BIG TENT, the new Tammy Faye Bakker Musical

[BIGTENT]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 6:25pm

WHITE NOISE creator Ryan J. Davis to helm new Tammy Faye Bakker musical, BIG TENT, by Ben Cohn, Sean McDaniel, & Jeffery Self
November, 2006 (New York, NY) – A new musical, BIG TENT, based on the life of Tammy Faye Bakker, is currently being developed by Ryan J. Davis, Jeffery Self, Ben Cohn, & Sean McDaniel.  
"Tammy Faye Bakker is one of the most fascinating people alive – a real a pop icon.” Jeffery Self, the book writer, said. “There's something unique about a woman who is loved by both Southern Baptists and drag queens.” 
Director Ryan J. Davis added, “Think about this woman; she went from having nothing in Minnesota to being the First Lady of a huge media empire and then back to nothing again.  How can we not turn this into a musical?” 
The musical will chronicle Tammy’s extraordinary and turbulent rise to fame. Whether helping to create and maintain a large TV network, speaking out on behalf of AIDS awareness, or coping with the sex and fundraising scandals that brought down her husband Jim Bakker, Tammy took it all with a certain style and dignity.  
The team plans to debut the musical in Summer 2007.
 
For more information on the show, visit it’s myspace at: www.myspace.com/tammymusical 
Creative Team Biographies:

Ben Cohn and Sean McDaniel have been writing together for six years. They attended New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts Graduate Musical Theatre Writing program.  Their musical Owl Creek has been seen in NYC workshops, and was produced at Ithaca College.  Currently in development: White Noise, Project Bluebook, and the untitled Tammy Faye Bakker Musical.  Ben is currently the Assistant Conductor and Pianist for Wicked.  Other Broadway credits include Spelling Bee, Woman in White, In My Life, and Wonderful Town.  He is the Musical Supervisor and Arranger for White Noise.  Ben attended Ithaca College.  Sean is currently the drummer for Monty Python’s Spamalot.  Other Broadway credits include Wicked, Lion King, Avenue Q, Aida, Les Miserables, Millie, Fiddler, Nine, Assassins, Wonderful Town, Producers, and Rent.
He also plays for Audra McDonald.  Sean attended The University of North Texas.

Jeffery Self had assisted such Tony Award winning directors as Joe Mantello and Melvin Bernhardt before he could legally vote. Most recently, he wrote books and lyrics for Definition of a Housewife, with Joshua Morgan, which received workshop productions at Columbia University and Montclair Music Theater this past summer. His work has been produced by such regional companies as the Horizon Theater in Atlanta, Georgia and Artists Collective in Los Angeles, CA. For a very brief time he attended the drama school at North Carolina School of the Arts.

Ryan J. Davis recently conceived & directed the critically acclaimed hit musical, 'White Noise' at the New York Musical Theatre Festival. Hailed as "Much-talked-about" and "Provocative!" by The New York Times, it was one of the few shows not only to extend their run, but sell it out entirely. 'White Noise' was featured on the national network televisions shows 'Good Morning America' and 'ABC Primetime Live.' In New York, he also directed 'Grace Falls' (FringeNYC 2006), 'Genius Famous' (FringeNYC 2005), as well as numerous other productions. Regionally, he directed a "spectacular production" (City Paper) of 'Hedwig & The Angry Inch' in Rochester, NY. As an Assistant Director
Off-Broadway, he contributed to 'Jacques Brel Is Alive...' (dir. Gordon Greenberg), 'If You Give A Mouse A Cookie…' (dir. Kevin Del Aguila), ‘The Secret Garden’ (dir. Stafford Arima) and ‘Slut’ (dir. Gordon Greenberg).

       Ryan was a national staffer on Howard Dean's Presidential Campaign and this election cycle he was a consultant on Mark Green's Attorney General Campaign. In 2004 he directed progressive commercials for BlogPac.org, which were honored by The American Association of Political Consultants.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 6:30pm

A musical based on her life?!

Has anyone heard her sing? She's like a rake on a chalkboard.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 6:45pm

Whose going to play Erik Estrada when they get to the time she spent on The Surreal life?

[cheezedoodle]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 6:53pm

Mario Lopez of course!

[jensen11us2]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 9:57pm

I think it's a great idea! She had such an interesting life, and she seems like a character from a musical any way. This could be America's Evita!

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 11/17/06 at 10:05am

Gayest thing ever.

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 11/17/06 at 10:15am

Since stage makeup is an enhancement of reality, how will they enhance Tammy Faye's reality?

[Enjolras77]

Posted: 11/17/06 at 10:28am

They should use Cats as a model for her make-up job.

Being from Charlotte I was right here for whole Jim & Tammy ordeal. We drove down to their PTL/Heritage USA resort (which stood for 'Praise the Lord' but around here became known as 'Pass the Loot') one December to look at their opulent Christmas lights display. I wonder if there will be a number in the show about their dog who had a climate controlled doghouse.

[NomiMalone2]

Posted: 11/18/06 at 12:27pm

Hahaha right on Enjolras77! Brilliant idea :)

I grew up in NC and I can remember going to Heritage USA with my parents around Christmas as well.

I'm very curious about this show.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 11/18/06 at 12:32pm

I got a big tent just reading about this. Can't wait.

[angelrock25222]

Posted: 11/18/06 at 7:34pm

the documentary was hilarious and heartbreaking.. if this is half as good, itll be worth it

[jensen11us2]

Posted: 11/25/06 at 6:50pm

I think it should be called 'Waterproof Mascara' it fits right?