By Michele Miller
What’s What New Port Richey
July 16, 2024
Ticket sales have been sluggish as sometimes happens in these summer months and perhaps, when the production being promoted is a little obscure for those of us who aren’t as hip as the well-versed theatre geek we raised.
So I rang the youngest up to pick her brain.
“Have you ever heard of the musical Firebringer? I guess some theatre group from the University of Michigan….
“Yeah, StarKid Productions,” she said before I could finish.
Of course she knows all about Firebringer and the host of productions that were created by the university theatre troupe that launched into notoriety in 2009 with a very clever, black-box musical parody called A Very Potter Musical that went viral after the troupe posted a video of the production on YouTube.
A variety of productions followed – Cinderella’s Castle, A Very StarKid Reunion, Ani – that have served to feed a cult following that the youngest has been on to for years.
Isn’t it great when your kids grow up to school you?
teamstarkid.com
Starkids!, Michigan Today, March 2011
Firebringer, which first opened in 2016 and runs locally July 26 – 28 at the Richey Suncoast Theatre, offers a comedic, musical take on the prehistoric invention of fire.
“This the first non-parody, original concept, said director, Mitch Gonzalez, who was previously slated to direct the women-centric musical at Richey Suncoast in 2020. Then Covid happened.
What inspired him about this particular production?
“I’m a champion of women. I love stories about women. And I went to college with Jaime Burns – one of the original cast members. She inspired me,” said Gonzalez, who unsuccessfully pitched Firebringer to Stage West in Hernando before landing a 3-day run with Richey Suncoast on the Special Events calendar.
The strong language might have something to do with that. Firebringer is geared to ages 16+ and theatregoers should expect to hear a fair share of profanity.
“This all started with college students and that’s who this is for,” said choreography director and lead actor, (Zazzalil), Bri Fawley.
She is one of some 13 cast members drawn from a local pool of actors from Pasco and Pinellas, some college students home on summer break. Brooke Gonzalez serves as music director.
“If you were to take out the F-bombs it would be like a Disney musical,” joked Gonzalez, who is a drama teacher at Nature Coast High in Hernando and has also directed at Stage West in Hernando and Art’s In Motion Community Youth Theatre in Dade City.
“The dialogue is also witty and smart and those who attend are in for a good time and more than a few laughs, he added. “It’s a fun show.”
And it doesn’t cost much to put on which is part of the point of these productions.
“This is an Indy musical meant for community theatre. Low budget,” said RST Creative Director, Jess Glass while laying out chicken wire on the stage for the beginnings of a papier-mâché mammoth head prop.
And while patrons might feel more in tune with theatre standards such as this past season’s Oliver!, productions such as Firebringer serve to broaden the theatre’s appeal and get us out of our comfort zone, Glass said.
“It doesn’t get shown too often,” she said. “But I think the New Port Richey audience wants this.”
I’m in. See you there?
Now onward.
M
If You Go
Firebringer, a new Stone Age musical will be shown at 8 p.m. July 26-27 and 2 p.m. July 28 at the Richey Suncoast Theatre, 6236 Grand Boulevard in New Port Richey. Tickets are $25 – $150 plus fees. To purchase tickets visit www.RicheySuncoastTheatre.com
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