Previews: BASH OF THE TITANS at FreeFall Theatre
On stage June 12 - August 2
freeFall Theatre is gearing up to close its 25/26 season with a gleefully chaotic new musical parody, Bash of the Titans, co‑written by Eric Davis, Michael Raabe, and Matthew McGee. The trio has built a reputation for sending up pop‑culture universes with affection and precision, and this time they’re diving headfirst into the neon‑lit, sword‑swinging world of 1980s fantasy cinema. For McGee, the spark came from looking at what audiences are craving right now. “I think every theater company now is wondering what type of shows audiences want to see, and we’ve seen that people really get into music and comedy,” he says. Their 2016 intergalactic Pirates of Penzance spoof proved how much fun freeFall audiences have with genre‑bending mayhem. “We thought it was time to do a musical spoof of the 1980s swords and sorcery films. Eric had long wanted to program this into a season and so we made it the closer for 25/26.”
The creative process behind Bash of the Titans mirrors the show’s playful energy. McGee describes a rhythm of early brainstorming followed by independent writing sprints before the team reconvenes to stitch everything together. “After a few initial meetings, we all worked separately for the most part and then came together before rehearsals to refine and tweak the material. Something we are still doing now in the rehearsal process. Eric really worked on the structure, Michael on the arrangements and I have been punching up comedic material.” That shared shorthand comes from a deep well of Gen X nostalgia. “We are all proudly Gen X and it’s what we felt we knew the best in order to spoof the original material. That goes for references and songs. It’s a celebration of our childhood.”
That nostalgia pulses through the score, which riffs on the decade’s unmistakable sound. McGee explains that the team leaned into familiarity while reshaping it for parody. “We really tried to work hard to capture the sound of the time and make enough changes that the songs are parodies of other familiar 80s songs. Songs everyone knows.” The story itself pulls from a wide constellation of Greek myths, all filtered through the trio’s irreverent lens. “We knew we LOVED the idea of the Greek gods interfering with the lives of mere mortals. So, we used a real mix of the different myths. You’ll see Medusa, Poseidon, Aphrodite, The Kraken, Pegasus and many more.”
Even with all the winks and wildness, McGee is adamant that the show’s heart stays intact. “I think the plot holds up really well and could exist without the self‑referential and fourth wall breaking type of humor. The comedy is really just the cherry on top.” That balance is helped by a cast he calls essential to the show’s success. “It’s a powerhouse cast and I’m not sure it would work as well without these particular performers. We are thrilled we were able to book Kissy Simmons and Victor E. Chan. They are both so terrific as Aphrodite and Poseidon.”
Visually, the world of Bash of the Titans leans into spectacle with a wink. McGee describes it as “Ancient Greece meets Las Vegas showroom. It’s kitschy fun!” And while he’s careful not to spoil surprises, he hints that one moment in particular will stop the show cold. “I won’t spoil it, but the Pegasus reveal is going to be a big hit.”
For freeFall, the production fits squarely within the company’s ethos. “As a company we tend to program shows that are more timeless than timely. We want a broad audience and this current show is truly for everyone.” McGee hopes audiences leave with the same sense of delight the creative team felt while building it. “I hope they leave feeling happy and excited about the next adventure we plan to take them on.”
And as for what comes next, the team is dreaming big. “We are working harder and harder on pieces that could have a life beyond freeFall. Who knows? Bash of the Titans could be the next Titanique.”
Bash of the Titans runs June 12 through August 2, 2026, at freeFall Theatre, 6099 Central Avenue in St. Petersburg. Learn more and buy tickets at https://freefalltheatre.com/
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