Casting and creative team are set for Signature Theatre's D.C.-area premiere of The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical.
Directed by Tony winner Christopher Ashley (From Away) with choreography by Jon Rua (Floyd Collins) and music direction by Rick Edinger, performances are scheduled for June 3鈥揓uly 13 in the MAX Theatre in Arlington, Virginia.
The cast will feature Eric William Morris (King Kong) as the late American journalist and author Hunter S. Thompson with George Abud (Lempicka) as Nixon, Darlesia Cearcy (A Wonderful Life: The Louis Armstrong Musical) as Jann, Josiah Rey Cajudo as Puppeteer, Giovanny Diaz De Leon as The Kid, Lorinda Lisitza as Virginia, Meghan McLeod as Flower Child, George Salazar (Be More Chill) as Oscar, Ryan Vona (Parade) as Juan, Tatiana Wechsler (Mr. Saturday Night) as Sandy, and Jason SweetTooth Williams (Be More Chill) as Steadman. Tziah Coli, Tyler Dobies, and Stephen Russell Murray complete the company as understudies. Casting is by The Telsey Office's Rachel Hoffman. Signature casting is by Jorge Acevedo and Charlotte La Nasa.
With music and lyrics by Joe Iconis (Be More Chill) and a book by Iconis and Gregory S. Moss (Indian Summer, Reunion), the musical spans the 1940s through 2005 as Thompson invents Gonzo journalism, attempts to take down a
corrupt president, and quests for equality for his fellow weirdos,
outsiders, and freaks. However, this anti-hero鈥檚 drug-fueled tornado
leaves a trail of destruction as he grapples with his legacy in a world
that has left him behind.
The creative team for the rock musical also includes scenic designer Wilson Chin, costume designer Toni-Leslie James, lighting designer Amanda Zieve, sound designer Justin Stasiw, hair and wig designer Matthew Armentrout, puppet designer Animal Cracker Conspiracy, orchestrator Charlie Rosen, and vocal arranger Rick Edinger.
鈥淚 first had the idea to write this musical in 2006 and have been working on it in fits and starts ever since,鈥� said Iconis in a statement. 鈥淢y interest in and excitement over the material has only grown with time, and part of me thinks that this persnickety show has purposefully been dragging its heels through development hell so that it could unleash itself on the masses in 2025. I can think of no better place than Signature to have our rowdy, passionate, political, and hopeful love letter to artists and activists cause a musical ruckus. This is a piece of theatre that unabashedly asserts that art has the power to change the world, and how appropriate to begin that change in our nation鈥檚 capital. The revolution will not be televised鈥� but it will feature showtunes. Get ready D.C., Hunter is coming for you.鈥�
Kerry Epstein is the production stage manager, and Stefania Giron Zuluaga is the assistant stage manager.
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