Blind Prophecy

Risking the danger of becoming a harcore [Tosser], I must tell you all to immediately sign the petition of get [Title of Show] on Ellen, check out YouTube’s The [Title of Show] show and [Tos]timonials, but most of all, you should go get thee hence to New York City and purchase tickets to [Title of Show] forthwith (by “forthwith” I mean prior to its October 12 closing date). Why? Because we cannot let this show die.

What is [Title of Show]? Well, if you haven’t taken advantage of the multimedia options in this blog and insist on getting your information old skool, here is the written word version of the description: two guys write a musical about two guys writing a musical about two guys writing a musical. This is an original musical (gasp!) not based on a play or book or movie (double gasp) starring unknown theatre artists (triple gasp) that tells the story of creating an original musical starring theatre artists.

Being a little less cute, the plot follows it’s own creators, Hunter and Jeff, as they write the show, enter it into the New York Musical Theatre Festival, then work to get the show to Broadway.

The show stars Jeff Bowen and Hunter Bell (who are also the writers of the show), along with Susan Blackwell, Heidi Blickenstaff, and musical director Larry Pressgrove.

The show is hilarious, full of deep meta-commentary, and has only improved since I first became aware of it. My first exposure to [Title of Show] was the cast album and the strong recommendation of my friends Robert. The album was cut while the show was still striving for the Great White Way. The new additions to the show (i.e. “Awkward Photo Shoot” and “Change It/Don’t Change It”) provide infinitely more depth and conflict to this Cinderella story.

[Title of Show] is a show for people who love theatre, who dare to dream, and anyone who once believed in a creative project. Sadly, though, the show is set to close. In a Broadway community dominated by movies turned into musicals and former American Idol contestants, an original musical starring unknown but talented New York theatre professionals just isn’t selling tickets to the tourists. But good news for the risk averse – Phantom of the Opera is still going strong!

I hope the Tony’s reward and revive interest in the show next June (if, that is, the show cannot be saved). This is what good musical theatre should do: it inspires, it stretches the boundaries of the genre, it encourages creativity by example, and it entertains without being patronizing. If you want highly-calculated, over-produced, no-risk-guaranteed-to-entertain-you Broadway, go see Grease or something by Disney. But if you want to see a new era of creativity and talent actually make it to and succeed on Broadway, get your tickets to [Title of Show]!

P.S. Also, I have a copy of the show’s Playbill signed by all 5 members of the cast. I did the stage door for the show and spoke at length to all the cast members (except Jeff, because when he took my Playbill to sign it, I suddenly got very tongue-tied and intimidated… he has beautiful eyes and a rockin’ body… even though Hunter is more my type). Hunter is remarkably friendly and Susan and I shared stories of Ohio and making the big trip to New York City.

Filed under: NYC, music, theatregeekery by Jere Keys