The Art Forger is a new musical based on the novel by B.A. Shapiro, with book by Nicholas Davis Brandt and music and lyrics by Laura Watkins. Developed through workshops in 2021 and showcased at The Bourbon Room in 2023, the piece reexamines a familiar cultural story through a sharper, feminist lens: a young artist lives with the lifelong consequences of a past relationship, while those repercussions fall unevenly. Her reputation is compromised; his remains intact. As she attempts to rebuild her career and sense of self, a new connection draws her into increasingly murky moral territory. Blending contemporary musical storytelling with emotional intimacy and moral ambiguity, The Art Forger explores ambition, desire, double standards, and the quiet violence of who society chooses to forgive. The creative team is currently seeking further development and production opportunities.