Ep. 162: The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical with interviews with cast members.
Let’s get wild in this exciting new musical about the infamous author from the mind of Joe Iconis (Be More Chill) and directed by Tony Award winner Christopher Ashley (Come from Away).
A collision of politics, counterculture and rock and roll in human form, Hunter S. Thompson is impossible to pin down. Careening from the 1940s to 2005, Thompson invents Gonzo journalism, attempts to take down a corrupt president, and quests for equality for his fellow weirdos, outsiders and freaks. However, this anti-hero’s drug-fueled tornado leaves a trail of destruction as he grapples with his legacy in a world that has left him behind.
Funny and unique, as anarchic and irreverent as the writer himself, this explosive rock musical will spark a revolution for the rebel inside us all.
“Funny, freaky, informal, fiercely independent… an emotional passing of the torch to the future activists of the world, a celebration of and a primal call to the freaks and misfits.” – San Diego Magazine‘s review of the original sold out production at La Jolla Playhouse
George Abud
Nixon
George Abud is a proud Arab-American actor, director, and playwright. BROADWAY: Lempickadirected by Rachel Chavkin (Marinetti, OBC Recording); The Band’s Visit starring Katrina Lenk & Tony Shalhoub (Daytime Emmy Award, OBC Recording); The Visit starring Chita Rivera & Roger Rees (OBC Recording). SELECT OFF-BROADWAY: La MaMa: The Beautiful Lady directed by Anne Bogart; The Duke on 42nd: Emojiland (Nerd Face, Drama Desk nom., OOBC Recording); Classic Stage Company: The Resistible Rise of Arturo Uialongside Raúl Esparza, Nathan The Wisealongside F. Murray Abraham. FILM: Caught Stealing starring Austin Butler & Zoë Kravitz (dir. Darren Aronofsky). DIRECTING: Brooklyn Art Haus: Riders to the Sea; Off-Brand Opera Company: Threepenny Opera (upcoming). PLAYWRITING: The Guthrie Theater: The Ruins(world premiere).
Darlesia Cearcy
Jann
(Dar.lee.see.ah) BROADWAY: appeared earlier this season as “Lucille Wilson” in A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical, Tony Award-winning revival of Once On This Island (Erzulie: Goddess of Love), How to Dance in Ohio(Johanna), The Color Purple (Nettie), Shuffle Along(Lottie Gee), The Goodbye Girl, Ragtime (Sarah, Helen Hayes nomination). REGIONAL: Westport County Playhouse: Next to Normal (Diana, CCC Award nomination); Berkshire Theatre Co.: Nina Simone: Four Women (BTG Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical). TV: The Watcher, High Fidelity, Madame Secretary, FBI, House of Cards, Rescue Me, Mercy and Nurse Jackie. Urvisionhousse.com
Eric William Morris
Hunter S. Thompson
BROADWAY: King Kong, Coram Boy, Mamma Mia!SELECT OFF-BROADWAY: 2ND Stage: Joe Iconis’ Things to Ruin; Ars Nova: Joe Iconis’ Bloodsong of Love; 2nd Stage/Vineyard: Michael R. Jackson’s White Girl In Danger; Asylum NYC: Cellino V Barnes; MTC: Richard Greenberg’s The Perplexed, 59E59: Songbird. SELECT REGIONAL: Two River Theatre: Be More Chill (Original Cast Recording), Songbird, The Ballad of Little Jo (Original Cast Recording); The Old Globe: The Last Goodbye, Dog & Pony. SELECT FILM/TV: “Fleishman is in Trouble’”, “I Know What You Did Last Summer”, “Only Murders In The Building”, “Mind Hunter”, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”, Pinball. ALBUMS: Do You Understand? @theericwmorris
Giovanny Diaz De Leon
The Kid
he/him REGIONAL: The Old Globe: The Pros and Cons of Feeding Stray Cats (Victor); San Diego Symphony: Romeo and Juliet (Romeo); La Jolla Playhouse: Redwood, The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical (The Kid); New Village Arts: The Ferryman (Oisin); CCAE Theatricals: Witnesses (Dawid). @giodiazdeleon