads with values of justice, joy, and beauty in belonging — creating stories and experiences that enliven minds, expand imaginations, and engage communities.
The Emily Mann LAB
The Emily Mann LAB is McCarter Theatre’s creative incubator for the development of new work. The LAB supports playwrights at all career stages through readings, workshops, commissions, and retreats. It has launched acclaimed works such as Eclipsed by Danai Gurira and The Brothers Size by Tarell Alvin McCraney and has commissioned over 30 new plays.
