Photo Flash: New Musical VOTE! In Bloomington Indiana

VOTE! is a fresh, new look at politics through the eyes of three high school students who are after the ultimate prize - Student Body President! Written by Ryann Ferguson and Steven Jamail, this intelligent and timely show offers a sharp, entertaining look at elections and the moral dilemmas they produce. The bright and imaginative score features many sure-to-be-hit numbers.

Directed by NYC guest artist Ryan J. Davis, this Bloomington production serves as a regional workshop/premiere - providing them valuable insight into how to further develop the show for a summer production in NYC.

A product of the Indiana University Theatre Department, now branching out on his own, Anderson started "Eric Anderson, Jr. Presents" to bring the works of emerging writers to the young audience that loves them. VOTE! is its first production, and is able to produce shows on a realistic budget for an eager audience, while maintaining a high level of talent by casting the hottest young voice and theatre majors from Indiana University. It also gave the creators the opportunity to take 5 full weeks to workshop the show.

The cast includes students from both Indiana University and Bloomington's Harmony School: Alana Cheshire, David Coleman, Katherine Duffy, Joseph Fernandez, Tamrin Goldberg, Adam Johnson, Jacob Jones, Justin Klein, Maddy LaRoche, Brittany Martin, Nathan Mittleman, Taryn Pryor, Becky Rosky, Danielle Sacks, Jen Saltiel, Ariel Simpson, and Maggie Smith.

Ryann Ferguson and Steven Jamail's (Writers) award winning collaboration began eight years ago at Rice University. They recently showcased their four new musical works in the concert, VOTE OR DIE at the Zipper Factory with Allison Case, Autumn Hurlbert, Andrew Keenan-Bolger, Metropolitan Opera Star Sasha Cooke, and more. They have worked on numerous projects together and apart, including 2005 Fringe Festival show Byzantium, and the Harper's Guild Award winning aria, "Lotus Song." From production to marketing to musical direction, from turkeys to Tony award winners - between the two of them, they have covered nearly every inch of the Broadway community job market. Ryann is currently the Director of Marketing for Davenport Theatrical Enterprises, and Steven serves as the Music Director for arts education foundation Rosie's Broadway Kids. VOTE! marks their entry into the satirical, self-mocking, and relentlessly plucky genre of High School Musical capers... at least artistically, that is. And with projects such as Nicholas & Alexandra, Tercio de Muerte, and Curious Johnson: The Toothfairy Musical, they have only begun to leave their mark on the theatre world. With fallen monarchs, bullfighters, and clutzy fairies, there's something for everybody. For more information, please visit www.littlewowproductions.com.

Ryan J. Davis (Director) is thrilled to develop Vote! with Ryann Ferguson and Steven JamaiL. Davis conceived and directed the award-winning White Noise, which has recently been announced for Broadway. Other NYC projects include My Life on the Craigslist and the annual Broadway Beauty Pageant. Future projects include Street Lights by Joe Drymala, a hip-hop/pop musical debuting in NYC in the fall (hear the score atwww.streetlightsmusical.com). He serves on The Board of Directors of The Deconstructive Theatre Project, where he co-directed (with Adam J. Thompson) the French Canadian play Lilies. As a politico, Davis recently served in New Hampshire as GOTV Triage Lead at Obama's State Headquarters and was a member of the Obama Pride NYC Leadership Committee. He is a veteran of Gov Howard Dean's 2004 Presidential Campaign and writes for The Hill and Huffington Post. He sits on the Board of Directors of the Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn. For his activism, Davis has been honored by The American Association Of Political Consultants and awarded a Nightlife Award by The Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club for protecting nightlife. He blogs atryanjdavis.blogspot.com.

Eric Anderson, Jr (Producer/Music Director) holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Indiana University. A native of Columbia, South Carolina, Eric came to Bloomington to study piano with professor Edmund Battersby. He has also studied conducting with Dr. Michael Schwartzkopf and the late Thomas Dunn. He has been involved as pianist or music director in numerous musical theatre productions during his time in Bloomington, including Songs for A New World, Reefer Madness, The Rocky Horror Show, Assassins, A Chorus Line, and The Wild Party (Lippa). He has also served as pianist for the IU Broadway Cabaret/Senior Showcase and has worked with local children's theatre organization Stages Bloomington, music-directing their 2008 production of Music Man, Jr., and will music-direct the Bloomington Playwrights Project's summer musical theatre camp this June. In July of 2008 he produced, stage-, and music-directed a 60th anniversary production of Kurt Weill's Down In The Valley.

All photos by Cory Harbour for The Indiana Daily Student

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