"Rain Down The Ruin" follows 17-year-old Cole McAllister and his mother, Misty, in a fight to keep what is left of their family intact after Cole’s father, Army Lieutenant William J. McAllister, commits suicide while on active duty in Afghanistan.

In this song, Will stands by a running river in the Korengal valley, contemplating ending his own personal war.

(Lyrics by Jason Carlson)
TARGET IN MY SIGHT.
DIALING IN THE DISTANCE.
I HOPE THE RANGE IS RIGHT,
AND THERE'S NO RESISTANCE.
IF I TAKE THIS SHOT, CAN I COME HOME TO YOU?
I'LL TAKE THE SHOT...
I'LL MAKE IT COUNT...
AND I'LL BE DONE...

THEN I'LL COME HOME TO YOU
I'LL LEAVE THIS WAR BEHIND.
YES, I'LL COME HOME TO STAY THIS TIME...

TRIGGER FEELS SO LIGHT...
STRANGE THERE'S NO RESISTANCE...
I HAVE TO END THE FIGHT...
GOTTA FIND SOME DISTANCE...
YES I'LL TAKE THIS SHOT, AND I'LL COME HOME TO YOU...
I'LL TAKE THE SHOT...
I'LL MAKE IT COUNT...
AND I'LL BE DONE…

THEN I'LL COME HOME TO YOU
I'LL LEAVE THIS WAR BEHIND.
YES, I'LL COME HOME TO STAY...

BUT THERE IS WAR, STILL WAR…
I'LL TAKE THE SHOT...
I'LL MAKE IT COUNT...
AND I'LL BE DONE…

THEN I'LL COME HOME TO YOU
I'LL LEAVE THIS WAR BEHIND.
YES, I'LL COME HOME TO STAY…
IT'S WHAT I DO,
AND WHAT I'LL DO
TO COME HOME TO YOU.

I'll Come Home To You

In this song from RAIN DOWN THE RUIN, Cole McAllister, a seventeen year old boy, holds his the dogtags of his father, Captain William J. McAllister, shortly after learning of his death in Afghanistan.

RAIN DOWN THE RUIN is a contemporary musical theatre piece that deals with the death of an American soldier in Afghanistan and the effect it has on his wife and teenage son.  When the son decides to join the Army to honor his father's memory, his mother reveals the soldier did not die in combat but, rather, committed suicide.  The score has an operatic structure with a musical theater aesthetic and attempts to incorporate bitonality and dissonance with modern songwriting.

The piece is currently being developed at the Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program at New York University.  Music by John Grimmett; Book and Lyrics by Jason Carlson.

"Who Was My Father?" from RAIN DOWN THE RUIN

This is the opening number from TYRANNY'S BED, a chamber musical that examines the relationship of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings as they deal with the pressures and expectations of society as well as the ghost of Jefferson's wife, Martha.

This piece was developed and performed at the Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program at New York University in May 2012.  Music by John Grimmett; words by Sarah Rebell.

"The Bed" from TYRANNY'S BED

This is a song from TYRANNY'S BED in which the ghost of Martha Jefferson reminds her husband, Thomas, of the love they once shared when she was alive.

This piece was developed and performed at the Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program at New York University in May 2012.  Music by John Grimmett; words by Sarah Rebell.

"Remember" from TYRANNY'S BED

Inspired by true events, ODETTE is a chamber musical which examines the day in the life of a Haitian restavek (child slave).  In this scene, Odette is met by Edgard, the son of the housemistress who owns Odette.  She is enamored by his good looks, but the scene ends in foreboding as Violine, his sister, tells him, "She tends to all our needs... all our needs are hers..." which leads to her eventual rape.

This piece was developed at the Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program in February 2012.  It was performed at the Hudson Guild Theater as a part of the New York Avant-Garde Arts Festival sponsored by the Variations Theatre Group in June 2012, where it was one of four finalists for the grand prize of the festival.  Music by John Grimmett; words by Jason Carlson.

SCENE 3 from ODETTE

THE WORDS ON THE PAGE is an aria written as a part of an opera collaboration class at NYU.  The piece is based on a short story by Lydia Davis.  Music by John Grimmett; words by Scout Storey.

THE WORDS ON THE PAGE

This is a work-in-progress of a viola sonata I am writing for my friend, Sam Kelder.

"Movement 1" from Sonata for Viola

"Beneath the Roses" is a dance piece by Meghann Bronson, and she commissioned me to write the music for it.  Based on the photography of Gregory Crewdson, "Beneath The Roses" examines the social undercurrents and daily struggles of suburban life.

The piece is being premiered March 7-8, 2013 by the Second Avenue Dance Company in New York City.

"Beneath The Roses" for Piano Trio

John Grimmett delivers the 2013 Tisch Salute Student Speaker Address.  Friday, May 24, 2013.