UCLA alumnus Kristin Hanggi presents emotional, complex musical about family

Pictured are the creators of the musical “It’s All Your Fault, Tyler Price!” including UCLA alumnus Kristin Hanggi (left) and composer Ben Decter (right) posing for the camera. The show premiered Nov. 7 (Courtesy of Jim Cox)
By Vishnu Potharaju
Nov. 18, 2024 5:13 p.m.
This post was updated Dec. 1 at 9:49 p.m.
Kristin Hanggi is preparing to strike audiences’ hearts with her new musical, “It’s All Your Fault, Tyler Price!”
Hanggi is a winner of the UCLA Theater, Film and Television Distinguished Alumni Award and produced the musical with composer Ben Decter. The show premiered at the Hudson Backstage Theatre on Nov. 7 and will run until Dec. 15. Hanggi said the play follows a family’s struggle with their daughter’s epilepsy disorder, told from the perspective of their youngest son. She added that her passion for theater blossomed at UCLA.
“I remember one professor who said to me, ‘As a director you have to have a point of view. You have to have something you care about,’” Hanggi said. “I remember (realizing) I care about equality. I care about the power of the human spirit – I care about love. I’ll talk about those things.”
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“It’s All Your Fault, Tyler Price!” follows a young boy, Jackson, struggling to piece together his emotions as his family grapples with his sister’s epilepsy condition. Jackson punches his bully, Tyler Price – who was making fun of his sister – which sets off a chain of events that bring him and his family closer as they navigate the ups and downs of dealing with a complex disease. Hanggi said the play was inspired by Decter’s immediate family, as his elder daughter has epilepsy. Decter added that he has spent years writing songs about his family’s personal experience with the hardships of raising a child with epilepsy.
“There was so much love and laughter in (Decter’s) family, and there was something interesting to me about going through such hard times with your family and how strong it actually made their family,” Hanggi said.
Hanggi said hearing Decter’s songs moved her, and she wanted to find a way to theatricalize his family’s story. The production process was years in the making, she said, not only because of the time it took to develop the musical but also because she wanted to find the right time to release it. She said she was hesitant over the years about whether crowds would be receptive to a story like this, but today, there is a genuine interest in complex stories about families, which inspired her to create this musical.
As he considered his own family’s story, Decter said he wanted to highlight the father’s role in the familial dynamic. Decter said he experienced struggles communicating complex emotions with his immediate family and aimed to portray the dichotomy between masculinity and vulnerability that he felt trapped in. Hanggi added that the song “Duet” is one of her favorite moments in the play, as the father character is finally able to express his fears and reach a new stage of vulnerability within his family.
“Turning toward music … was something I would often retreat to,” Decter said. When we were going through this health crisis with our daughter, I think sitting down at the piano, and then I found I would start writing these melodies and words, and that started me being able to express what was going on.”

CJ Eldred, who plays the father in the musical, said it was emotionally difficult for him to tap into the repressed emotions of his character. He said he had to learn to dig deeper and understand exactly what a father in an emotionally challenging situation would feel while masking complex emotions the way men can sometimes be expected to do. Eldred added that communicating with Decter directly helped him understand this dynamic and portray it more accurately.
“It’s All Your Fault, Tyler Price!” is partnered with the Epilepsy Foundation and the Children’s Ranch, among other organizations that aim to bring light to epilepsy as a disease. Hanggi said she hopes that over time, people can better understand the disease, which can take a variety of forms that are each incredibly different. She hopes the money they raise in partnership with the Epilepsy Foundation can go toward training more epilepsy specialists who can help more and more children fight this disorder, she added.
Although she is directing a musical now, Hanggi said she has worked in many forms of media. She has directed multiple television series, such as Netflix’s “Julie and the Phantoms” and several plays, like “Rock of Ages.” Eldred said it has been an incredible experience working with Hanggi on “It’s All Your Fault, Tyler Price!”
“I’ve known her for a long time, and she’s always been the kind of director that believes … the show will reveal itself to us,” Eldred said. “She is so open and really wants your perspective and wants your input, and that’s so special. … She creates a space where every single person in the room feels like they’re contributing. Nobody feels like their voice is silenced.”
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Hanggi said her time at UCLA was beautiful and helped her understand what she truly cared about when it comes to writing. She said she feels thankful for the immense resources the Theater, Film and Television department was able to provide her, from colorful sets and props to costumes for all of her theater ideas. She hopes to encourage other young artists to follow their dreams and truly express themselves, she said.
“I want to encourage all people, especially young artists, to say what you want to say, express yourself, experiment with art,” Hanggi said. “Really play and do whatever calls to your heart, and communicate who you are and your life experience, because that can have a powerful ripple effect. I was just doing what I loved at UCLA, and I’m amazed at how it ended up creating a life for me.”