Alex Timbers (book) and Michael Friedman (music and lyrics) co-authored the 90-minute musical that plays fast and loose with history, making a political rock star out of America's seventh U.S. President. Bloody Bloody will officially open Oct. 13.
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson arrives on Broadway after a 2008 world-premiere at the Center Theatre Group and a run at the Public Theater last spring, where it was extended three times. It earned a place as the second highest-grossing production in Public Theater history. The record holder is the Tony Award-nominated musical Caroline, or Change.
Timbers also directs the musical that stars original Off-Broadway cast member Benjamin Walker in the title role. Walker last appeared on Broadway in Les Liaisons Dangereuses and Inherit the Wind.
The cast also features Maria Elena Ramirez as Rachel, Jeff Hiller as John Adams, Lucas Near-Verbrugghe as Van Buren, Ben Steinfeld as Monroe, Greg Hildreth as Red Eagle, Darren Goldstein as Calhoun, Bryce Pinkham as Clay, Kate Cullen Roberts as Elizabeth, Kristine Nielson as the Storyteller, Cameron Ocasio as Lyncoya, Nadia Quinn, Emily Young as the Female Soloist and James Barry as the Male Soloist. Much of the Broadway cast originated their roles Off-Broadway and in the Center Theatre Group production.
Producers describe the musical as "an audacious mix of historical fact and invention, [that] uses the story of America’s controversial seventh president—the man who invented the Democratic Party, doubled the size of our nation and signed the Indian Removal Acts that started the Trail of Tears — to investigate the attraction and terrors of American populism, using a raucous blend of outrageous comedy, anarchic theatricality and infectious emo rock." The production has scenic design by Donyale Werle, costume design by Emily Rebholz, lighting design by Justin Townsend and sound design by Bart Fasbender. Choreography is by Danny Mefford.
The Public Theater has teamed with Hair producers Jeffrey Richards and Jerry Frankel, alongside producers Scott M. Delman, Stewart F. Lane, Bonnie Comely, and Susan Gallin/Mary Lu Roffe to bring the critically acclaimed rock musical to Broadway. It's a co-production with Center Theatre Group in association with Les Freres Corbusier.
Following a sold-out run at Public LAB in 2009, Bloody Bloody returned to The Public for a full main stage production and opened to acclaimed reviews on April 6. It received an Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway Musical and a Drama Desk Award for Best Book of a Musical.
Sh-K-Boom/Ghostlight Records recorded the cast album of the musical, which will be released Sept. 21. You can pre-order it here.
Producers are offering a daily $20 ticket lottery for twenty seats within the first two rows at the Jacobs Theatre. Entries will be accepted 30 minutes prior to each performance.
Tickets range $51.50-$131.50. The performance schedule is as follows: Monday-Thursday at 7 PM; Fridays at 8 PM; Saturdays at 2 PM and 8 PM; and Sundays at 2 PM and 7 PM.
For tickets, currently on sale through Jan. 9, 2011, visit Telecharge.com or phone (212) 239-6200. The Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre is located at 242 West 45th Street.
