About Ashton

ASHTON SARLO is an award-winning musical theater composer and lyricist best known for Ben Shapiro the Musical.  Based in Central Florida, Ashton's work has been featured and performed across the South-East United States.  With a diverse and extensive background in the world of theater, he brings a unique perspective to every show, infusing them with irreverent humor and powerful political themes.

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Ashton's work explores contemporary economic and social issues in a direct and thought-provoking manner.  His works, like Theranos: How I Got Eleven Years in Federal Prison for Wire Fraud, tackle issues of wealth, power, bigotry, and economic inequality while maintaining an energetic, driving score.  His music takes heavy inspiration from a range of artists and genres including classical, jazz, contemporary, and electronica music.

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With an extensive background in theater performance and tech, Ashton's work is specifically formulated to be accessible to all actors and theaters.  His work is built to accommodate transgender and gender-nonconforming actors.  His works, like The Mysterious Death of Victor Timm, are written for each role to allow multiple voice types and keys.

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Ashton's aim is to provoke thought, encourage dialogue, and spark change through the powerful medium of musical theater while staying connected to the emotional and communal roots of the medium.  He builds each musical to tackle complex and multifaceted topics in a digestible and entertaining fashion.  Through the use of humor and music, his works bring daunting political themes to a general audience.  Whether it's a futuristic dystopia, a historical reflection, or a contemporary political satire, he believes that theater has the power to awaken the hearts and minds of audiences, inspiring them to make a difference in the world.