The Colonel Mustard to Present SPIDER-MAN: THE MUSICAL: THE MUSICAL, 8/22-23

Far and away in a Midwestern land called Nebraska, The Colonel Mustard, a ragtag 501(c)(3) non­profit arts organization, committed to "living creatively and loving wholeheartedly", continues its mission to bring surprising, inspiring, and free­of­charge entertainment to the city of Lincoln.

On August 22 and 23, 2014, the creators of the viral sensation Jurassic Park: The Musical (2009), and subsequent parody musical X­Files: The Musical (2011) and immersive theatre event Gods Of The Prairie (2012), are proud to unleash their most fantastical feat yet: SPIDER­MAN: THE MUSICAL: THE MUSICAL.

You're probably wondering how a musical can be a musical. Well, that's what happens when you write a parody about Spider­Man: Turn Off the Dark, the infamous 2011 Broadway show directed by Julie Taymor. In this re­imagined version of the true story, we affectionately poke fun at The Great White Way, adding our own whimsical mythology to the Spider­Man franchise, and even taking it a step further to poke fun at pop culture parody musicals themselves. The story is equal parts inspired by The Producers and Phantom of the Opera, revolving around comically exaggerated versions of the artists involved (Julie Taymor, Bono, The Edge, and more!) as they struggle to pull together a monumental production, only to discover that there is much more underneath the surface ­­ literally underneath the floors of their theatre ­­ than they ever imagined. They descend into a mythological underworld, deep below the streets of New York, where they encounter terrifying beasts, a gigantic and vengeful Spider King, and maybe even Spider­Man himself. As with all Colonel Mustard projects, the show will be performed with a tongue-­in-­cheek tone and a lo­fi aesthetic, making the most imaginative use of a little bit of money and a LOT of enthusiasm.

As with past shows, The Colonel Mustard is producing SMTMTM with the help of 100+ committed volunteers, including a cast of 25+, an orchestra of 30+, and a crew of 45+. Volunteers include a few trained theatre professionals, but are primarily composed of amateurs and even theatre newbies. All are involved for the pure fun of creating an ambitious project "just because it is awesome", and performances are truly home­grown, featuring home­made cardboard props, kitchen­sink concoction special effects, and Nebraska­specific inside jokes.

SMTMTM includes an absolutely original script and score, with book by Lindsay Kerns and
score by Ben Kaye­Skinner, Josh Huls, and Phillip Malcom. The show is produced by Joanna Clay and directed by Zach Kloppenborg. It will be performed in partnership with the Lincoln Parks and Rec Department's "Party in the Parks" event series.

To learn so much more about this show within a show, direct your browser to the SMTMTM Kickstarter page. The Colonel Mustard was selected as a Staff Pick by Kickstarter on its first day and reached its minimum goal by the second day! Additional dollars will be put to very good use for more, much­needed equipment, props, and ­­ of course ­­ spider costumes.

Spider­Man: The Musical: The Musical will delight audiences with its two performances on Friday August 22, and Saturday August 23 at 7:30pm. The show location is in Cooper Park, near the intersection of 8th and E streets in the Everett neighborhood, Lincoln, NE. Audiences are welcome to save seats and enjoy a picnic beginning at 6pm. Blankets are recommended, but there will be a special reserved area for lawn chairs. The show's content is rated PG­13 (due to mild language and scary situations) and is FREE of charge.

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