Three Rivers Music Theatre's THE WILD PARTY Opens On Friday At The Philmore On Broadway

Three Rivers Music Theatre's production of Andrew Lippa's THE WILD PARTY opens on Friday at The Philmore on Broadway. This is TRMT's first production back at The Philmore after their acclaimed sold-out run of CABARET in 2018. This production marks the Fort Wayne debut of renowned theatre director and artist, Beth Turcotte.

Beth Turcotte is an inspirational theatre artist and educator devoted to the development of new work and emerging talent. She has earned accolades in both professional and educational arenas for her visionary projects and passion for arts education. Her immersive learning undertaking, THE CIRCUS IN WINTER, an original musical inspired by the novel by Cathy Day, was the culmination of a classroom project by 15 undergraduate students. The piece was selected to participate in the American College Theatre Festival at The Kennedy Center and was honored with eleven awards including Outstanding New Work, Director of a New Work and Set Design. This opportunity has propelled many young artists to the forefront of their professions, including collaborator and Circus composer Ben Clark. CIRCUS IN WINTER saw subsequent productions at the National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) Festival of New Musicals (starring Sutton Foster) and Goodspeed Musicals.

Beth is the recipient of the 2012 Creative Endeavor Award for her dedication to arts education and the creative process. In her community work, she created the Cornerstone Center for the Arts, an inner-city arts institution discovering young unheard voices and exposing over 15,000 children to theatre, dance and music. Beth has traveled, taught and performed throughout Asia, delivering American musical theatre to new audiences. Beth is now a George and Frances Distinguished Professor of Theatre at Ball State University (recently retired after 37 years) and received her MFA from Southern Methodist University.

Decadence and excess are the life of the party in this jazzy 1920s whodunit. Lovers Queenie and Burrs decide to throw the party-to-end-all-parties in their Manhattan apartment. After the colorful arrival of a slew of guests living life on the edge, Queenie's wandering eyes land on Kate's striking date, Black. As the decadence is reaching a climax, so is Burrs' jealousy, which erupts and sends him into a violent rage. Gun in hand and inhibitions abandoned, Burrs turns on Queenie and Black. The gun gets fired, but who's been shot?

A steamy prohibition tale, steamrolling and roaring its way across the stage, Andrew Lippa's THE WILD PARTY was an Off-Broadway gem that garnered an array of industry accolades. Based on Joseph Moncure March's 1928 narrative poem of the same name, this darkly brilliant show features one of the most exciting, pulse-racing scores ever written.

The cast includes Jessica Butler (Queenie), Andy Planck (Burrs), Lydia Tremaine (Kate), Kibwe Cooper (Black), Kara Hawley (Madeline True), Tyler Hanford (Eddie), Alayna Thornton (Mae), Amanda Gilbert (Delores), Gary Lanier (Sam), Renee Gonzales (Oscar), Kathleen Fox (Phil), Seth Allen (Max), Kayley Alissa Hinen (Nadine), Kelly Maloney (Jackie), and Alyssa Wellington (Party Goer).

The production team includes Beth Turcotte (Director), Jodi Cotton (Music Director), Capri Parrish Williams (Choreographer), Bobbi Jo Carroll (Stage Manager), Michelle Brady (Costume Designer), Luke Holliger (Lighting Designer), Lyssa Troemel (Props Designer and Assistant Stage Manager), Sean Haynes (Fight Choreographer), Holly Lofland (Hair and Makeup), Lauren Harter (Makeup).

THE WILD PARTY runs February 21 - March 14, 2020 at The Philmore on Broadway. Tickets are available at www.threeriversmusictheatre.com/tickets

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