Cast Recordings & AlbumsRamin Karimloo Heads Cast of The Last Match: A Pro-Wrestling Rock Musical Concept Album
A double-sided single will be released in July ahead of a full recording and concert in August.
By
Andrew Gans
June 22, 2022
A concept album of The Last Match: A Pro-Wrestling Rock Musical, featuring current Funny Girl star Ramin Karimloo, will be released August 29 by Think Big Picture Records.
Karimloo will star as Ben Vengeance along with former WWE writer-turned-actor Phil Blechman, Amber Ardolino (Hamilton), Heather Jane Rolff (ShrektheMusical), Ryan Gregory Thurman, Sam Zeller, and Sylvana Joyce.
The Last Match: A Pro-Wrestling Rock Musical—the story of professional wrestling star Vengeance on the night of his last match—features a book and lyrics by Jason Huza; book, lyrics, and music by Joyce and C.R. Smith; and book and original concept by Jeremiah James.
A double-sided single will be released July 11 in advance of the full album; the single will feature "When It All Falls Down" (with Karimloo and Ardolino) and "How You Know You're Alive" (with Joyce and the Moment). A concert version of TheLastMatch, directed by Abingdon Theatre Company Artistic Director Chad Austin, will be presented August 29 with details to be announced.
The album will be produced by James, Janine Lee Papio, and Tommy Fierro with Rachael Murray serving as executive producer.
Filmed in 2023, the one-night-only event featured Brian Stokes Mitchell, Audra McDonald, Peter Friedman, and more from the Ahrens and Flaherty musical's original cast.
Surrounded by period-accurate, 19th-century holiday decorations lit via candlelight, the 70-minute production is based on Dickens' own script of the classic.