Need something to listen to? Hercules’ Jelani Alladin recommends revisiting Michael John LaChiusa’s 2000 musical The Wild Party.
The Wild Party opened on Broadway at the Virginia Theatre April 13, 2000. The production, featuring music and lyrics by LaChiusa and book by LaChiusa and director George C. Wolfe, played 36 previews and 68 performances before closing June 11. Though it had a short run, the production was nominated for seven Tony Awards including Best Musical.
The cast album of The Wild Party is available on Amazon, iTunes, and Apple Music.
Based on Joseph Moncure March’s poem, The Wild Party follows chorus girl Queenie and her violently jealous vaudevillian boyfriend Burrs, who invite various theatrical types to a party where the booze and flirtation flow freely.
The Wild Party starred Toni Collette as Queenie, Mandy Patinkin as Burrs, Yancey Arias as Black, Nathan Lee Graham as Phil D’Armano, Adam Grupper as Gold, Leah Hocking as Mae, Eartha Kitt as Dolores, Marc Kudisch as Jackie, Norm Lewis as Eddie Mackrel, Michael McElroy as Oscar D’Armano, Brooke Sunny Moriber as Nadine, Sally Murphy as Sally, Tonya Pinkins as Kate, Jane Summerhays as Miss Madelaine True, and Stuart Zagnit as Goldberg.
The musical featured choreography by Joey McKneely, scenic design by Robin Wagner, costume design by Toni-Leslie James, lighting design by Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer, and sound design by Tony Meola.
