BlueRare Productions has announced the cast and creative team for its Off-Broadway premiere of the probing and politically-charged mash-up comedy, Abraham Lincoln's Big, Gay Dance Party, by Aaron Loeb. The seven-member cast will feature Arnie Burton (The Temperamentals, 39 Steps), Stephanie Pope Caffey (Chicago, Smokey Joe's Cafe) and Robert Hogan (A Few Good Men, HBO's "The Wire") and include Lisa Birnbaum, Ted Koch, Pippa Pearthree and Ben Roberts.
The six-week limited engagement, directed by Chris Smith (former Artistic Director of SF's Magic Theatre) with choreography by Vince Pesce (Associate Choreographer to Kathleen Marshall on Tony-winners Pajama Game and Wonderful Town), will begin performances on July 27 at Theatre Row's Acorn Theatre (410 West 42nd Street, NYC), with opening night set for August 11. The creative team also includes Bill English (scenic design), Jeff Croiter and Grant Yeager (lighting design) and Rebecca Lustig (costume design).
In Abraham Lincoln's Big, Gay Dance Party, a fourth-grade Christmas pageant in Lincoln's rural Illinois hometown sets off a firestorm of controversy when it calls into question Honest Abe's sexuality. A thought-provoking, laugh-out-loud funny, and uniquely American story unfolds, offering surprises at every turn. Each of the three acts lets the audience see the story from a different character's viewpoint - and at each performance the audience decides in which order the acts are performed, creating a Rubik's Cube-like theatrical event. A truly democratic theatergoing experience!
What could be more American than that?
Tickets for Abraham Lincoln's Big, Gay Dance Party are priced at $51.25 and $66.25 for premium seats ($20 student rush) and are on sale now at www.ticketcentral.com or by calling (212) 279-4200. The playing schedule is as follows: Tuesday at 7:00 p.m., Wednesday at 8:00 p.m., Thursday at 8:00 p.m., Friday at 8:00 p.m., Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and Sunday at 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Abraham Lincoln's Big, Gay Dance Party is produced by BlueRare Productions in association with Aaron Glick and Deborah Taylor.
Arnie Burton (Anton). Broadway: The 39 Steps (original cast), Amadeus. Off-Broadway: The Tempermentals (Drama Desk Award, Ensemble), Mere Mortals (Primary Stages, J. Houseman Theater), The Last Sunday in June (Rattlestick, Century Theater), The Jew of Malta/The Merchant of Venace (TFANA), The Venetian Twins, The Cherry Orchard (Pearl Theater). U.K.: The Merchant of Venice (RSC). Regional: All in the Timing (LA premiere, Geffen Playhouse), I Am My Own Wife (St. Louis Rep, Kevin Kline Award, Best Actor), The Seagull and The Taming of the Shrew (Old Globe); also The Huntington, the Alley Berkely Rep, Philadelphia Theater Co., Berkshire Theater Fest. among others. TV: "Frasier," "Hope&Faith," "L&O," "Caroline in the City," "White Collar," "Life on Mars," "Six Degrees," "Sister, Sister." Films: The Invention of Lying, The Private Lives of Pippa Lee, Game 6, and Igby Goes Down.
Stephanie Pope Caffey (Regina/Esmerelda). Broadway and touring credits include "Muzzy Van Hossmere" in Thoroughly Modern Millie, "Velma Kelly" in Chicago, "The Leading Player" in Fosse, "Brenda" in Smokey Joe's Cafe, "Gmynasia" in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, "The Hunnies" in Jelly's Last Jam, "Josephine Baker" in The Ziegfeld Follies of 1936. Regional roles include "Fastrada" in Pippin, "Cicre" in The Odyssey, "Liliane LaFleur" in Nine and "Dussie Mae" in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. Television credits include "One Life to Live," "All My Children," "Oz" and "Ed."She has appeared in commercials, film, music videos and cabaret with her very first cabaret act, On My Way to You receiving a Mac Award-nomination for best newcomer. Her critically acclaimed solo CD titled Now's the Time to Fall in Love is available through www.cdbaby.com
