Ryan Raftery Returns To Joe's Pub With IVANKA 2020

Ryan Raftery returns to Joe's Pub for his fifth consecutive run, premiering his new celebrity bio-musical comedy IVANKA 2020. A wild, irreverent mash-up of the classic film The Manchurian Candidate and the animated classic Anastasia, Raftery's latest piece is a satirical commentary on what is arguably the most fascinating political landscape the United States has seen in decades.

Raftery, called a "twisted genius" by The New York Times and "a one-man musical juggernaut" by the New York Daily News, tells a tale that begins in turn-of-the-century Russia, where a young girl named Anastasia receives a jewel-encrusted whistle as a gift from her doting grandmother. Unbeknownst to all within the golden palace, a courtier by the name of Rasputin has placed a curse on the whistle, allowing him to control the mind of the young girl, bringing about the sabotage needed to destroy the powerful family and bring about the impending Russian Revolution. Cut to almost a century later, where Russian government officials have discovered the whistle and its powers and thereby set out to interfere with yet another powerful political family. This time, it will be a different favored child in a different golden palace, and her name is...Ivanka. And, that's just the prologue!

"We live in an immensely polarized society right now, with Americans being forced to choose one of two sides," says Raftery. "I was fascinated by the First Daughter's dichotomous public image and that is where the idea came that I wanted to play her with two personalities. Ivanka's mind being partially controlled by a foreign power through enchantment plays into both of the chosen classic films that inspired my narrative, and allow me to comment on this fascinating moment in time in the comedic way which people have come to associate with my celebrity bio-musicals."

The stageplay and parody lyrics are written and performed by Raftery, set to songs by artists as varied as Beyoncé, Shania Twain, and Lady Gaga and some surprise hits from the Disney princess canon. Story by Raftery & Jay Turton. Stage direction is by Turton, musical direction by Daniel Lincoln, wig design by Marty Thomas, and costumes by world-renowned costume designer David Dalrymple.

Ryan Raftery has appeared on television in Ugly Betty, What I Like About You, Malcolm in the Middle and, most memorably, on Law and Order: SVU where he warmed hearts all across America as Dennis Faber, the lovable Amish teenager with measles. He has written 10 shows, including solo shows that included "Ryan Raftery & Friends: A Solo Act," "Ryan Raftery's It Gets Worse," and "Ryan Raftery is Black and Better Than Ever!" His celebrity bio-musicals based on the lives of Anna Wintour, Andy Cohen, Martha Stewart, and Calvin Klein have sold out from coast to coast and have garnered praise in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, People Magazine and many others.

Ryan Raftery: IVANKA 2020 begins Sunday, February 23, and runs on varying dates through Friday, March 13. Tickets and more details are available online, over the phone (212-967-7555) and in-person at The Public Theater's box office (425 Lafayette, NYC).

TICKETS: ONLINE at joespub.com / PHONE, 10AM-7:00PM, DAILY 212-967-7555
IN PERSON The Public Theater Box Office, 425 Lafayette Street, NYC (Opens daily at 2PM)