PHOTO CALL: Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Starring Benjamin Walker, Opens on Broadway
By Irina Khodorkovsky
October 14, 2010
In 1829 he was elected the seventh President of the United States. In 2010 he's a rebellious rock star leading a nation through its troubled adolescence in the new musical Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, which opened Oct. 13 at Broadway's Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre.
The 90-minute musical, equal parts sketch comedy, underground rock concert and a revisionist history lesson, has book and direction by Alex Timbers of Les Freres Corbusier and music and lyrics by The Civilians' Michael Friedman. Performances began Sept. 20.
The writers play fast and loose with history as they track Jackson's journey from Tennessee hellion to the Commander in Chief. Michael Friedman told Playbill, "The meta-narrative is how Andrew Jackson rewrote the history of America as he was going. That's one of the weird things about taking control of a country; you get to rewrite narrative entirely."
Here is a look at the opening night:
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Benjamin Walker, who originated the role of "Old Hickory" at the Center Theatre Group and subsequently Off-Broadway at the Public, repeats his work for the Broadway run as the skinny-jean-clad President. 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.
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.