American Conservatory Theater Presents The Unfortunates
(© Jenny Graham)
The Unfortunates begins its run tonight at American Conservatory Theater's Strand Theater.
Inspired by the mysterious blues song "St. James Infirmary," made popular by Louis Armstrong in the 1920s, the darkly comic musical follows Big Joe, a stalwart, tough-talking soldier cursed with oversize hands. As the show mixes early 20th-century American Blues and gospel with modern and syncopated rhythms, Big Joe travels through a dream world in which he must confront a series of enemies.
He journeys from a prison camp to the underworld, risking everything to save Rae, an armless courtesan, from a plague that has left all but a few dead. At the heart of this journey of memory and mythmaking is the search for salvation through a willingness to make music in the face of loss and search for love in a time of desperation.
Created by Jon Beavers, Kristoffer Diaz, Casey Hurt, Ian Merrigan, and Ramiz Monsef, the musical is directed by Shana Cooper. The cast features Jon Beavers, Lauren Hart, Danielle Herbert, Taylor Iman Jones, Christopher Livingston, Amy Lizardo, Eddie Lopez, Ian Merrigan, Ramiz Monsef, and Arthur Wise.
"The Unfortunates is going to rock The Strand with its haunting, propulsive score and joyful, passionate company of performers," says A.C.T. artistic director Carey Perloff. "It's a story of love, loss, and the meaning of honor set in a funky, mysterious bar and it truly belongs in our beautiful new theater."
The creative team includes Casey Hurt (music director), Paul James Prendergast (associate director), Sibyl Wickersheimer (set design), Katherine O’Neill (costume design), Russell Champa (lighting design), Brendan Aanes (sound design), and Erika Chong Shuch (choreographer).
Performances will run through April 10.
