Vancouver's theatre scene is in for a major hangover as Pint-Size Tall gears up for the event of the year with its debut musical The Wild Party.
Actor Christopher Shyer (V), director /actor, Stellina Rusich and producer Ashley Fester (Celluloid Horror) have launched Pint Size Tall Theatre Society to bring a raw, dark, sex-filled musical set in '20s Manhattan to the ANZA Club.
The Wild Party presents a vivid portrait of a debauched showbiz underworld. Dysfunctional performer couple Queenie (Cailin Stadnyk, a familiar face from the Arts Club scene) and Burrs (Mat Baker) throw a hot summer's night party inviting their motley crew of guests, featuring local actors: Adrian Holmes (Smallville, Battlestar Galactica), Peter New (Men In Trees, The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus), Irene Karas (Ovation Award nominee for Thoroughly Modern Millie), Courtney Lancaster (Smallville), Andrea Bailey (Ovation Award winner, Annie, Rent) in a rogues’ gallery of characters that includes jealous chorines, ex-lovers, shady producers and incestuous brothers.
To bring The Wild Party to the stage, debut director Chris Shyer (acting credits: CSI: Miami, Whistler, NYC Broadway production, Mamma Mia!), director/mentor Stellina Rusich (acting credits: Monk, Cold Squad) and producer Ashley Fester have budgeted a much larger sum than is usual for Vancouver’s independent theatre scene. The team has assembled top-notch choreographer Leigh Torladge of Maxine Hideaway's Candy Girls and musical director Sean Bayntun (BatBoy) along side an exceptional wardrobe department and production design team to create a seedy ’20s atmosphere and transform the ANZA into a speakeasy.
More than just a one-act musical, The Wild Party is also an event – each night of the run will host a party within itself. The production and technical team will have the ANZA Club, built in 1935, outfitted with a three-tiered stage, full lighting and sound system. The space will be set like NYC's infamous Cotton Club and will include cigarette girls, classic cocktails, period music - even a dance competition.
The Wild Party features music and lyrics by Michael John LaChiusa, with book by George C. Wolfe and Michael John LaChiusa from the original 2000 Broadway production and is based on the 1928 poem The Wild Party by Joseph Moncure March. Art Spiegelman, best known for his Pulitzer Prize-winning comic book memoir Maus, has graciously awarded the production with the rights to use the images he created for The Wild Party graphic novel. Time Magazine named Spiegelman one of the Top 100 Most Influential People of 2005.
The Wild Party opens May 4th 2010 at the ANZA Club and runs May 4-9, May 12-16, May 18-21& 23 and May 25-28. Tickets are on sale through Tickets Tonight and Ticketmaster.
About Pint-Size Tall
Pint-size Tall is a new collaborative venture designed to bring risqué theatre fare to Vancouver. Actor/director Chris Shyer formed PST after meeting Ashley Fester (producer) on the set of ABC's new hit TV series V.