Displaying items by tag: Tommy Thurston

Hell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to continue its 22^nd season with the world premiere of POOR PEOPLE! The Parody Musical, an insane homage to many of the characters, songs and tropes of those very expensive Broadway and West End musicals about the less fortunate (Annie, Oliver!, Les Miz, Sweeney Todd... you get the gist). Written by ensemble member Tyler Anthony Smith* with direction by Stephanie Shaw, music direction by Andrew Milliken and choreography by Christopher Kelley, POOR PEOPLE! will play May 2 – June 16, 2024 at The Chopin Studio Theatre, 1543 W. Division St. in Chicago. Tickets are now on sale at handbagproductions.org or buytickets.at/hellinahandbagproductions/1116848. The press opening is Friday, May 10 at 8 pm.

The cast includes ensemble members David Cerda*, Sydney Genco*, Caitlin Jackson*, Elizabeth Lesinski* and Tyler Anthony Smith* with Matty Bettencourt, Brittney Brown, Taylor Dalton, Dakota Hughes, Patrick O'Keefe, Shane Roberie and Tommy Thurston. Understudies include Connar Brown, Miguel Long, Halli Morgan and Brandon Nelson.

It's 1979 in dangerous, smoky, glorious New York City. Our story's red-headed protagonist Li'l Orphan Arnie (Dakota Hughes) is fleeing from the guardianship of a sex-starved, meth-cooking madwoman (Sydney Genco*). Out on the streets, they befriend a slinky dancing cat (Matty Bettencourt), who leads them to a magical manhole, transporting them back in time to Paris, France in 1815. Trading in one poverty-plagued lifestyle for another, Arnie gives up the desire to find their parents and joins forces with a gang of pick-pocketing prostitutes, led by the mysterious Fagin (David Cerda*).

Life becomes even more dire when Mama Moneybags (Brittney Brown), a corrupt Republican from the future, takes it upon herself to put Fagin's troupe out of work. Thankfully, there's a bounty of colorful, destitute characters to help save the day, such as the tuberculosis-ridden Pantene (Caitlin Jackson*), a feral Beggar Woman (Elizabeth Lesinski*) and Nance, the classic hooker with a heart of gold (Tyler Anthony Smith*). Will the sun come out tomorrow? Do you hear the people sing? Will we be changing all of the lyrics to avoid being sued? Yes!

Comments playwright Tyler Anthony Smith, "When I was in the fourth grade, I was supposed to be in the ensemble of our district's high school production of Oliver! I got sick, missed too many rehearsals, and was forced to exit the show. So not only is this Handbag's response to Apple TV's Schmigadoon!, it's also my revenge."

The production team includes G. "Max" Maxin IV (Scenic, Lighting and Projection Design), Rachel M. Sypniewski (Costume Design), Miranda Coble (Sound Design), Maggie O'Brien (Props Design), Jabberwocky Marionettes (Puppet Design), Keith Ryan* (Wig Design), Syd Genco* (Make-up Design), Michael S. Miller* (Graphic Design), Rick Aguilar (Photography), Jenna Raithel (Stage Manager), Veronica Kostka* (Assistant Stage Manager) and David Cerda* (Executive Producer).

*Denotes Hell in a Handbag Ensemble Member

PRODUCTION DETAILS:

Title: POOR PEOPLE! The Parody Musical – World Premiere!
Playwright: ensemble member Tyler Anthony Smith*
Director: Stephanie Shaw

Music Director: Andrew Milliken

Choreographer: Christopher Kelley

Cast (in alphabetical order): David Cerda* (Fagin), Sydney Genco* (Miss A), Caitlin Jackson* (Pantene), Elizabeth Lesinski* (Beggar Woman) and Tyler Anthony Smith* (Nance) with Matty Bettencourt (Fosse Kitty), Brittney Brown (Mama Moneybags), Taylor Dalton (Epipen), Dakota Hughes (Li'l Orphan Arnie), Patrick O'Keefe (Twinky), Shane Roberie (The Groomer of the Flop'ra) and Tommy Thurston (Pretty Rich Boy). Understudies: Connar Brown, Miguel Long, Halli Morgan and Brandon Nelson.

Location: The Chopin Studio Theatre, 1543 W. Division St., Chicago

Previews: Thursday, May 2 at 8 pm, Friday, May 3 at 8 pm, Saturday, May 4 at 8 pm, Sunday, May 5 at 4 pm and Thursday, May 9 at 8 pm
Opening/Press performance: Friday, May 10 at 8 pm
Regular run: Saturday, May 11 – Sunday, June 16, 2024
Curtain Times: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm; Sundays at 4 pm.

Industry Night: Wednesday, June 12 at 8 pm

Tickets: $25 previews, $42 general admission, $60 VIP/reserved seating. Group rates $36 for 10 or more. Tickets are now on sale at handbagproductions.org or buytickets.at/hellinahandbagproductions/1116848.

About the Artists

Tyler Anthony Smith (Playwright)  is in show business. He/She/They is/is/are a proud Hell in a Handbag ensemble member. Lots of performing here and there, lots of writing this and that, lots of saying, "There's a hole in my crotch. Again." Ms. Smith is not represented by any sort of talent agency. Instagram: @judithnightlight

Stephanie Shaw (Director) has presented her original solo performance work for a wide range of venues in the Chicago area, as well as NYC. An alumni member of the Neo-Futurists, she wrote and performed regularly for Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind for five years. She has directed a number of solo shows for Live Bait Theatre, The New York Fringe, Sweetback Productions, and the simple pleasure of Tyler Anthony Smith and his audiences. She directed Tyler's FRANKENSTREISAND for Hell in a Handbag, and has directed for The Neo-Futurists, The New York Fringe, Oak Park Festival Theatre, MirrorBox Theatre (Cedar Rapids), and over a dozen plays and musicals for the theatre department of Columbia College Chicago, where she is a Professor of Instruction. Once upon a time, she was a theatre critic for The Chicago Reader.

Andrew Milliken (Music Director) has been a music director/pianist in the Chicago area since 2016. Previous credits with Hell in a Handbag include Poseidon! An Upside Down Musical, Bewildered and The Facts of Life: Satan's School for Girls, for which he also composed the music with David Cerda.

Christopher Kelley (Choreographer) is a choreographer, dancer and teacher based in Chicago. Favorite performing credits include The Muny, Lyric Opera of Chicago, The Paramount, Marriott, Drury Lane, Porchlight and Timberlake Playhouse. Christopher was a company member of Chicago Repertory Ballet from 2020-2023. They have taught ballet and jazz at several studios around Chicago and are on faculty at Visceral Dance Chicago and CCPA. BFA in Music Theatre from CCM.

About Hell in a Handbag Productions

Hell in a Handbag is dedicated to the preservation, exploration, and celebration of works ingrained in the realm of popular culture via theatrical productions through parody, music and homage. Handbag is a 501(c)(3) Not for Profit. For additional information, visit handbagproductions.org.

The setting is a drought-stricken Midwest cattle town. Sheriff File (played by Denzel Tsopnang) and the town folk set the mood as they lament that “the earth is burning, crops is bad, and land is dry” in opening number “Another Hot Day” of BoHo Theatre’s presentation of 110 in The Shade.

But it’s not all bad news as one cattle ranching family, H.C.(Pops), Noah, and Jimmy get the welcome news that sister Lizzie’s Coming Home. Lizzie (played by Neala Barron) has been visiting kin, in the hopes of finding a husband. Her quest for love however was as fruitless as the drought-damaged trees.

When fast talking charismatic Starbuck (played by Tommy Thurston), a self-proclaimed “rainmaker”, comes rolling into town proclaiming that for a measly $100, in advance of course, “it’s gonna rain all through the mornin’. It’s gonna rain all through the night. It’s gonna rain all day tomorrow, Now, won’t that be a sight!” the town is whipped into a frenzy.

Beyond the frenzy and excitement (and tension) as we await the promised rain, we witness many layers of emotion in the characters, including insecurity and self-doubt, internal conflict, family conflict, and ultimately love and hope.

Neala Barron (Lizzie) gives a very emotionally raw performance. Her body language and facial expressions were honest and believable. In “Simple Little Things”, I had tears in my eyes. I truly felt compassion towards her character. Her vocal performance was superb!

Tommy Thurston (Starbuck) gave an equally strong though less emotional performance. His charisma and energy were perfectly matched to his portrayal of the fast-talking con-man, yet he successfully and believably toned it down for the more intimate scenes. Vocally, I felt that the fast pacing of some his songs challenged his depth of breath and dropped off just a little.

Denzel Tsopnang (File) was strong as the third lead. While his role didn’t command as much attention his performance was reserved as the role required. His vocal performance however was first class from the opening number and throughout.

H.C. Noah, and Jimmy (Peter Robel, Billy Dawson, and Christopher Ratliff) were excellent in their supporting roles. They each played an important role in the emotional depth of the story.

The production design and technical direction was outstanding as well, specifically the use of lighting to either set a mood, the special effects of thunder, lightning and rain, and the working windmill were more than I expected in this mid-size venue.

Directed by BoHo Theatre Artistic Director Peter Marston Sullivan, this production is rich in emotion, converting this simple romance into a deeply moving story of family conflict, loneliness, love and hope. While this entire production, because of its strength, could transfer easily to a bigger stage, I am happy to have been able to experience the intimacy and the emotion in this mid-size venue. The ensemble size fit the production and filled the stage nicely; the production never felt cramped in this sized theatre.

BoHo Theatre’s production of 110 in The Shade is a MUST SEE for this theatre season!

At Theater Wit thru Dec 16, 2018.