New generation takes the stage: Henry Patterson confirms release date for BROADWAY MAYBE
Following sold-out performances in London and New York, award-winning singer and performer, 22-year-old Henry Patterson announces the release of his debut studio album Broadway Maybe.
Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, this jazz-infused love letter to musical theatre’s greatest hits lands on 15 May across all streaming platforms, as well as on CD and vinyl. Framed as a single audition-room narrative, the album takes listeners on the emotional journey of being a performer, with each track capturing the hope and challenges of stepping into the musical theatre industry. The album features a special guest appearance from the legendary Jim Caruso, who appears at the start of the record in the role of the casting director, guiding the audition-room narrative.
Henry worked closely with musical director Leigh Stanford Thompson on the album’s arrangements to create a sound that feels intimate and conversational, as if the listener is sitting in the room with him.
Across twelve tracks, Henry revisits well-known repertoire from shows including A Chorus Line, My Fair Lady and Sweeney Todd. Among the selection is a song from Les Misérables, for which critically acclaimed lyricist Alain Boublil granted Henry special permission to adapt selected lyrics. For a debut artist, this is an extraordinary endorsement and a powerful vote of confidence in the project’s creative vision.
Henry first came to public attention as a child entrepreneur, writing and publishing his first book at 9 years old. This led to a global speaking tour and collaboration with the likes of Cameron Mackintosh and Ariana Debose. In recent years, Patterson has established himself as a distinctive new voice in the world of theatre and entertainment, having performed internationally and appearing on BBC Americast with his viral musical parodies. What started as playful reinterpretations has evolved into a defining artistic identity, using jazz to unlock musical theatre for people who might never have thought it was for them. His recent shows have become known for their jazz reinterpretations of musical theatre classics, attracting both theatre audiences and listeners new to the genre.
Henry said: “After one of my concerts, a 19-year-old footballer came up to me asking about Sondheim. It showed me that changing how the material is presented can be fundamental in reaching audiences who wouldn’t traditionally engage with musical theatre.
“I hope people recognise something of themselves in the album, whether they’re in their first year of drama school, celebrating their hundredth West End credit, or, like me, carving out a path that hasn’t followed the traditional route.
“However different our journeys look on paper, the feelings are often the same. This album is my reflection on that shared experience, and on finding your own way into an industry built on creativity.”