After being postponed to await the return of Marla Mindelle (who was out sick last week), The Big Gay Jamboree opened its Off-Broadway premiere October 6 at the Orpheum Theatre, and the reviews are in. See what critics are saying below.
Mindelle, previously the co-writer and star of Titaníque, co-wrote the book of The Big Gay Jamboree with Jonathan Parks-Ramage and co-wrote the score with Philip Drennen. Mindelle also stars as Stacey, a woman who wakes up after a night of heavy drinking and finds herself trapped in an Off-Broadway Golden Age musical. Forced to put her musical theatre degree in action, Stacey has to figure out how to escape this singing and dancing prison in front of a live audience.
Joining Mindelle in the cast are Alex Moffat as Keith, Paris Nix as Clarence, Constantine Rousouli as Bert, and Natalie Walker as Flora. The ensemble includes Brad Greer, Amanda Lee, Jillian Mueller, Olivia Puckett, Melvin Tunstall, and John Yi, with swings Jaden Dominique, Jeremiah Ginn, Clyde Voce, and Cortney Wolfson rounding out the company. Casting is by Stephen Kopel.
Read the reviews below.
New York Stage Review (Michael Sommers)
New York Theatre Guide (Gillian Russo)
The New York Times (Elizabeth Vincentelli)*
TheaterMania (Zachary Stewart)
*This review may require creating a free account or a paid subscription.
Playbill will continue to update this list as reviews come in.
Conor Gallagher is directing and choreographing, leading a creative team that also includes scenic designer dots, costume designer Sarah Cubbage, lighting designer Brian Tovar, sound designer Justin Stasiw, projection designer Aaron Rhyne, hair and wig designer Leah J. Loukas, and makeup designer Katie Gell. David Dabbon is musical supervisor and arranger.
Sue Wagner, John Johnson, and LuckyChap are producing. LuckyChap, a production company founded by Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley, Josey McNamara, and Sophia Kerr, previously was developing the project with Mindelle for the screen. The Barbie producers announced the project in 2019.
Tickets are available at BigGayJamboreeTheMusical.com.
The Big Gay Jamboree
Brad Greer, Jeremiah Ginn, Olivia Puckett, Jillian Mueller, and Marla Mindelle in The Big Gay Jamboree
Amanda Lee, Jillian Mueller, Marla Mindelle, Olivia Puckett, and Natalie Walker in The Big Gay Jamboree
Marla Mindelle, Paris Nix, and company of The Big Gay Jamboree
Natalie Walker and company of The Big Gay Jamboree
Constantine Rousouli in The Big Gay Jamboree
Alex Moffat and Marla Mindelle in The Big Gay Jamboree
