American Theater Group presents the World Premiere of
BUBBLE BOY
Book, Music and Lyrics by Cinco Paul
Book by Ken Daurio
Directed and choreographed by Jen Wineman
WHEN: November 6 –24; Wednesday through Saturday at 8 PM and Sunday at 2 PM
WHERE: Hamilton Stage, 360 Hamilton Street in Rahway
TICKETS: $30 – 35.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.americantheatergroup.org, or at the Union County Performing Arts Center box office 732.449.8226.
Written by Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio, the team that created the second highest grossing film of 2013, Despicable Me 2, Bubble Boy is based on the 2001 cult classic film—which was a twisted take on the John Travolta television movie The Boy in the Plastic Bubble.
A funny, whimsical, and ultimately heartwarming musical, Bubble Boy has Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Godspell, Pippin) saying it is “one of the cleverest, funniest, and most endearing musicals I've seen in a long time.”
Bubble Boy tells the story of Jimmy Livingston, a boy who is forced to live hermetically sealed in a plastic room to keep him safe from germs. When the girl of his dreams leaves for Niagara Falls to marry another, he creates a mobile bubble suit and races across the country to win her heart. Along the way he meets a soft-hearted motorcycle gang, a wacky cult, and a flying cow.
Paul and Daurio came to American Theater Group through the suggestion of ATG’s Artistic Advisor, Stephen Schwartz. “He’s been the show’s guardian angel,” says Paul. Bubble Boy was part of the ASCAP Musical Theatre Workshop in 2008 – which Schwartz oversees – and he became so enamored with the show, that he recommended that ATG include it as part of their New American Musical Reading Series in 2012. “A few minutes into the reading,” says Co-Producing Artistic Director James Vagias, “my partners and I saw the audience’s overwhelming response, and knew we had to produce it.”
“We've had amazing experiences in the world of film,” says Paul, “but nothing compares to seeing your work performed live in front of an audience. There's an exciting, communal feel to theatre that's like nothing else on earth. We are so excited to be doing this show with American Theater Group.”
Starring as Jimmy Livingston is Chris McCarrell who was last seen as Hermie in Summer of '42 at Bucks County Playhouse, and Howard in Broadcast at the O'Neill National Music Theater Conference. Regional credits include Gabe in Next to Normal and Anthony in Sweeney Todd. Chloe is played by Gerianne Pérez, a recent graduate of NYU/Tisch School of the Arts.While at NYU, she studied at CAP21 and Stonestreet Studios and appeared at The Town Hall and Joe’s Pub with the N’Harmonics, an A capella group, and as Marisol in an NYMF production of Volleygirls. Erin Maguire plays Mrs. Livingston – Jimmy’s very protective mother. She was most recently seen as Rhetta Cupp in the Geva production of Pump Boys and Dinettes; in New York, she has performed in NYC with Forbidden Broadway, and Charles Busch's Bunnicula.
American Theatre Group is an ambitious new performing arts company that offers musicals and plays, a new musical reading series, and theater education programs at the Hamilton Stage for the Performing Arts in Rahway, New Jersey. Its focus will be on producing both new and classic works, primarily by American playwrights, with an emphasis on developing new works and supporting the rediscovery of undeservedly neglected older ones.
