American Star: The Musical
Theater for the New City (A)
This is a musical for people soon applying to college and for adults trying to live through it, in other words, for audiences aged 13 to 93.
Synopsis:
Stacey Star, a high school bullying target with low SAT's, dreams of becoming a superstar and auditioning for "American Star," a talent show emceed by the glamorous Maxine Mack. Unfortunately, so does her arch-rival, Kelly Dumbrowski, a popular "Queen Bee" with high SAT's who has changed her name to Kim, in loving emulation of Kim Kardashian. Stacey's adoptive parents are supportive of her quest, but her dad can't drive her to the auditions (the car's broken), so she must hitch. On the road, she falls in with dudes who embody the pro- and anti-commercialization forces of the "pop" world: one is named LLMJ (Long Live Michael Jackson), whose life is devoted to the great gloved one; the other is Occupy, a school bus driver who protests against sacrificing our youth to the commercial culture. Stacy and Occupy wind up in jail together for picketing "American Star," which they decry as "Corporate Star." Stacy's Fairy Guard Mother helps her out of the slammer, but by the time she can get to the set, the auditions are over. Stacy is about to give up and join the Army and delivers a "spotlight number" about being (or not being) a loser, listening to your parents and and getting real about a career. Maxine Mack witnesses the song, is taken with Stacy's talent and offers the girl a recording contract. Stacy's rival, Kim/Kelly, is left behind to a life of college loans, affirming the eternal truth that society is not fair to any of us, but at least some of us can rock 'n roll. The fun is in the ride to this fairy tale ending, which is sung and danced with the wit and humor that earned fame for William Electric Black as a writer on "Sesame Street."
Show Dates:
Performances from 11 Apr 2013
Closing 28 Apr 2013
Theatre Information:
Theater for the New City (A)
155 First Avenue
(at 10th Street)
New York, NY
US
Genre:
Musical
Cast List:
Rachel Caplan
Alexa Criscitiello
Alise Eve Haigazian
Verna Hampton
Taylor LaBarbera
Brandon Mellette
Valois Marie Mickins
Choomasi Nsiah
Michael Perrie, Jr.
Levern Williams
Production Credits:
Directed by William Electric Black
Choreography by Jeremy Lardieri
Costume design by Susan Hemley
Lighting and set design by Federico Restrepo
Other Credits:
Lyrics by: William Electric Black Music by: William Electric Black and Gary Schreiner Book by: William Electric Black
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