+ Jack's script (he wrote the book and lyrics, he and I collaborated on the music) is incredibly funny, sly, dense, flippant, witty, chock full of allusion and illusion, a wry send-up of light opera, pop culture, open wheel racing and all things ridiculously "May in Indianapolis". But, umm, it's set in the mythical town of Zoomerville and centers on the wacky goings-on surrounding the fictional (yet oddly annual) "Zoomvee 499" auto race, and all the oft-silly pomp and pageantry surrounding said race.
+ The 6-person cast is an amazingly talented group of actors and singers. Four cast members return from the original production: Scot Greenwell as rookie driver/bumpkin saviour John Hoosier Lordy Boy, Jr......Phebe Taylor as reluctant "499 Queen" Happenstance Throttlehotter.........Michael Shelton (my fellow "Prine" cast member) as surly veteran champion driver Rusty Nubbins........and Mikayla Reed as scheming, everpresent Queen runner-up Veneera Glossover. The two new cast members - godsends both - are Jolene Moffatt as track matriarch Speedlove Throttlehotter and Trevor Fanning as the greedy real estate developer who wants to turn the Zoomvee track into condos, Buck Upshotz. It's a really fast-paced production, tons of costume changes, running around - and they are all really funny and wonderful performers.
+ Once again, Bryan Fonseca's the producer, Jack once again directs, and I return once again as musical director and accompanist.
I do hope you can make it - and please tell every person that you've ever known about it! The shows are Thursdays at 7PM, Fridays/Saturdays at 8PM and Sundays at 2PM, April 28 - May 28. Click here to get to the Phoenix website for tickets!
