FROM OFF-BROADWAY TO THE HOLLYWOOD FRINGE!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRESS CONTACT: Victoria Watson Winkler, [email protected], 818-693-9774

Original Musical Comedy
The 2nd Annual Trump Family Special
Parodies First Family in “Yuge” Way

– Two Week Engagement as part of the Hollywood Fringe Festival is “Bigly” Entertainment

(LOS ANGELES, CA – June 6 – 17) – The 2nd Annual Trump Family Special is an original musical comedy spoofing the First Family in a yuge way! The show’s 8 Fringe Festival performances are June 7 – 9 and 13 – 16 (show times listings at trumpfamilyspecial.com) – The Arena Stage at Theatre of Arts, 1625 N Las Palmas Ave, Hollywood 90028. The show runs approximately 65 minutes.

In this musical send-up, Trump’s brood has gathered once again at the Winter White House for a televised special on the new Trump TV Network. When the orange man of the hour is a no show, the special’s host, Ivanka stalls for time by interviewing the various family members. This leads to an array of musical numbers such as Melania’s “Look Gorgeous and Shut the Hell Up” and Trump’s wives (past and present) singing their Motown-meets-Mikado inspired number, “Three Little Trophy Wives.” Sarah Huckabee and Kellyanne Conway appear as evil apparitions to school Donald Jr. on the dark art of alternate facts in the seductive “Spin Tango.”

“It’s yuge! It’s bigly! It’s covfefe! It’s The 1st Annual Trump Family Special and it’s ready to make live theater great again. After all, can anyone resist a satirical cabaret shaped by the latest Twitter feed of our current miscreant in chief? Or an insane production that’s as queer as Mike Pence?”- The Advocate

The musical comedy is a sequel to The 1st Annual Trump Family Special, which received enthusiastic response to sold-out crowds last year in LA’s Hudson Theater and Vitello’s Cabaret Theater, and enjoyed a successful, limited Off-Broadway run at New York’s Triad Theater. The show’s creators are excited to update the show this year with new songs and book to reflect all the insanity of late.

Film, TV and Broadway comic force, Mary Birdsong (Reno 911, Suspicion) joins the cast to play Melania Trump. The show features three of the original LA cast: Lisa St. Lou, Ryan Murray and John Shartzer. They all play surprising multiple roles – Ivanka plays her own mother, Ivana, while Donald Jr. quick changes into a perverse Marla Maples.

The show draws from the tradition of musicals like Cabaret and Hair to bring social and political commentary through satire. “In these frustrating and infuriating times, humor can shed light on issues while relieving the stress through laughter,” said creator and director, Danny Salles. Composers Tor Hyams and Lisa St. Lou share his viewpoint. Salles adds, “The Trumps present us with a gift basket of dreadful, comic possibilities every day. This show is our form of payback.” The 2nd Annual Trump Family Special is Hamilton meets The Addams Family – perfect for anyone left of center or right in the mind,” added Salles.

CALENDAR LISTING

The 2nd Annual Trump Family Special
Original Musical Comedy Parodies First Family in “Yuge” Way

What if the First Family put on a live musical TV special – just like the Brady Bunch – starring Ice Princess Ivanka, her numbnut brothers, a still-not-caring Melania, and a host of ex’s and deplorables.

Tickets available at www.trumpfamilyspecial.com include a $15 general admission and a $40 VIP package that includes a “Trump Survival Kit”

Showtimes:
Friday, June 7th at 8:30pm
Saturday, June 8th at 8:00pm
Sunday, June 9th at 8:00pm
Thursday, June 13th at 8:30pm
Friday, June 14th at 7:00pm
Saturday, June 15th at 10:30pm
Sunday, June 16th at 3:00pm
Sunday, June 16th at 10:00pm

PRESS CONTACT: Victoria Watson Winkler, [email protected], 818-693-9774

About the Creators:
Danny Salles – Creator, Director and Lyricist
In addition to directing episodes for four seasons of the hit ABC comedy series The Middle, Salles has been a show runner and director for numerous unscripted TV series with great comic voices: Joan Rivers in Joan and Melissa: Joan Knows Best (WeTV), Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List (Emmy nomination)(Bravo), Andrew Dice Clay, Dice Undisputed (VH1), Kristen Wiig and Ralph Garman, The Joe Schmo Show (Spike), and Todrick Hall, Todrick (MTV). He directed the MTV sketch comedy Scratch and Burn, a pilot I’ve Got a Life in Kalamazoo starring Ed Asner, Marion Ross and Vicki Lewis and a Freeform comedy pilot he co-created, The Other Mall. His comedy feature, Three for All, is currently in development at Jeremy Garelick’s American High production company, and he is currently adapting his feature romantic comedy Inner Beauty, My Ass (previously with MGM) into a theatrical musical comedy.

Tor & Lisa – Composers
Grammy nominated songwriter, Tor Hyams, and veteran Broadway performer, Lisa St. Lou (The Producers) offer a unique blend of comedy and heart through musicals, plays and screenwriting. Original works include Stealing Time, a story about a woman struggling to reclaim her power after an abusive marriage (premiered at York Musical Theater Festival 2012 and further developed by Emerging Artists Theatre, The Pitch at the Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival and at Goodspeed Opera House by way of the Johnny Mercer Writers Colony), The Skylight Room, a story about asking for help through the lens of physical illness, with actor/writer, John Cariani, How We Do: Back in the Day, a family musical about belonging and race, based on the life experiences of Backstreet Boy, Howie D (work-shopped at the New Victory Theater in NY and scheduled for a production at the Rose Theater in Omaha, January 2020), Senior Living, a play about people dying to live in a retirement community (directed by Judith Ivey and premiered at Cherry Lane Theatre in NYC), and Collateral Beauty, an adaptation of the film starring Will Smith (in collaboration with screenwriter Allan Loeb).
The duo has been commissioned by Center Stage Capital to write a musical adaptation of the legendary television show, Green Acres. Additional commissions include Ensemble, a collection of letters by Tennessee Williams, Untitled, commissioned by Theatrical Rights Worldwide (TRW) to be performed by middle and high school students, and aTypical Family, a story about Autism Spectrum Disorder told from the perspective of the couple raising an atypical child.
Benjamin “Benji” Daniel Schwimmer – Choreographer
Benji is an American professional dancer, choreographer and actor. In 2006 he was announced as the winner of the second season of So You Think You Can Dance and has choreographed for both the U.S. and the international versions of the show. Schwimmer has held the titles of both the US and World Swing Champion with a new partner, Kellese Key. He co-starred in the 2010 film Leading Ladies and performed and choreographed live performances and videos for the biggest names in the music business including Christina Aguilera and Paula Abdul. He recently appeared as the on-camera choreographer on the Lifetime series, The Pop Game. He founded D.E.M.A.N.D., a non-profit organization that helps the less fortunate and provides health care for dancers with HIV/AIDS and other illness, and is a co-owner of 5678 Dance Studio in Redlands

ABOUT THE CAST:
MARY BIRDSONG (MELANIA) Mary Birdsong’s TV credits include The Daily Show w/Jon Stewart & Reno 911 (Comedy Central); The Middle (ABC), Raising Hope (Fox), Scream Queens (CW), Masters of Sex (Showtime), The Knick (Cinemax), & Succession (HBO). Her film credits: George Clooney yelled at her a lot in The Descendants, Malcolm MacDowell yelled at her a lot in Halloween 2, & Kristin Stewart sass-talked her & stole her wig in Adventureland (but really quietly, almost without moving her lips, & her hair looked great). Theatre: Mary won a Theatre World Award for her Broadway debut in “Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me” and played Velma Von Tussle in Hairspray (also on B’Way). Off-Broadway, Mary was lucky to work w/the late Nora Ephron in Love,Loss, & What I Wore, opposite Jane Lynch & Tyne Daly. She’s also the creator of 365 Characters In 365 Days on YouTube (http://tinyurl.com/dailymary) (Day 175 and counting.)
RYAN MURRAY (ERIC): Ryan just wrapped a new web series Black Girl In A Big Dress, and his latest film The Bride, is releasing this year. He starred for 2.5 years on Guiding Light, as Officer Teague in the acclaimed Recorded In Hollywood at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, and was the face of Paco Rabanne’s 1 Million fragrance. www.ryan-murray.com

JOHN SHARTZER (DONALD JR.): John is an LA based actor/musician. Recent theatre credits include: Logan in Missing Peace (Native Voices 2019 Playwrights Festival/ LaJolla Playhouse), Max in Lend Me A Tenor (La Mirada), Paul the Human in the workshop of Darling Grenadine (Eugene O’Neill Theatre) and Ned in Accidental Joy (NYMF/ The Montalbán). Screen credits include: Andrew in the film Book Club (opposite Candice Bergen), Backstreet Boy Perp #4 on Brooklyn 99, Worker in the pilot episode of Ghosted on Fox, and Ryan in Casual on Hulu. He’s looking forward to seeing himself on CBS’ Life in Pieces and Netflix’s Grace and Frankie (opposite Lily Tomlin), later this year. John has also appeared in almost 20 national commercials. Check out johnshartzer.com for weird birthday songs he’s written and johnshartzer on Instagram for pictures of his cute wife.

LISA ST. LOU (IVANKA): Lisa has appeared in the Broadway and 2nd National Touring companies of The Producers as Hold Me Touch Me and Lick Me Bite Me. She is currently performing around the country in her one-woman show, LIFE. Who Knew? www.lisarothauser.com

“The 2nd Annual Trump Family Special” p. 2

About the Creators:
Danny Salles – Creator, Director and Lyricist
In addition to directing episodes for the last four seasons of the long-running hit ABC comedy series The Middle, Salles has been show runner and director for numerous unscripted shows with great comic voices: Joan Rivers in Joan and Melissa, Joan Knows Best, Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List (Emmy nominated), Andrew Dice Clay, Dice Undisputed, Kristen Wiig and Ralph Garman, The Joe Schmo Show, and Todrick Hall, Todrick. He’s currently in an overall deal with NBC/UNI’s Wilshire Studios. He also directed the MTV sketch comedy Scratch and Burn, a pilot I’ve Got a Life in Kalamazoo starring Ed Asner and Marion Ross and a Freeform comedy plot he co-created, The Other Mall.

Tor & Lisa – Composers
Grammy nominated songwriter, Tor Hyams, and veteran Broadway performer, Lisa Rothauser (The Producers) have collaborated on Stealing Time, which premiered at The New York Musical Theater Festival. They are currently working under commission on an adaptation of the legendary television show, Green Acres. Additional projects include Ensemble, a collection of previously unpublished letters by the legendary Tennessee Williams and Love. Who Knew, with book writer/actor John Cariani (Almost Maine) and Howie We Do, a musical for Young Audience with the New Victory Theater in New York.

Benjamin “Benji” Daniel Schwimmer – Choreographer
Benji is an American professional dancer, choreographer and actor. In 2006 he was announced as the winner of the second season of So You Think You Can Dance and has choreographed for both the U.S. and the international versions of the show. He co-starred in the 2010 film Leading Ladies and performed and choreographed live performances and videos for the biggest names in the music business including Christina Aguilera and Paula Abdul. He most recently appeared as the on-camera choreographer on the Lifetime series, The Pop Game.

About the Cast:
Mikalah Gordon – Melania Trump
Gordon is a Las Vegas native who made her TV debut as a Top 12 contestant on season 4 of American Idol. Her run on Idol earned her a record deal with famed judge Randy Jackson on Interscope Records. The spicy comedienne has starred on the WB sitcom “Living with Fran”, with Fran Drescher, been a field correspondent for “The Tyra Banks Show” and “The TV Guide Network”, and served as a co-host on “American Idol Extra”. Gordon was recently a resident singer with Post Modern Jukebox and can now be seen Wednesday-Saturday at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas Hotel’s “Rose. Rabbit. Lie.”

Ryan Murray – Eric Trump
A California native and graduate of NYU-Tisch, Murray was last seen on stage in the critically acclaimed production of Recorded In Hollywood at the Kirk Douglas Theatre. He has just wrapped a new webseries entitled Black Girl In A Big Dress and his latest film, The Bride, is scheduled for release later this year. Murray recently played Bing Crosby in Swinging On A Star at Riverside Theatre. Favorite credits include: the INfamous Broadway-bound production of Lone Star Love, which blazed headlines for its “unruly Hollywood celebrity!” Off B’way: Masquerade at The Cherry Lane & 1 man show King of the Mountain. Murray also appeared as Tom on Guiding Light for 2.5 years, or you may recognize him as the face of Paco Rabanne’s 1 Million fragrance.

Lisa Rothauser – Ivanka Trump
Rothauser has appeared in the Broadway and 2nd National Touring companies of The Producers as Hold Me Touch Me and Lick Me Bite Me. Lisa originated the roles of Marie Tovesky and Rachel/Hagar in the world premiere productions of O Pioneers! (The Producers’ Club) and Songs of Paradise (Caldwell Theater). Most recently, wrote, produced and starred opposite Jeremy Kushnier in Stealing Time.

Suzanne Sole – Ivana Trump
Sole has appeared on comedy stages throughout LA and Chicago, as well as theatrical productions and national tours including Muriel in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, E.B. Janet in SPANK! The Fifty Shades Parody, Woman 2 in Jason Robert Brown’s Songs for a New World Off-Broadway, and Dolly Tate opposite Patti LuPone in Annie Get Your Gun directed by Lonny Price at Ravinia in Chicago. Sole appeared as Shirley Partridge in VH1’s, The New Partridge Family, and has co-starred in NBC’s Chicago PD, Joey, TBS pilot What News?, It’s So Over on E!, Lifetime’s Strong Medicine. She stars in the original web series Backstage Drama -(2012 Telly and Michigan Emmy® Award) and her own co-created series, The Hirsches Care About The Earth.

Anne Torsiglieri – Marla/Tiffany Trump
Torsiglieri has been seen on Broadway in Top Girls, Parade, Blood Brothers and Miss Saigon as well as in the National Tour of Les Misérables as Fantine. Off-Broadway and regionally she’s performed at Manhattan Theatre Club, Second Stage, Playwrights Horizons, Ensemble Studio Theatre, NY Stage and Film, Williamstown Theatre Festival, McCarter Theatre, Baltimore Center Stage, The Huntington, The Eugene O’Neill Theatre Festival, Sundance Theatre Lab, Great Lakes Theatre Festival, Cleveland Playhouse, Northern Stage and others. She is the recipient of Back Stage West/Drama Logue and Garland Awards for her performance as Catherine Sloper in The Heiress (Berkeley Rep) and the New Hampshire Theatre Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance as the titular role in The Drowsy Chaperone (New London Barn Playhouse). TV and film include “Law & Order”, “Kidnapped”, “Gossip Girl” and the award winning “Albert Schweitzer: Called to Africa.” Torsiglieri is an Associate Professor in the Dept. of Theater and Dance at UCSB. She is a graduate of Princeton University and The Juilliard School. Her new play “A” Train just finished a successful run with United Solo in NYC. ATraintheplay.com

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