A group of Queens youth are set to take the stage in an original musical.
TADA! Youth Theater presents ‘The History Mystery,’ a musical time travel adventure running from Oct. 19 through Nov. 17th. The theater is located at 15 West 28th St., 2nd Floor Theater, between Broadway and Fifth Ave. in Manhattan. Ticket prices are $30 for adults and $15 for students aged 15 and under.
The play follows three history-hating teenagers who travel back in time and meet a handful of historical figures, including a young Benjamin Franklin, Martin Luther King, and Eleanor Roosevelt. Queens cast members featured in “The History Mystery” include Jon Luc Jobson-Larkin, 17; Julien Jobson-Larkin, 14; Story Handy, 14; and Elliet Baltitas, 10.
Jobson-Larkin said it’s a full circle moment acting in the History Mystery, as a previous iteration of the play was one of his first shows with TADA! Youth Theater.
“This show will be one of my last shows because I am turning 18. It’s a bittersweet feeling because one of my favorite shows is coming back, and I get to relive that whole experience again. But it also signals the end of what has been a very great experience,” Jobson-Larkin explained in a statement. The Richmond Hill resident has worked with TADA! Youth Theatre for the past nine years.
Jobson-Larkin will portray an older Martin Luther King Jr., set around the time of his ‘I Have A Dream Speech.’ He spoke about how he felt a connection to the civil rights figure due to his unique upbringing.
“Martin grew up with different ideas and might have felt like an outcast in some ways. I can relate because I was homeschooled, and that makes me feel different from most people, Jobson-Larkin said in a statement. “ Martin embraced his differences and worked to create a world where everyone could exist equally. While my goals may not be as grand, I want to prove that even though I was raised differently, I can still make a name for myself and succeed in my way.”
Jobson-Larkin also emphasized how the show’s storyline resonates with youngsters who may not realize how history can be applied to their daily lives.
“They go on a journey back in time, meeting important historical figures whose stories resonate with their own. For example, one character meets Martin Luther King Jr., and it reminds him that Black people are represented in history beyond just slavery and negativity—there are positive, prominent Black figures too,” he said in a statement.
Jobson-Larkin explained that the play’s overall message is that the history one learns in the classroom can be applied to daily life if approached from a different perspective.
“The show also highlights ongoing issues like the fight for racial and gender equality. It teaches that even one person can make a difference, like Eleanor Roosevelt, who was scared to act but was reminded that even the smallest actions can create ripples. That’s another key message of the show that’s relevant today,” he said.
