Andrew Lippa’s “The Wild Party!”
February 28 – March 2, 2025
**Please note the show contains language and content that may not be suitable for all audiences. Viewer discretion is advised**
A Bold, Unflinching Look at Morality and Desire: Cue Zero Theatre Company to Present Andrew Lippa’s Provocative and Challenging Hit Musical, “The Wild Party”
Salem, NH - In its upcoming production, Cue Zero Theatre Company presents a powerful, emotionally charged staging of Andrew Lippa’s “The Wild Party,” a musical that challenges audiences to confront the most difficult aspects of human morality and where we draw the line between acceptance and intolerance.
Set during the roaring Jazz Age in New York City, The Wild Party centers around an ill-fated celebration hosted by Vaudeville dancer, Queenie and her violent lover, Burrs. With its sultry jazz-infused score, intense character dynamics, and dark undercurrent of betrayal and desire, the musical brings to life the excesses and ultimately destructive nature of the characters’ various forms of dependency (and codependency). Fueled by drugs, alcohol, sex, violence, jealousy, and addiction, the show explores universal themes of human nature, and requires a concerted focus on sensitivity and safety, employing an Intimacy Director, Intimacy Coordinator, Fight Choreographer, and a production staff with over 100 years of combined experience in the theatrical arts.
“The authenticity of the characters in telling their truth is absolutely essential to the show, and the actors’ dedication to portraying them with honesty and vulnerability has been an absolute blessing,” says Director, Jennifer Stearns. “One of the more meaningful elements of this show is the juxtaposition between the truly joyous and upbeat musical moments, and the much darker feelings fueling them. The central theme of performative happiness is woven throughout, and I want audiences to leave asking themselves how much of their own lives are performed for others, and whether circumstances can change the heart of a person. How does anyone ever become ‘evil?’ Could it happen to any of us?’”
For Cory Alan, tasked with playing Burrs, there’s a lot to be appreciated in the duplicity and complexity of the characters from an acting perspective: “There are so many plays that want you to see things in black and white, right or wrong and good and bad. The one thing every character has in common in this show is that they can't be given one of these labels, they are all either struggling or accepting that this is not the way the world works.”
While the themes of this production resonate on a global scale, they’re also deeply relevant to our local community, where conversations about addiction and domestic violence are happening every day. No stranger to the complexities of staged intimacy and violence, Intimacy Director, Maddie Roth believes in the transformative power of theatre to both challenge and inspire. “Working on shows like The Wild Party, where intimacy is a heavy component of the storytelling, I wanted to approach intimacy in a way that kept to the show's themes without being too graphic. Adding elements of Apache-style dancing and keeping the sexual violence more stylized allows for the safety of the actors and audience while still being immersed in the world,” says Roth.
The production team is further rounded out by Amanda Morgan (Music Director), Robyn Buckley (Stage Manager), Matt Brides (Fight Choreographer), Frankie Sheffield (Co-Choreographer), Brian Cook (Assistant Stage Manager), Koda Mehalba (Sound and Lighting Designer), Ash Kelley (Set Designer), Emma McDonald (Costume Designer), Anetta LaCount (Intimacy Coordinator), and a roster of dedicated technicians, photographers, artists, carpenters, and coordinators.
Says CZT Artistic Director, Dan Pelletier, “I am incredibly proud to be producing this show, with this creative team. We have something special here; this is a bold step in our ongoing commitment to bringing thought-provoking and timely stories to our community.”
Originally performed on Broadway with a cast featuring Idina Menzel, Taye Diggs, Brian D’Arcy James, and Julia Murney, “The Wild Party” features some of the most well-loved songs in the musical theatre canon, including “The Life of the Party,” “Raise the Roof,” and “An Old-Fashioned Love Story.” Varying in style from Latin and Gospel, to Jazz and R&B, it’s an impressive display of all that musical theatre can accomplish in a short two-hour window.
“Every person involved with this show has a goal of raising the bar and challenging themselves from what they have done in the past, and when everyone has this mentality it shows in each element of the show from start to finish,” concludes Alan.
Note: Due to the nature of the material, this production contains depictions of violence, intimacy, trauma, and addiction, which may be disturbing to some viewers. Please visit our website for a full content warning.
THE WILD PARTY: Book, Music, and Lyrics by Andrew Lippa, based on a poem by Joseph Moncure March. “The Wild Party” is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI.) All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com
ABOUT CUE ZERO THEATRE COMPANY: Cue Zero Theatre Company is dedicated to cultivating and showcasing new works, young directors/designers and rising actors. Founded in December 2013, the mission of Cue Zero Theatre Company is to support young talented artists on a professional level, who need a venue to showcase their work. With our emphasis placed on professionals in the early phases of their careers, all of our projects are focused on growing as artists and people. Cue Zero sets high standards for all projects; we treat every member of the team with the respect and courtesy due to any working professional. All we ask in return is that they go above and beyond the normal call of duty to ensure productions are top-notch.
We would like to thank all of our members and sponsors for their support. With a special thank you to our benefactor members Cassandra Durand and Lori Pelletier, as well as the Arts Academy of New Hampshire. For more information about the company and our upcoming productions, please check out CZTheatre.com.
ABOUT THE ARTS ACADEMY: The Arts Academy of New Hampshire, a chartered public high school, is dedicated to fostering creative thinkers, active citizens, and independent learners through a curriculum that seamlessly integrates the arts and academics.We cater to a diverse range of students who seek to uncover the joy and transformative power of the arts, as well as those aspiring to pursue artistic endeavors in a professional context. Our commitment to the arts is complemented by academic courses that instill a genuine and enduring desire for lifelong learning.
The Wild Party runs February 28th through March 2nd at the Arts Academy of New Hampshire; Friday and Saturday at 7:30p, Sunday at 2:00p. Tickets are $20 + fees and are available at cztheatre.com or at the door.
The Wild Party is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International.
Directed by Jennifer Stearns
Music Directed by Amanda Morgan
Co-Choreographers: Jennifer Stearns and Frankie Sheffield
Fight Choreographer: Matt Brides
Intimacy Director: Maddie Roth
Stage Manager: Robyn Buckley
Event Venue
Arts Academy of NH, Salem, United States
Tickets
