Writing

Hailing from Wrexham, North Wales, Jordan Li-Smith is an award-winning composer, lyricist and writer.

His musical adaptation of The Boy Who Sailed the Ocean in an Armchair, based on the novel by Lara Williamson, won the National Youth Music Theatre's Best New Writing Award and subsequently received its premiere at Leicester Curve in August 2023, where it was noted that his "vision and ability cements himself as one to watch for future new musicals", receiving 12 BroadwayWorld UK Award nominations. A preview of Armchair was showcased at BEAM2023 at Oxford Playhouse, the UK’s largest showcase of new musicals.

Two songs from the show have received critical recognition, with "Height Lines" being a finalist for the Stiles and Drewe Best New Song Prize 2023, and "Better Day" being chosen as a winner of The New York Drama League’s Anthems for the Future of Theater. The song was performed by Tony-award-winning star of Broadway’s Kimberly Akimbo, Bonnie Milligan, in Light the Lights! A Drama League Celebration in New York, a benefit in honour of Broadway actor Wayne Brady. Jordan is a proud member of Mercury Musical Developments and is a member of its Advanced Lab II.

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Jordan is currently developing a musical about the NASA Challenger Shuttle Disaster and the Teacher in Space program, entitled 73 Seconds, which is currently being developed and supported by the new musical theatre department of Birmingham Hippodrome.