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New Kotis/Hollman musical to premiere in Chicago

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#1

New Kotis/Hollman musical to premiere in Chicago

Posted: 1/26/08 at 10:16pm

The American Theater Company in Chicago just announced a crazy ambitious new season, featuring the debut of the new musical from Urinetown Creators Greg Kotis and Mark Hollman. And if you thought Urinetown had a bad premise.....

CHICAGO PREMIERE!
FROM THE WRITERS OF URINETOWN: THE MUSICAL
YEAST NATION: THE TRIUMPH OF LIFE
Music and Lyrics by Mark Hollmann
Book and Lyrics by Greg Kotis

The Tony Award winning creators of the Broadway hit Urinetown return home to Chicago to premiere the strangest story ever to be musicalized. The year is 3,000,458,000 B.C., and the Earth’s first life forms, salt-eating yeasts (yes, yeasts), float in the brine of the primordial soup, under the rule of a dim-witted tyrant. As resources deplete and fear provides land, the faith of one single-celled dreamer changes their society forever, and out of chaos and destruction a new world emerges. Artistic Director PJ Paparelli directs one of the most non-political and slightly amusing evenings of musical theatre in America. Here come the Yeasts!


Chicago Tribune Theater Blog
#3

re: New Kotis/Hollman musical to premiere in Chicago

Posted: 1/26/08 at 10:49pm

Brilliant.
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
#4

re: New Kotis/Hollman musical to premiere in Chicago

Posted: 1/26/08 at 11:15pm

I was stunned to hear about it- I think they must have announced it Yesterday- but there is no date or any other information on the site. This is a teeny tiny theater company- and theater for that fact. I saw a show there a few years back- I don't think it seats 150 people.
#13

re: New Kotis/Hollman musical to premiere in Chicago

Posted: 1/27/08 at 2:01pm

Joeky99 - you obviously haven't seen many "Off-Loop" productions. For the Chicago area, 150 seats is hardly "teeny tiny". There are theatre companies that get all sorts of rave reviews and major funding that seat 50 to 75.
#16

re: New Kotis/Hollman musical to premiere in Chicago

Posted: 1/27/08 at 3:45pm

well...it does sound interesting, no?
You're reminding me of people you hear at the movies asking questions every ten seconds, "Who is that? Why is that guy walking down the street? Who's that lady coming up to him? Uh-oh, why did that car go by? Why is it so dark in this theater?" - FindingNamo on strummergirl

"If artists were machines, then I'm just a different kind of machine...I'd probably be a toaster. Actually, I'd be a toaster oven because they're more versatile. And I like making grilled cheese" -Regina Spektor

"That's, like, twelve shows! ...Or seven." -Crazy SA Fangirl

"They say that just being relaxed is the most important thing [in acting]. I take that to another level, I think kinda like yawning and...like being partially asleep onstage is also good, but whatever." - Sherie Rene Scott

Updated On: 1/27/08 at 03:45 PM

#17

re: New Kotis/Hollman musical to premiere in Chicago

Posted: 1/27/08 at 5:39pm

YES! It's such a ridiculous concept that it's brilliant!
"I seem to have wandered into the BRAIN load-out thread... "
-best12bars

"Sorry I am a Theatre major not a English Major"
-skibumb5290

#18

re: New Kotis/Hollman musical to premiere in Chicago

Posted: 1/27/08 at 5:48pm

I'm with massofmen. It's essentially the same show. Same structure, same characters. Don't get me wrong, it's enjoyable, but it seems like URINETOWN redux.

Great song in it though: "Little Sister".
Some people paint, some people sew, I meddle.
#19

re: New Kotis/Hollman musical to premiere in Chicago

Posted: 1/27/08 at 8:03pm

Oh Jon- you misunderstood me- I just meant that I thought it a small theater to debut a new work by these guys- I'd think that they would be headed toward Broadway with any new show and could sell out a much larger place.

And I see plenty of off-off-loop theater. I was at the Athenaeum last weekend to see Last 5 Years with about 15 people in attendance.
#20

re: New Kotis/Hollman musical to premiere in Chicago

Posted: 1/27/08 at 8:45pm

yes. exactly what i was thinking when I saw it. I also saw a reading of "man in the white suit" and again, same plot. Corrupt man, taking over the world, daughter trying to be good, finds prince to help stop daddy, wackiness ensues from supporting characters.
It seems like Mr. Kotis and Mr. Hollman think they found a formula for success with Urinetown (even though it barely recouped on Broadway and the tour almost lost money, though regionally I think they are doing fine) and keep trying to replicate it. Don't get me wrong I loved Urinetown. But I think l loved Urinetown not for the plot, but for the execution of it. The Brechtian style and the genius of actors like Mr. McCarthy, Ms. Opel and Mr Cullum brought that show to the heights of what it could do. I don't see it happening with the Creative tems latest exploits: Yeast Nation and Man in the White Suit.
But I guess, if it aint broke....
#21

re: New Kotis/Hollman musical to premiere in Chicago

Posted: 1/27/08 at 9:16pm

Jon, for f-sake lose the attitude, you constantly attack folks on crap you know nothing about and please stop using Karen Z's photo to represent yourself, she is a dear friend and loathes you using her image.






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