The pilot episode of Rachel Ravel and Austin Spero’s new musical comedy web series, Rachel Unraveled, will debut January 27 at the Allouche Gallery in the Meatpacking District of Manhattan. Jon Rua, who appeared in the ensemble of the Broadway musical Hamilton, is among the cast.
Rachel Unraveled, according to press notes, “centers on the real-life Ravel’s outlandish alter ego, a self-proclaimed star/dog whisperer with a lot of heart and no talent, as she strives to make it big in the Big Apple. Spero plays her 15-year-old arch nemesis; in the pilot, the two compete for their big breaks in an anti-bullying PSA.”
Rua plays the role of Gus, a homeless man and Rachel’s go-to confidante; William Youmans (Wicked) plays Rachel’s dad, a respected therapist and pugapoo enthusiast; Maria-Christina Oliveras (Amélie) plays Jaclyn, a struggling casting director; and Olivia Caridi (The Bachelor) plays Rachel’s best friend, Marie Claire.
“We were frustrated by regurgitated plot lines about young actresses winning Tonys the second they stepped off the bus at Penn Station, and we knew we weren’t alone,” says Ravel. “Rachel Unraveled sets itself apart from Glee, Smash, and countless other shows set in a fantasyland of showbiz by finding humor in the harsh everyday realities of trying to make it big.”
Spero added, “Producing our own web series feels like something that could have happened to us 10 years down the line, but we’re making it happen now, which is really exciting. We owe it to people like Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer of Broad City for motivating us to create something we’re passionate about without waiting for opportunities to happen.”
Ravel and Spero plan to produce five more episodes to complete a first season spanning Rachel’s musical misadventures in babysitting, online food delivery, and, of course, Hamilton. Following the premiere, the Rachel Unraveled pilot will be made available for screening on the show’s website.
Rachel Unraveled, a Hit the Lights production, was created and produced by Ravel and Spero. It is written by Billy Recce, Ravel, and Spero. Original music is by Recce; Isaac Himmelman and Ryan Harrington direct.
The Allouche Gallery is located at 82 Gansevoort Street. The screening begins at 7:30 PM. For more information, visit RachelUnraveled.com or follow the series on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
