Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar:
World Premiere!
Flying Elephant Productions Presents
WE THE PEOPLE: The Anti-Trump Musical
Book by Sean Chandler
Music and Lyrics by Leo Schwartz
Directed by Derek Van Barham
Music Direction by Ty Miles
The election of 2016: Disappointment, Chaos, Intrigue, Anger, Response!
Dwayne Everett with (back, l to r) Carmen Fisher Risi, Elizabeth Rentfro, Timothy Swaim, Alyssa Soto and Bradley Halverson
All Photos by Michael Brosilow.
Award winners Leo Schwartz (music/lyrics) and Sean Chandler (book) take six actors through fifty-five characters in this new political musical song cycle: We The People!
Run time: 70 minutes, no intermission
Review:
Still reeling from a year of Trump's America? Then this is the show for you. This musical has a spot on score as funny as it is thought provoking. Don your pussy hats and protest garb and come on out to We the People and commiserate. You'll enjoy 70 minutes of fun songs sung by a talented cast of 3 women and 3 men.
(left to right) Bradley Halverson, Elizabeth Rentfro, Timothy Swaim and Alyssa Soto
Bradley Halverson
(left to right) Alyssa Soto, Carmen Fisher Risi, Dwayne Everett, Timothy Swaim, Elizabeth Rentfro and Bradley Halverson
We enjoyed the witty writing and recognition laughs, and left the theatre feeling more empowered and validated. America may have lost it's sanity, dignity, and the possibility of sensible, humane legislation with this past election, but protest music, theatre and art are flourishing. We declare this one a win.
January 26 – February 10, 2018 at Stage 773
When politics gives you Trump, make a musical! Here at ChiIL Live Shows we're ready for a laugh after a year of cringeworthy executive decisions by 45. Flying Elephant Productions is ready to bring it, with the world premiere of WE THE PEOPLE: The Anti-Trump Musical, to launch their first season.
Flying Elephant Productions is pleased to launch its inaugural season with the world premiere of WE THE PEOPLE: The Anti-Trump Musical, a political musical song cycle about the turbulent 2016 election, with six actors playing 55 characters. This powerful new musical features a book by Sean Chandler, music and lyrics by Leo Schwartz, direction by Derek Van Barham and music direction by Ty Miles. WE THE PEOPLE will play through February 10, 2018 at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are currently available at stage773.com, by calling (773) 327-5252 or in person at the Stage 773 box office.
(left to right) Elizabeth Rentfro, Bradley Halverson, Alyssa Soto, Carmen Fisher Risi, Timothy Swaim and Dwayne Everett
This new political musical song cycle takes audiences from the party conventions through election night and its immediate aftermath into the realization of “Trump’s America.” It all culminates with a call to action from “We The People.”
(left to right) Alyssa Soto, Carmen Fisher Risi and Elizabeth Rentfro
Comments Flying Elephant Productions Executive Director Leo Schwartz, “Often, an artist’s job is to light dark corners and elucidate a way to a new understanding of the world. We see life differently and we passionately express our vision. Whether it’s to expose the workhouses of Victorian London in Dickens’ Oliver Twist, or the ravages of the Spanish Civil War in Picasso’s Guernica, or the social upheaval of the ‘60s with Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?, art inspires us to reconsider, to act, to challenge. We the People is a call to action to save those things which we hold most dear, our country and our freedom.”
The production team to date includes: Theron Wineinger (scenic design), Cat Wilson (lighting design), G. Max Maxin IV (projections design) and Neill Kelly (stage manager).
Location: Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago
Dates: Preview: Friday, January 26 at 8 pm
Regular run: Sunday, January 28 – Saturday, February 10, 2018
Curtain Times: Thursdays at 7:30 pm; Fridays & Saturdays at 8 pm; Sundays at 3:30 pm.
Tickets: Preview $30. Regular run $40. Thursdays “Industry Night” $10 with headshot/resume.
(front left) Elizabeth Rentfro and the cast of Flying Elephant Productions’ world premiere musical WE THE PEOPLE: The Anti-Trump Musical.
(front right) Carmen Fisher Risi with (back, l to r) Timothy Swaim, Alyssa Soto and Bradley Halverson
Tickets are currently available at stage773.com, by calling (773) 327-5252 or in person at the Stage 773 box office.
About The Creative Team
Sean Chandler’s (Book) works include At The Flash (Pride Films and Plays Great Gay Play and Musical Contest Winner, Oscar Wilde Best New Work Nomination – Dublin Gay Theatre Festival, Outstanding Solo Performance – New York Fringe Festival), Running: A New Musical, Radical Morality (Nicholl Fellowship Quarter-Finalist, Creative World Awards Semi-Finalist, PFP Great Screenplay Contest Semi-Finalist), Kissing The Frog Prince (Scriptoid Writers Challenge, All Access Screenwriters Competition & The Screenplay Festival Semi- Finalist) and The Pack (Creative World Awards Semi-Finalist). Host of the Theater Podcast “Your Program Is Your Ticket”. Sean resides in New York City and is a proud member of The Dramatists Guild. www.seanwchandler.com
Leo Schwartz (Music & Lyrics) won the Jeff Award for Best New Work in 2013 in addition to numerous other awards and recognition for his works of musical theatre and film scores. His works of theatre and concert music have been presented all around the world by various theatres and organizations. Among his successful musicals are Under A Rainbow Flag, The Book of Merman, PEN, TILL and NAUGHTY!. He is the Executive Director of Flying Elephant Productions. www.leoschwartz.com
Derek Van Barham (Director) is an Artistic Associate with Pride Films & Plays, a member of the Red Tape Theatre ensemble and a former Artistic Director of The Ruckus. For PFP, he has directed Angry Fags (Steppenwolf Garage Repertory), Songs from an Unmade Bed (Jeff nomination: Best Director of a Musical or Revue), PRISCILLA, Queen of the Desert: The Musical and Terrence Mcnally’s Some Men (co-directed by David Zak). He also wrote, directed and choreographed BITE: A Pucking Queer Cabaret and Kill Your Boyfriends. Other directing credits include Miracle! by Dan Savage and Skooby Don't (Hell in a Handbag), Three Days of Rain (Boho Theatre), Trash and Deep in the Heart of Tuna (New American Folk Theatre) and From These Fatal Loins (The Ruckus). He has choreographed for Black Button Eyes (Coraline the Musical, Goblin Market, Amour), The Plagiarists, Inappropriate Theatre, Brain Surgeon Theatre and Salonathon. He can currently be seen improvising with the LGBT team Baby Wine (Fridays at The Annoyance). He was recently named one of Windy City Times 30 Under 30, recognizing individuals from Chicago's LGBTQ community. MFA: Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University.
Ty Miles (Music Director) is so excited to be working again on such a timely work. Classically trained in music composition and piano performance, Ty has written original songs and incidental music for several theater works including Derek Van Barham’s adaptation of Aristophanes’ Wealth and Dan Caffery’s play Gregor and the Squonk. He is also proud to have worked with Leo Schwartz before as assistant music director for the last two summer’s productions of We The People and PEN.
About Flying Elephant Productions
Nothing is more challenging than getting a creative career off the ground. In many ways, it would be easier to get an elephant to fly. Flying Elephant Productions is dedicated to presenting new works, musicals and plays, that are dynamic, impassioned, and, in our belief, prone to fly. We not only give them first voice, but will also work with the creators to market and promote their work further. Our success at production and our entrepreneurial experience make us a uniquely qualified voice in theatre. For additional information, visit www.flyingelephantproductions.com.
