Phoenix Theatre Presents BLOODY, BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON, 9/20-10/21

The Phoenix Theatre of Indianapolis announces the Indiana Premiere of the critically acclaimed Broadway musical Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson in the Livia and Steve Russell Theatre. Opening Thursday, September 20, and running through Sunday, October 21, 2012, this irreverent musical was written by Alex Timbers with music and lyrics by Michael Friedman.

In the vein of Avenue Q and Spring Awakening the Phoenix is continuing its love of contemporary musicals with Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson, a high-octane, hysterically funny musical about America’s first “rock star” president, Andrew Jackson.

“This is an edgy rock and roll musical that just closed on Broadway in January of 2011,” says show director and Phoenix Producing Director Bryan Fonseca. “The show presents the life and presidency of Andrew Jackson in a rock concert format and certainly fits our mission at the Phoenix to address up-to-date issues like presidential campaigns and political ethics.” The cast features some Phoenix alumni as well as some performers new to the Phoenix, with an onstage band that is a part of the unusual storytelling.

“Andrew Jackson was an amazing example of everything good and bad about America. He was responsible for so much of what we now take for granted in our politics, the shape of our country, and our national character...all at an enormous cost. When you couple such a complex man with an incredible rock and roll score...who wouldn't want to play that role?” says Eric Olson about playing the title role. Olson was last seen on the Phoenix stage as Nicky in Avenue Q and before that in This and Jericho.

Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson is a Wild West musical that focuses on our 7th president and his role in the founding of the Democratic Party, along with events like the Trail of Tears and the Battle of New Orleans, along with topics addressing the fate of Native Americans and Jackson’s unorthodox relationship with his wife Rachel.

Along with Eric Olson in the title role, the ensemble cast includes Phillip Armstrong, Thomas Cardwell, Abigail Gillan, Scot Greenwell, Andrea Heiden, Danny Kingston, Peter Scarbrough, Lincoln Slentz, Phebe Taylor, Arianne Villareal, Claire Wilcher and Rex Wolfley. Tim Brickley leads the band with both Brickley and Kevin D. Smith serving as Music Directors. Bryan Fonseca is directing, Gordon Strain is designing the set, Laura Glover is designing the lights, Mariel Greenlee is choreographer, Ashley Kiefer is costume designer, Nolan Brokamp is Technical Director, Nick Hargrove is designing the sound, Rob Johansen is fight choreographer and David Schlatter is handling all the blood effects.

It is the goal of The Phoenix Theatre to be the best ticket value in town for live, professional theatre. The following are ticket prices for Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson in the Livia and Steve Russell Theatre at the Phoenix:

$23 – Katrina Basile Realtor Cheap Seats Opening weekend; First Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday

$33 for all adults All remaining performances after opening weekend (Thursdays, $23 for individuals Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays age 21 and under)

Phoenix FlexPass is the best theatre deal in Indy and will only be available through October 31, 2012. Buying a FlexPass is like getting one regular-priced ticket for free. A FlexPass for $115 gets a patron five vouchers that can be traded in for any combination of tickets for any of the 2012-2013 productions.

Tickets for the new season may be purchased now by calling the box office at 317.635.7529 to charge by phone, and will be available to purchase online at phoenixtheatre.org beginning September 3, 2012. All seating is general admission on a first-come, first-served basis.

Performances are Thursdays at 7:00 pm; Fridays at 8:00 pm, Saturdays at 8:00 pm and Sundays at 2:00 pm, unless otherwise noted on our website. Doors open ½ hour prior to curtain for seating. The Phoenix Pub, located inside the theatre, offers beer, wine, soft drinks, coffee and bottled water, as well as treats, and all refreshments may be taken into either theatre and consumed during the performance.

The Phoenix Theatre is Indiana's only professional Contemporary Theatre, and has presented productions to challenge and entertain the Indianapolis community for 30 years. An Equity house, the Theatre presents the Midwest and Indiana premieres of many popular Broadway and Off-Broadway plays, and has presented more than 85 world premieres in its quarter century. The Phoenix operates the 130-seat proscenium Livia and Steve Russell Theatre as well as the 75-seat cabaret-style black box Frank & Katrina Basile Theatre. The Phoenix Pub, located in the Basile Theatre, serves beer, wine, coffee, soft drinks, water, and treats, and patrons may take all refreshments into either theatre. Both venues are housed along with administrative offices in a renovated 1907 church in downtown Indianapolis' historic Chatham Arch neighborhood, part of the Mass Ave Arts & Theatre District. The Phoenix Theatre is a member of the National New Play Network and the League of Indianapolis Theatres, and is supported by the Indiana Arts Commission, the Arts Council of Indianapolis, and the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as local corporate and foundation funders and more than 400 individual donors.