Off-Broadway's The Big Gay Jamboree may have been forced to postpone its originally announced opening night while co-writer and star Marla Mindelle is out sick, but that didn't stop the company from having a special ga(y)la performance of the new musical September 30 at the Orpheum Theatre. See photos from the special night in the gallery below.
The musical will now open October 6 with Mindelle back in the cast. Previously the co-writer and star of Titaníque, Mindelle co-wrote the book of The Big Gay Jamboree with Jonathan Parks-Ramage and co-wrote the score with Philip Drennen. Mindelle also stars as Stacey, a woman who wakes up after a night of heavy drinking and finds herself trapped in an Off-Broadway Golden Age musical. Forced to put her musical theatre degree in action, Stacey has to figure out how to escape this singing and dancing prison in front of a live audience.
Joining Mindelle in the cast are Alex Moffat as Keith, Paris Nix as Clarence, Constantine Rousouli as Bert, and Natalie Walker as Flora. The ensemble includes Brad Greer, Amanda Lee, Jillian Mueller, Olivia Puckett, Melvin Tunstall, and John Yi, with swings Jaden Dominique, Jeremiah Ginn, Clyde Voce, and Wolfson rounding out the company. Casting is by Stephen Kopel.
The Big Gay Jamboree
Frankie Grande and company of The Big Gay Jamboree
Paris Nix
Constantine Rousouli
Company of The Big Gay Jamboree
Company of The Big Gay Jamboree
Alex Moffat
Jillian Mueller, Amanda Lee, Natalie Walker, and Olivia Puckett
Natalie Walker
Cortney Wolfson
Melvin Tunstall
Jillian Mueller
Franke Grande and Rosé
Brad Greer
John Yi
Philip Drennen, Jonathan Parks Ramage, and Connor Gallagher
Jonathan Parks Ramage and Philip Drennen
Olivia Puckett
Kaia Gerber
Will Butler and David Adjmi
Billy Eichner
Conor Gallagher is directing and choreographing, leading a creative team that also includes scenic designer dots, costume designer Sarah Cubbage, lighting designer Brian Tovar, sound designer Justin Stasiw, projection designer Aaron Rhyne, hair and wig designer Leah J. Loukas, and makeup designer Katie Gell. David Dabbon is musical supervisor and arranger.
Sue Wagner, John Johnson, and LuckyChap are producing. LuckyChap, a production company founded by Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley, Josey McNamara, and Sophia Kerr, previously was developing the project with Mindelle for the screen. The Barbie producers announced the project in 2019.
Tickets are available at BigGayJamboreeTheMusical.com.
