RELEASE: 'BEST MUSICAL' NOMINEES RETURN TO HOLLYWOOD FRINGE WITH EPIC DYSTOPIAN MUSICAL 'THUG TUNNEL'

THUG TUNNEL

‘BEST MUSICAL’ NOMINEES RETURN TO HOLLYWOOD FRINGE WITH EPIC DYSTOPIAN MUSICAL ‘THUG TUNNEL’

In only four years, Robot Teammate & The Accidental Party has established itself as one of LA’s premier musical comedy troupes, wowing theatergoers by creating spontaneous musicals based on audience suggestions. In 2015, their first scripted musical, the time travel odyssey “TIMEHEART,” debuted to a sold-out run at the Hollywood Fringe Festival, earning nominations for “Best Musical,” A Little New Music Award for Outstanding Songwriting, and the Oddbird Award for Premiere Musicals. Now the acclaimed group is returning to the Hollywood Fringe for the world premiere of their second scripted musical, an epic dystopian comedy called “THUG TUNNEL.”

The Story: In the not-so-distant-future, greed, pollution, and The Ancient Fire of Death and Despair has made Earth’s surface uninhabitable, forcing the human race is forced to survive underground in a criminal society known as THUG TUNNEL. But subsisting on rations of rat scraps isn’t the worst part of living in a sewer where Breakin’ Necks Becky (Nikki Muller) and Stabby Rick (Dave Reynolds) have taken over an isolated community below The Surface. No one dares to defy the violent rulers until a young Tunnelborn named Petunia (Kat Primeau) and her lovesick sidekick Panther (Chris Bramante) decide to make a break for the world above. An old Tunnel sage named Trash (Miles Crosman) and the phosphorescent Yogurt Stew (Molly Dworsky) must aid them as Petunia and Panther journey through the Double Darkness, into the Maze of Infinite Confusion, and past the Great Grate to see if life on Earth’s surface is possible once again.

Performances will take place at Sacred Fools Theater Main Stage (located at 1076 Lillian Way, LA, CA 90038). The show is family friendly (Ages 13+) and runs 55 minutes. Admission is $15 ($12 for Fringe participants). Tickets are on sale here: http://hff15.org/3671

Thursday, June 09, 2016: 9:00 P.M. (preview)
Friday, June 10, 2016: 11:30 P.M.
Sunday, June 12, 2016: 6:00 P.M.
Friday, June 17, 2016: 7:30 P.M.
Saturday, June 18, 2016: 4:30 P.M.
Sunday, June 19, 2016: 9:30 P.M.
Monday, June 20, 2016: 11:00 P.M.

The book, lyrics, and music for “THUG TUNNEL” were conceived through improvisations and refined during writing sessions with the Robot Teammate ensemble, led by director Molly Dworsky. The “THUG TUNNEL” poster was created by artist/animator Dax Schaffer.
Robot Teammate & The Accidental Party is Chris Bramante, Miles Crosman, Molly Dworsky, Nikki Muller, Kat Primeau, Dave Reynolds, and musical accompanists Sam Johnides and Branson NeJame. Joining Johnides and NeJame in the “THUG TUNNEL” live band is Matt Campbell, Dan Macken, and Christopher Sousa.

The Robot Teammates have studied at iconic comedy institutions including Upright Citizens Brigade, iO West, The Groundlings, Comedy Sportz, and The Second City, and have entertained thousands in venues such as Golden Road Brewing, at festivals including Red Rocks, San Diego, LA and OC Improv Fests, and on the Geek & Sundry Twitch.TV livestream. In 2014, the Robots set a new world record with an 86-week streak in the audience voted “cage match” competition at iO West. In 2015, their original scripted sci-fi musical “TIMEHEART” received multiple award nominations including “Best Musical” and was the top-grossing show of the Hollywood Fringe Festival. They were invited to Stan Lee’s Comikaze Expo to lead a panel on their devising techniques called “Writing Through Improvisation” and have also taught workshops throughout Southern California on “How to be a Musical Improv Rockstar.” They were named “Best in Fest” at the San Diego Improv Festival in 2016.

For more info about Robot Teammate and individual bios go to: www.robotteammate.com.
“BEST IN FEST" – 2016 San Diego Improv Festival

“Robot Teammate is always worth watching. Their storytelling is top class, their musical versatility is hugely impressive, and, above all, they are properly funny.” – Ewan Phillips, Producer, Whose Line is it Anyway?

“Astonishing…to see their show is to see theatre explode into life before your eyes!” – Michele Green, Artistic Director, Tudor House Entertainment

“The no-holds-barred approach Robot employs to create their high-energy, multi-level musicals is what makes a good improv team truly great.” – Mary Bonney, LA Music Blog

Links:

www.robotteammate.com

Twitter: @THUGTUNNEL and @RobotTeammate

Instagram: @accidentalparty

Facebook.com/robotteammate

Press Contact: [email protected], 440-241-6745

Press Photos: https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B4vyijbtHDATRGg4OHpVRzZhclE&usp=sharing