Show TimesThe Passion of George W. Bush premeired at the Michael Schimmel Center for the Performing Arts on August 14th, 2004 as part of the New York International Fringe Festival. A concert production was performed on November 1st, 2004 at Joe's Pub.
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EtcThe Concert
The Passion of George W. Bush is back! Fresh from its hit production as part of the 2004 New York International Fringe Festival, the hilarious new musical by John Herin, Adam Mathias and Alden Terry returns for a one-night-only concert event at Joe's Pub on November 1st at 9:30.
It's another chance to see stars Colin Stokes, Michael Gladis, Thursday Farrar and Jonathan Putterman, under the direction of Simon Hammerstein, take on everyone's favorite Axis of Evil: the Bush Administration. Musical Director Jana Zielonka leads the rockin' band through this specially adapted concert version, including a brand new ending created specifically for Joe's Pub. Don't miss your favorite songs: "Stay The Course", "Bring It On", "Evil!" and much more. Here's the official Press Release: ***************** The Carlisle Group's 2004 Pre-Election Victory Party with your hosts Dick Cheney, Karl Rove, Condoleeza Rice, and George H.W. Bush Presenting THE PASSION OF GEORGE W. BUSH A musical testament to our beloved President By John Herin, Adam B. Mathias, and Alden Terry Directed by Simon Hammerstein With Craig Baldwin, Charles Browning, Chad Coudriet, Thursday Farrar, Michael Gladis, Jennifer Houseal, Shannon Polly, Jonathan Putterman, and Colin Stokes. From his humble beginnings, through his time in the wilderness, to the crisis which tests his faith, Passion brings us closer to the life and works of George W. Bush in our time of greatest need. A timeless tale of suffering, sacrifice, and above all, love. There is no substitute for the revelation of the Passion... Plus a performance by the Special Forces Women's Dance Division And special guests Osama Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein Produced by Simon Hammerstein and Richard Kimmel Joe's Pub - 425 Lafayette Street - $20 Monday, November 1, 9:30PM THE PASSION OF GEORGE W. BUSH MICHAEL SCHIMMEL CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
The Passion of George W. Bush makes a statement before it even begins. The formidably large curtain, reflecting brightly colored lights,creates the effect of seeing a big swath of electoral red in the Michael Schimmel Center for the Performing Arts at Pace University. The musical begins with a four-person choir in white (klan?) robes singing a song that introduces the Bush family circa 1950. Daddy is a stoic stuffed shirt (“Men like me put the ‘G’ in GOP”). Jeb (Charles Browning, who also plays Colin Powell) is the black sheep and young George (Colin Stokes) earnestly yearns to get into heaven. While Jeb is relegated to sleeping under George’s bed, father Bush (Craig Baldwin) instructs Junior that the “road to heaven is lined with Bushes.” (The show’s book and lyrics are by John Herin and Adam B. Mathias; the music is by Alden Terry.) Next, we see young George coping with his alcoholism and being a loser. He passes out cold, and in his drunken stupor thinks he is visited by God. In fact, it is Dick Cheney (Michael Gladis), taking advantage of W.’s drunken confusion. Dick’s introductory dirge ends with W.’s fervent religious conversion, certain that God has spoken to him. He is visited by three “disciples”: Karl Rove, Condoleezza Rice, and Cheney himself. The gullible, if honorable, Bush earnestly strives for greatness and his father’s approval, only to become a tool of the evil trio. Under the direction of Simon Hammerstein, the biting satire ultimately does the president a service: It portrays him as a principled man of integrity duped by carelessly cunning manipulators. Rove (Jonathan Putterman) is a sadistic Machiavellian who makes young George swallow his chewing tobacco to prove his earnestness. Condi (Thursday Farrar) gets off every time Dick starts talking dirty, and Dick is the mastermind behind everything. (Powell is relegated to fetching coffee and answering phones.) Through the humor comes a seething anger that isn’t really directed at the president himself: He’s too infantile and good-natured.
Article from the New York Sun
CULTURE DESK
Now Starring Downtown: President Bush By PIA CATTON All theater is political, they say. And even if that’s not the case, it might as well be in this election year. For the Eighth Annual New York International Fringe Festival, the sprawling theatrical free-for-all that starts this Friday, the event’s organizers sorted through some 900 applications for about 200 slots, according to Ron Lasko, the festival’s publicist and one of its adjudicators. By his estimate, about 20% — enough for an entire Fringe — were overtly political. Those entries, he said, could easily have taken over.“We had to be careful not turn this into a political theater festival,” said Mr. Lasko. Just a look at the titles of many shows that were included suggests what a task that was. “The Passion of George W. Bush: The Vision Thing” is a musical combining two hotbutton topics that have vexed the left in the last year. “9/11 — The Book of Job” sees George Bush and Osama bin Laden taking roles in the biblical tale. In “Apocalypse! Book One” an angry Jesus Christ decides to run for president against President Bush. “John Walker: The Musical” is exactly what it sounds like. The rash of topical political work is part of a larger expression of political frustration — similarly themed works can be seen elsewhere in downtown theater as well as in art galleries or, indeed, movie houses. For many playwrights and directors taking their message to the Fringe Festival provides both a chance to get their work noticed and to get their licks in while they can. “In a society that has become bifurcated in terms of politics, theater artists are choosing to make comments in their medium,” said the American Theater Wing’s executive director, Howard Sherman. “Artists see it as an opportunity that’s been handed to them.” So what do they make of that opportunity? Most of the political works that will be featured at the Fringe are extremely topical and directly invoke current political figures and recent events. There is not the patina of fictionalization that Brecht introduced into a work such as “The Resistable Rise of Arturo Ui,” nor the call-to-arms enthusiasm and didacticism of Clifford Odets’s “Waiting for Lefty.” Giving Levels (textile)Below are the levels at which we encourage you to support The Passion of George W. Bush Vice-Presidential – $2,000 and up
Contributors
Special Thank You's to the following people without whose generous support the FringeNYC production of The Passion of George W. Bush could not exist:
Vice-Presidential - $2,000 and up Tom and Miriam Herin Presidential - $500 to $1,999 Sam and Ellen Green National Security Advisor - $250 to $499 Stuart and Joyce Mathias Secretary of Defense - $25 to $249 John and Kitty Culbert Secretary of State - $1 to $24 Bruce and Fern Hartley And to those who have given generously of their time, talent and support: Robin Mathias, Bo Laurent, Fred Bimbler, Amanda DuBois, The Matzah Man, Kate Guyton, Hillary Keegin, Sally Wheeler, N.Y.U./Tisch Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program, Leonard Klein, Sarah Gurfield, Bob Boyett, Diane Murphy, Ashley Berman, 101 Productions Ltd. Click here for more information about how you can support The Passion of George W. Bush Giving Levels
Below are the levels at which we encourage you to support The Passion of George W. Bush:
Vice-Presidential - $2,000 and up
Presidential - $500 to $1,999
National Security Advisor - $250 to $499
Secretary of Defense - $25 to $249
Secretary of State - $1 to $24
Please note that because of the nature of FringeNYC, The Passion of George W. Bush is neither a commercial venture nor part of a not-for-profit organization. We are dependent on gifts from you to meet our financial obligations. (Items in italics have about as much value as a campaign promise.) The StoryBehold the Courage... the Honesty... the Passion of George W. Bush! The Passion is a musical journey to the spiritual center of our beloved President. From his humble beginnings, through his time in the wilderness, to the moment of crisis which tests his faith, Passion brings us closer to the life and works of George W. Bush in our time of greatest need. This powerful story, magnificently expressed in song, is the timeless tale of suffering, sacrifice, and above all, love. There is no substitute for the revelation of the Passion... |
Credits
Book & Lyrics
John Herin Adam B. Mathias Music Alden Terry Original Cast Craig Baldwin Charles Browning Chad Coudriet Thursday Farrar Michael Gladis Jennifer Houseal Shannon Polly Jonathan Putterman Colin Stokes Direction Simon Hammerstein Music Direction Jana Zielonka Choreography Dontee Kiehn Design Michael V. Moore Charlene Alexis Gross Dale Knoth Greg Reif Produced by Christine Hale Associate Produced by Simon Hammerstein Richard Kimmel Complete list and bios... Email us PollUpcoming events |