IU DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE AND DRAMA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: John Edward Kinzer, Director of Audience Development
(812) 855-0514 or jkinzer@indiana.edu

INDIANA UNIVERSITY’S DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE AND DRAMA CORDIALLY INVITES YOU TO THE WILD PARTY

Bloomington, IN—Lust, jealousy, and revenge command the stage of the Wells-Metz Theatre. Andrew Lippa’s musical The Wild Party captures the spirit and sensuality, the vitality and violence of the Roaring Twenties. In a production by Emmy Award-winner George Pinney that will stretch the bounds of the flexible Wells-Metz Theatre, showgirl Queenie throws a debaucherous party designed to make her abusive lover jealous. The resulting cavalcade of drugs, alcohol, and promiscuity driven by a stunningly fresh score rocket the musical to its dangerous climax. The Wild Party runs October 24th, 25th, and 28th – November 1st at the Wells-Metz Theatre in the Lee Norvelle Theatre and Drama Center at 7th and Jordan on the Indiana University campus.

Can inspiration really strike twice? Three times even? In this case, the answer is a resounding yes. March’s narrative poem “The Wild Party” is not only the book that inspired William Burroughs to be a writer, but it’s also the source from which two musicals were derived nearly seventy-two years after the poem’s original publication in 1928. There was Lippa’s musical of course, set to open off-Broadway at the Manhattan Theatre Club on February 24, 2000. Coincidentally, John LaChiusa and George C. Wolfe had their own musical version ready to premiere on Broadway on April 13 of the same year at the Virginia Theatre. Ultimately, there was no decisive winner once the two shows opened as planned, for ticket sales canceled each other out. However, it was Lippa’s deft blending of 1920s jazz with contemporary sounds that inspired the IU Department of Theatre and Drama to choose between them.

Directing and choreographing Lippa’s version of The Wild Party for the Norvelle Center is Tony Award-nominee and Emmy-winner George Pinney, Professor of Theatre and Drama and Head of the B.F.A. in Musical Theatre. As for why Pinney chose Lippa’s The Wild Party over LaChiusa and Wolfe’s, he says, “The musical score is more accessible through a stronger use of melody. The score is also better-suited for our students.” In addition, Pinney believes, “Lippa’s book is a strong reflection of the poem with a contemporary eye in the music. They both celebrate the degradation of humanity. I hope that audience members are shocked by what they see and take it as a warning sign.”

Queenie, the woman of Burrs and Black’s love triangle, is played by Ariel Simpson (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum). Filling the roles of Burrs and Black are William Angulo (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Seussical the Musical, The Day Boy and the Night Girl) and Russell Stout (Seussical the Musical, The Day Boy and the Night Girl), respectively. Rounding out the talented cast are Francesca Arostegui (Nadine), Charnette Batey (Cookie), Alyson Bloom (Mae), Marty Brent (Eddie), Andrew Craig Brewer (Kegs), Matthew Buffalo (Sam), Lovlee Carroll (Kate), Cosmo Clemens (Scat Man), Stephanie Mieko Cohen (Harriet), Lawrence Evans (Phil), Jake Haynie (Jackie), Gina Ricci (Madelaine), Mandy Striph (Dolores), Bradley Wantz (Oscar), and Marc R. Winski (Max).

In addition to Director Pinney, the outstanding production team includes Musical Director Terry LaBolt (Music Director of the Musical Theatre Program) in his debut production in the Norvelle Center, Scenic Designer Seamus M. Bourne (The Day Boy and the Night Girl, Side Man), Costume Designer Erica Griese (Metamorphoses), Lighting Designer Sean Michael Smallman (The Day Boy and the Night Girl, An American Ma(u)l, Measure for Measure, Reel) and Sound Designer Andrew Hopson (Assistant Professor of Sound Design in the Department of Theatre and Drama).

While we defer to families to make their own entertainment choices, due to adult content, including but not limited to depiction of overt sexuality and drug use, we recommend The Wild Party for mature audiences.

The Wild Party opens Friday, October 24th at 7:30 pm with additional performances October 25th and 28th - November 1st. All performances will take place at the Wells-Metz Theatre in the Lee Norvelle Theatre and Drama Center in Bloomington, Indiana at 7:30 pm. There will be an additional 2:00 pm matinee on Saturday, November 1st. Ticket prices: $20 for adults, $15 for 30-and-under/students/senior citizens; Student Rush Tickets; $12 cash with valid IUB student ID are available the day of each performance. Group prices are available. For ticket information, call 812-855-1103 and ask for information about Lee Norvelle Theatre and Drama Center tickets. Tickets are on sale now at the Indiana University Auditorium Box Office, through Ticketmaster at 812-333-9955, or online at theatre.indiana.edu.      

Join our E-mail List