At Walkerspace, 46 Walker St.
between Church & Broadway, two blocks south of Canal Street
February 22 – March 15
Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays at 7:30pm, Saturdays at 8pm
with additional performances on Sunday Feb 24 at 3pm & 8pm
Tickets $18,
Box Office:
212-352-3101
or Theater Mania
A pageant that decries “the stupidity and viciousness of all mankind,” this faithful, humorous adaptation of the cult classic is set in the Church of Bokononism, Vonnegut’s fictional religion. Presenting a Bokononist passion play, the members of the church sing, play instruments (trumpet, flute, guitar, clarinet and xylophone are among the repertoire), and enact Vonnegut’s politically resonant satire. A model set, projected on the back wall of the “church” via live video, forms the backdrop to the action.
It all starts when Jonah, a writer, delves into the history of a controversial invention (ice-nine) and winds up a witness to its destructive powers. Most of the lyrics for this new musical are taken intact from Vonnegut, who wrote numerous “calypsos,” or Bokononist prayers, alongside the prose. From “Ilium,” New York to the Caribbean island of “San Lorenzo,” the audience will follow Jonah as he hunts for the truth about atomic weapons, human nature, and the meaning of it all.
A WORLD PREMIERE
"A youthful, earnest and energetic show"
"The new musical stage adaptation hews closely to the Vonnegut text and is a faithful, inventive, intelligent rendering of Vonnegut's classic...Standout performances include [Timothy McCown Reynolds] as John, a rationalist pulled into an increasingly irrational world, and the engaging and vocally accomplished [Horace V.] Rogers as the charismatic Bokonon."
"[Vonnegut's] calypsos are the source for composor Henry Akona's lyrics but the music is all Akona and I really enjoyed it. It is played live by the actors on stage which makes for an impressive experience watching these folks step into a character and then pick up a guitar, trumpet, or xylophone and play...Mr. Vonnegut would have been pleased with this adaptation. Vonnegut fans will be pleased as well. Definitely check this one out."
"John Blaylock shines briefly as Ambassador Minton, delivering a quietly furious denunciation of patriotic holidays, and Michelle Rabbani invests Mona Aamons Monzano with sweet gravity."
"This ingenious production...makes diverting use of a small camera focused on an intricate series of models (designed by Tanya Khordoc and Barry Weil) ...several actors stand out in featured parts, among them John Blaylock in dual roles as a laconic model-store owner and a cynical foreign-service attaché and Sandy York as a chirpy denizen of Indiana with big hair and replete with zeal for any Hoosier she encounters."
"Even devotees of the book -- which relates how a substance called ice nine destroys the planet -- may be seduced...And [Timothy McCown] Reynolds' low-key perf is excellent bait. His nonchalance says he's unconcerned if we listen. He's just telling the truth, with or without our approval, and that makes him fascinating."
Production Personnel
| Director |
Edward Einhorn |
| Musical director |
Henry Akona |
| Puppet/model design and contsruction |
Tanya Khordoc and Barry Weil
(Evolve Company) |
| Set design |
Amy Davis |
| Costume design |
Carla Gant |
| Lighting design |
Jeff Nash |
| Assistant lighting design/ model lighting |
Solomon Weisbard |
| Properties design |
Berit Johnson |
| Props Assistant |
Taylor Keith |
| Production Coordinator |
Alex Senchak |
| Technical Consultant |
Obadiah Savage |
| Set construction |
New City Scenic & Display, Inc. |
| Dramaturg |
Karen Lee Ott |
| Video consultant |
Ian W. Hill |
| Assistant director/ assistant musical director/ chreographer |
Tom Berger |
| Stage manager |
Amanda Anderson |
| Assistant stage manager |
Spencer R. Soloway |
| Publicity |
Emily Owens PR |
Cast
| Newton Hoenniker (percussion) |
Sean Allison |
| H Lowe Crosby, Cab Driver (guitar) |
Michael Bertolini* |
| Ambassador Minton, Jack (lead guitar) |
John Blaylock* |
| Francine Pefko (percussion) |
Katherine Boynton |
| Bellhop |
Jerome Brooks |
| Dr. Breed/Breed |
Daryl Brown |
| Angela Hoenniker (clarinet, pennywhistle) |
Rosalynd Darling |
| Sandra (flute, ukele) |
Sarah Engelke* |
| Bartender (trombone) |
Andrew Haserlat |
| Woman 2/Chorus (flute) |
Sheila Johnson |
| Claire Minton (pennywhistle) |
Jenny McClintock* |
| Philip Castle (trumpet) |
Martin J Mitchell* |
| Julian Castle (upright bass) |
Paul Pricer |
| Mona Aamons Monzano (xylophone) |
Michelle Rabbani |
| John |
Timothy McCown Reynolds* |
| Bokonon |
Horace V. Rogers* |
| Woman 1/Chorus (viloin) |
Phoebe Silva |
| Chorus (bongo) |
Josh Silverman* |
| Papa Monzano (bass guitar, conga) |
Darius Stone* |
| Puppeteer |
Barry Weil |
| Hazel Minton (flute) |
Sandy York* |
*member of Actors Equity Association
