BASH'd: A GAY RAP OPERA Aiming For Summer Off-Broadway Run

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 2/19/08 at 10:23am

BASH'd: A GAY RAP OPERA — which played an award-winning run at the Toronto Fringe Festival before being part of the 11th annual New York International Fringe Festival in August 2007 — is aiming for a summer run at an Off-Broadway theatre.

Variety reports that an industry reading of Nathan Cuckow and Chris Craddock's work will be held next month at Off-Broadway's New World Stages. Cuckow and Craddock also appear in the production, which features music by Aaron Macri and direction by Ron Jenkins.

Altar Boyz's Stephen Kocis and Naked Boys Singing's Carl D. White are planning to co-produce the Off-Broadway run, which would be capitalized at less than half-a-million dollars.

Bash'd!, according to press notes for the Fringe Festival production, "is loosely based on the real life spike in hate crimes in Alberta, Canada during the national debate on equal marriage for gays and lesbians. Since this debate, same sex marriage has been legalized in Canada, despite the fervent protests of the religious right. In America the struggle continues. Bash'd! explores the effect of homophobic violence and the emotions associated with being any marginalized population."



http://www.myspace.com/bashd
BASH'd: A GAY RAP OPERA Aiming For Summer Off-Broadway Run

Updated On: 2/19/08 at 10:23 AM

[whatever2]

Posted: 2/19/08 at 10:50am

i hope the reading goes well and there is a run ... this was a very clever effort, and deserves more exposure.

[broadwayfan7]

Posted: 2/19/08 at 10:52am

Sounds really exciting!

[tazber]

Posted: 2/19/08 at 1:47pm

This looks like a SNL sketch.

Love the pink John Deere hat.

cOcKsUkAz reprensentin'!

[ljay889]

Posted: 2/19/08 at 1:49pm

Uh ok.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 2/19/08 at 2:32pm

Yes!!! I heard so many good things about this show last year...it seemed to have New World Stages written all over it...if NWS had any taste. Good for them!

[blaxx]

Posted: 2/19/08 at 2:37pm

I saw it...was good, but it's such a simple show, even too small and short for Off-Broadway. Maybe with major re-writes it could work.

[whatever2]

Posted: 2/19/08 at 2:45pm

> sounds like an SNL sketch

hehe. probably some minor parallels to be drawn to last season's hillarious "d*ck in a box" number, but BASH'd has a plot (and actually a fairly serious one) ... it's not just a sketch.

at about 75 minutes i agree it's a little light, but i think calling for "major re-writes" is where reasonable people might have to agree to disagree. imho what's there works -- works GREAT, in fact -- it's just short.

Updated On: 2/19/08 at 02:45 PM

[blaxx]

Posted: 2/19/08 at 2:47pm

I don't disagree it was a good show for a Festival, but to pay $80 to see it - well, I'd be a bit pissed off.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 2/19/08 at 4:14pm

I am absolutely thrilled!!

I loved this piece so much last summer. I consider it one of the best pieces of theatre I have ever experienced. it's funny, witty, and powerful.

I think expanding the piece could be fun. I bet there are some additional facets of the story that could be explored.

[whatever2]

Posted: 2/19/08 at 9:46pm

honestly? i'd be pissed to pay 80 bucks for *anything* off broadway ...

im married to a CPA -- can i have your theater budget?

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 2/20/08 at 12:28am

Hear some of the songs!

[Vespertine1228]

Posted: 2/20/08 at 7:54am

This was my favorite thing at the Fringe Festival last year, so I'm thrilled to hear that it's coming back.

That said, while it's perfect for the Fringe Festival price, it's not quite a full-blown full-price show as others here have indicated. It would do best in a non-traditional venue like a bar or club.

[TulitaPepsi]

Posted: 2/20/08 at 8:22am

I was SO upset I couldn't get to see this last year. I'm thrilled that it's returning!

And THANK YOU Jerby for posting that link.

F*CKIN' FIERCE.

Irresistible beats and the best lyrics since PASSING STRANGE.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 2/20/08 at 9:06am

I saw this at the Fringe last year, upon Jerby's recommendation.

It is an absolutely STUNNING piece of theatre.

I'm thrilled they're coming back.

There's a reason it won Best Musical at the Fringe.

It's MUCH more than an SNL sketch.

I hope they get Stage 5 at New World Stages - the 199 seat theatre.

It would work great in that intimate setting.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 2/20/08 at 11:22am

Thanks for the link. I just listened to the three downloads, and I was surprised in the best possible way! I LOVED the lyrics- very, very funny. For anyone who saw the show, does the show have a dramatic throughline, or is it just a random collection of commentary on gay culture?

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 2/20/08 at 11:26am

There is a dramatic storyline about two young guys who meet, how their relationship flourishes, and a situation they end up in as a result of being gay.

It's a very touching piece. I was laughing throughout and by the end was crying.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 2/20/08 at 11:29am

While a bar or club would work, it's really no different than a Hedwig or Altar Boyz type show. It will play well at NWS.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 3/17/08 at 11:05pm

Congrats to the excellent BASH'd, which won the GLAAD Award!!!!


BASH'd wins GLAAD Award

[Liverpool]

Posted: 3/17/08 at 11:09pm

wow, glaad actually gets something right, good for them.

[jenna2]

Posted: 3/17/08 at 11:17pm

That's crazy! I had no idea how big BASH'd has gotten. Those guys/that show is from my hometown. I actually saw the show a few years ago at the (now defunct) bar in the poster (in the original post) and was blown away. Congrats to them on the glaad award!

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 3/18/08 at 11:53am

They definitely deserve all the praise and success coming to them.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 4/15/08 at 5:13pm

BASH'd! — the "gay rap opera" that played an award-winning run at the Toronto Fringe Festival before being part of the 11th annual New York International Fringe Festival in August 2007 — will make its Off-Broadway premiere June 12 at the Zipper Factory Theater.

Directed by Ron Jenkins, the production will officially open June 23. Producers are Stephen Kocis, Carl D. White, Paul Boskind and Michael Filerman.

BASH'd was penned by Chris Craddock and Nathan Cuckow — who star, respectively, as T-BAG and FEMINEM — with music by Aaron Macri.
________________________________________________________

BASH'd! is the winner of a 2008 GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding NY Theater. It was also named Outstanding Musical of the 2007 NY International Fringe Festival.

Show times are Mondays at 8 PM, Thursdays at 8 PM, Fridays at 7:30 and 10 PM and Saturdays at 8 PM.

Tickets, priced $25-$55, are available by calling [phone] or by visiting www.thezipperfactory.com. The Zipper Factory Theater is located in Manhattan at 336 West 37th Street, between 8th & 9th Avenues.
BASH'd! to Play Zipper Factory Beginning June 12

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 4/15/08 at 6:21pm

such great news!!!!

Go see this show!

[hubee]

Posted: 4/15/08 at 6:23pm

I'm still kicking myself for missing this at the Toronto Fringe Festival (and then AGAIN when it returned) (serves me right for not keeping up).

All I heard was amazing things from people that managed to get tickets here so I'm glad it's getting a longer run in New York!