Storefront musical "Dandelion," from the Michigan State Department of Theatre, tactfully approached themes including the heart-wrenching decision between pursuing happiness for oneself and caring for a loved one, as well as mental health and addiction.

In a storefront musical, a traditional theatre is not used; instead, experimental methods and unconventional lighting placements and amounts are prioritized in a smaller space. In this case, Studio 60 at the MSU Auditorium hosted the production. "Dandelion" used a small amount of spotlights, whereas musicals typically have a large amount. 

Director Adam Yankowy brought the play to MSU after meeting Executive Producer Sharon Fallon, who shared the script with him. Yankowy and Fallon worked with a creative team to develop the musical.

"'Dandelion's' music is both beautiful and emotionally resonant, and its story feels urgently relevant. We have worked with the creative team over the past six months to edit and develop the script further. There have been several changes to character arcs, and the team wrote a new opening sequence."

Additionally, Yankowy made sure readers had background context for the musical.

"'Dandelion' confronts the realities of mental health and the complexities of the healthcare system in the United States. One of the central challenges highlighted in the piece is the fragmentation of mental health services from primary care — often resulting in siloed treatment, poor coordination and difficulty navigating support systems. It is our hope that this production not only illuminates these issues but also encourages conversation and ultimately change," Yankowy said.

Second-year graduate theatre student Stephanie Kroschel played the mother, Lilah, in the musical. Kroschel spoke about the unconventional process of a storefront musical. 

"This project is unique, in that the writing team of 'Dandelion' has been in the process of editing the show, so the version we have learned is the most up to date. It is a very human story that demands thoughtful attention and respect to perform," Kroschel said.

It wasn't just the production that was unusual. The rehearsal process featured elements like plenty of character work, making the characters feel as authentic as possible.