Cast Aside Productions' THE WILD PARTY Begins Tonight

Cast Aside Productions, Portland's professional musical theater company, is proud to present Andrew Lippa's musical jazz tragedy, The Wild Party. Performances begin tonight, November 12, 2015 at the recently renovated Maine Charitable Mechanic Association Ballroom in downtown Portland. The production is the Maine professional premier and will be directed and choreographed by Celeste! Green, with music direction by Rebekkah Willey. The limited run will feature 5 performance with 80 seats in the round.

Andrew Lippa's mostly sung through jazz score about the excesses and consequences of prohibition era New York City was adapted from a book-length narrative poem written by Joseph Moncure March. First published in 1928, the book was banned in many cities across America, beginning with Boston, for containing honest and uncensored depictions of sex, drugs, booze, and violence.

The uncompromising material paired with a complex jazz, rock, and vaudeville score were what attracted Cast Aside Productions to tackle this award winning piece of theater. "The joy and energy in hedonism and desperation as it devolves into chaos is as American as Musical Theater," said director Green, "Even today we are barraged by expectations and images of wealth, joy, and entitlement, but less marketing and resource are given toward health and sustainability. These themes are timeless and accentuated beautifully, and tragically, by the excesses of the roaring '20s."

Cast Aside Productions wants the audience to feel completely immersed in the 1920's world of The Wild Party and is inviting theatergoers (with the correct password) to the Wild Party Speakeasy at the Mechanic's Hall Ballroom 30 minutes prior to the start of each performance. Ticket holders aged 21 and above can also choose to BYOB "Bring Your Own Bathtub Gin." (No mixers or glassware will be provided, so plan accordingly.) The production is sponsored by Maine Craft Distilling and will feature tastes of their Alchemy Gin and Ration Rum during the speakeasy portion. Tickets to the Wild Party can be purchased at www.castasideproductions.com. Due to the adult nature of the show attendees under the age of 18 will not be admitted without a guardian.

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