Philadelphia Chosen for Premiere of TRADING PLACES: THE MUSICAL

The classic 1983 movie, Trading Places, starring Eddie Murphy, Dan Aykyroyd and Jamie Lee Curtis is getting a makeover, and Philadelphia has been chosen as the city for its 2016 premiere. The film brought issues of social conciousness to a wide audience and through the lens of comedy.

This prince and the pauper inspired tale concerns itself with Billy Ray Valentine (Eddie Murphy) a homeless urchin from the streets of Philadelphia, whom, by horrible circumstance, is arrested after bumping into WASPY Harvard businessman, Louis Winthorpe III. As Louis's bosses, Randolph and Mortimer Duke look onward at the spectacle, they launch a wager to give Billy Ray Valentine Winthorpe's plushy life of oppoulance, and cast Louis Winthorpe out onto the mean and cold streets in an epic fight of nature versus nurture.

With stock villains, two comic heroes, a hooker with a heart of gold and an ensemble to be the envy of any Greek chorus, Trading Places sports a brand new book and wordy lyrics which pay homage to the aesthetic of the film. The classical music which served as the soundtrack to the film is given a rock and jazz fusions.

The musical of Trading Places is the work of Philadelphia playwright and producer, Kevin Stackhouse (54: All Together Equal, Judith: The Other Shakespeare, After Caprathia, Merlin and Wart) Stackhouse focuses in on the elements of social commentary which made the movie successful.

"We are given an opportunity to take a well-known story and use music to let contemporary audiences see the issues of race conflict, nature versus nurture, the inner workings of American economics and the creation of community through equality. W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivans work is very similar to our efforts, which is why the music is Arthur Sullivan's set to my lyrics."

Trading Places: The Musical was written in response to the racially charged stories in the news during 2014-2015, It serves an an "anecdotal antidote" for police brutality, hate crimes and subsoquent riots. "We, as a country, a collection of people, always unite in times of adversity. When do we truly have the opportunity to unite for comedy?" Says Kevin. "Our country, for all of it's wonderful opportunities, has descriminated against everyone at some point. Being a third-general American, of Irish and Italian descent, one half of my family came to this county as slaves to William Penn, the other half worked in conditions that would have been condemend today. If you took my heritage out of the equation, and filled in the heritage of someone else, you would find out that alot of people have the same story to tell. Why not tell it through comedy?"

After a successful staged reading at Tavern on Camac, Trading Places will premiere in September in tandem with the Philadelphia Fringe Festival. The venue has yet to be decided, but the cast will feature the talents of Robert "Sandy" Beach, of Atlantic City and Philadelphia fame, as Randolph Duke, a role he will be reprising from the 2015 workshop. Sandy is known throughoutthe Philadelphia LGBTQ community for his monthly drag show, La Cage Aux Beach, and is a public figure at Philly LGBTQ events such as Pride and Outfest.

"Sandy is meant for the role of Randolph Duke." Remarks Stackhouse" He comes in with a level of professionalism unmatched, and always asks the right questions that not only unify the material, but the cast. He is a natural leader in everything he does, and people look to him for guidance and support."

Louis Winthorpe III will be played by New York transplant, Dan Kriss, who is also reprising his role from the 2015 workshop. Dan is known both on screen and in theatre, boasting several film and theatre credits (Dogfight, Avenue Q, Legally Blonde, Suessical OUAT Players) "Louis is Thurston Howell and Lou Costello combined. He is incredibly charming and yet has the ability to switch on a dime to reactionary. It is a splendid and appealing balance. Where Sandy offers guidance and charisma, Dan offers a pure fire which leads the cast to an energetic and explosive level of entertainment." Specifies Stackhouse.

Trading Places: The Musical is anticipated to be the highlight of Philadelphia's theatre season, and is being designed by Bobby Goodrich AKA drag queen Cleo Phatra (Divine/ Intervention, Gaybill, Not Right for The Part, Merlin and Wart) is collaboaration with Bobby Fabulous Designs and Faux Real Productions. "The show takes place in the billiard green Heritage Room of The Union League building on South Broad Street, which was one of the locations of the film. Tables and chairs are the only scenic elements and they are manipulated to become row homes, beds, fully moving cars, train compartments and the New York Stock Exchange.

Keep a lookout in the 2016 Fringe Festival Guide for more information regarding the premiere of Trading Places: The Musical.

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