Politics, Philosophy, Rock, and Tamales
The students at Cal. State San Marita want to take on big-money developers. They ask their political philosophy professor to run for office, after all, he seems to know about grassroots empowerment. Powered by Grandma’s tamales and books by Paulo Freire and Gloria Anzaldúa, they find a winning message about community when the community is patchwork of different ethnicities and blended races. But getting a foothold only turns up the pressure. Will they play ball with the bare-knuckled Governor? Is grandma right about Brenda’s good-looking but overly-ambitious boyfriend? Is winning everything, or just better than losing? What happened to all those ideas in Pedagogy of the Oppressed? Maybe the bottom-line political question isn’t how to win, but how to change the game.
You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll earn graduate credit.
The show arrives at Fringe with advance coverge:
- Coverage from CultureOC.org.
- A great writeup by Jackie Moe of BackStageOC.com: “Strumming Change: Musical Amps Up Orange County with Politics, Passion, and Rock ‘n’ Roll“
- From Greg Hardesty in the Orange County Register (CSUF section): A Game-Changer: Underdogs take on the political system
The Trailer
You can check out the trailer here.
Reactions and Reviews
Change the Game is an attempt to put important ideas into an accessible format. We succeed when we appeal to our audiences, our friends, and our critics. What we find important is not so much the quality of the reviews and the quality of the reviewers.
From Nate Baesel
At its essence, Change the Game is a plea for doing something, anything to make a difference. The musical opens in a Sociology class as if to announce from the start its intention of exploring the complications, conflicts and comedy inherent in trying to change the world. The class’s passionate professor “Adam Herow,” played with vocal muscularity by Miles Henry, acknowledges that change is hard but that there’s strength in numbers. In “Together,” Miles stirs his college students with the anthem “We all are better, when we all are better, because we all are better together.” Thoroughly inspired, star pupil and budding advocate “Brenda,” dynamic and winning Faith Romo, begins to discover her voice, passion and purpose in sticking up for herself and her loved ones. Things really take off when the motley collection of students, including standout Ethan Rokos as “J-Quad,” unite to launch a campaign for public office with Miles as their candidate.
“But as much as the message of change inspires, the act of surmounting all obstacles to deliver that message is inspiration in itself.”
Change the Game is a unique example of a musical who’s method mirrors the message. Its creator, Jon Bruschke has long been an educator dedicated to empowering minds. The circuitous journey this show has taken developing in staged readings, workshops and productions is proof that making a musical is hard work. But as much as the message of change inspires, the act of surmounting all obstacles to deliver that message is inspiration in itself. Mr. Bruschke has you cheering for him and his cast because of their earnest intent to elevate and entertain. This is an underdog story that has you rooting for the underdog because you know you’re really rooting for yourself.
Change the Game is a unique example of a musical who’s method mirrors the message. Its creator, Jon Bruschke has long been an educator dedicated to empowering minds. The circuitous journey this show has taken developing in staged readings, workshops and productions is proof that making a musical is hard work. But as much as the message of change inspires, the act of surmounting all obstacles to deliver that message is inspiration in itself. Mr. Bruschke has you cheering for him and his cast because of their earnest intent to elevate and entertain. This is an underdog story that has you rooting for the underdog because you know you’re really rooting for yourself.
Nate Baesel graduated from The Juilliard School of Drama and has a BA in Theatre from UCLA. Nathan is a founding member of NY-based Theater Mitu and he performs regularly for the South Coast Repertory. He is the founder and operator of Breakthrough Acting.
From Jason Shepard
“I loved this show. The musical tells the story of idealistic college students supporting a political candidate advocating for positive change and touches on many contemporary social and political issues. It’s hilarious, also with touching and sad moments. I laughed, cried, left inspired, and wished I had the cast recording to listen to on my car ride home. Bravo!”
“It’s hilarious, also with touching and sad moments…I laughed, cried, left inspired…”
Jason Shepard is an accomplished journalist and Chair of the Department of Communications at Cal State University, Fullerton.
From Steven Skrovan
Ralph Nader once said, “The only real sign of aging is the erosion of one’s ideals.” In these cynical times, Change the Game dares us to believe in the “quaint” notion that young people organizing themselves around a set of ideals can make a difference. Inspiring and uplifting Change the Game is a story of young people finding their power. It’s also educational, but in the best way possible, because the fast-paced action comes with a generous dollop of clever, catchy songs, good humor, and energetic performances.
“Inspired and uplifting…a generous dollop of clever, catchy songs…”
Steve Skrovan has won two primetime Emmys and has 3 wins and 10 nominations overall. He produced An Unreasonable Man, and sits on the board of Public Citizen.
From Greg Whiteley
Like the Brazilian philosopher who inspired this play, Change the Game “trusts people.” It trusts cast members regardless of experience. It trusts first time set designers and choreographers. Most of all, it trusts its audience. The result is a home grown evening of theater in which you’ll leave with a warm feeling and a greater hope for what’s possible as a community. Miles Henry is a strong presence onstage, along with Travis Hoodye and Joel Steven as Governor Nick Dixon. JoJo Fares is engaging as a student reporter but the real stars of the evening are the Brushke Family which writes, directs, art directors, produces, and choreographs this production. With this homespun production helmed by people who all have non-theater day jobs—the production suffers from the normal hickups. But it’s well worth your time and attention.
“… [An] evening of theater in which you’ll leave with a warm feeling and a greater hope for what’s possible as a community.”
Greg Whiteley has won two prime-time Emmys and has six wins in and 14 nominations overall, including a Sundance Grand Jury prize for New York Doll and a 2021 International Documentary Association award for Last Chance U, and his current series Wrestlers has already won a 2024 Independent Spirit award.
Learn More at wordpress.com/posts/changethegamemusical.wordpress.com
Production Team
