ROBIN’S SHOW RECOMMENDATION: PIGGY NATION THE MUSICAL
Photo credit: Graham Dougherty
PIGGY NATION THE MUSICAL, a new off-Broadway musical with book and lyrics by Richard Rosser, composed by Alec Wells and based on the children’s book “Piggy Nation: A Day At Work With Dad,” is playing at the Snapple Theater Center, (1627 Broadway at 50th Street) in Manhattan.
The show is is an endearing, fast moving 60 minute musical full of lessons in avoiding “piggy” behavior. With an original score featuring blues, rock, rap and gospel influences, PIGGY NATION follows Sammy Hamhock, a little pig excited to be on summer vacation trailing his dad to work on Piggy Patrol, issuing tickets for piggy behavior. But Sammy learns that everyone is a little piggy sometimes, even his dad! PIGGY NATION is a sweet and entertaining family musical for kids ages 3-10. It is upbeat and feel good, and a great way to introduce young kids to the notions of consideration, common decency, thoughtfulness and respect.
After watching a man steal a parking space from his mother-in-law, native Oklahoman Richard Rosser embarked on a mission to rid the world of piggy behavior. “Enough is enough! No more drivers parking in two spaces. No more dogs pooping on neighbors’ lawns. No more texting while driving!”
Having worked on numerous TV series including 24, The Mentalist, The Neighbors and programs for Nickelodeon and The Disney Channel, Rosser considered a children’s book the natural outlet for his frustration with piggy behavior. Teaming up with illustrator Shane Sowell (The Simpsons, King of the Hill), the two created Piggy Nation: A Day At Work With Dad, the award-winning children’s book on which the musical is based.
Book and Lyrics are by Richard Rosser, Music is by Alec Wells, Direction is by Kim Moore, Musical Direction is by Rona Siddiqui, Choreography is by Anna-Lee Wright and Costume Design is by Holly Leff-Pressman. Lighting Design is by Nick Solyom, Scene Painting is by Kelsey Leuken and Props are by Hayley Morgan.
PIGGY NATION THE MUSICAL first premiered at The Pierson Playhouse in Pacific Palisades, California with a cast of children. This marks the show’s first production with a professional adult cast. The appealing cast includes David Rosenberg, Anthony Police, Sophie Schulman, Eva Marie Mastrangelo, Kristin Guerin, Ariel Leasure, Brandon Curry, Chandler Smith, Maria Malanga and Travis Kirk Coombs. They do a good job….some of whom play multiple role…including manipulating the simple, yet effective set.
Alec Wells (Composer) is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has written several musicals, including Larry’s Rhetorical Conundrum, which won the award for playwriting at the North Carolina Theatre conference. Alec is also one-fourth of the comedy production team, The Outside Joke, which has had over two million cumulative hits on YouTube, The Huffington Post, and College Humor.
Kim Moore (Director) is Associate Director of The Fantasticks at the Jerry Orbach Theater, which shares the space with Piggy Nation The Musical and Production Stage Manager of Perfect Crime, also at the Snapple Theater Center. Directing credits: Swing Street, Sylvia, and The Subject Was Roses at the Dorset Theatre Festival and Miracle On 34th Street, Same Time Next Year, The Foreigner and Nunsense at the Shawnee Playhouse. Rona Siddiqui (Musical Director) is the 2011 recipient of the ASCAP Foundation/Max Dreyfus Scholarship and the 2010 recipient of the award for Best Musical Direction by the Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle in San Francisco. She vocal arranged and music directed Tree of Life, the Oneida Nation float song in the 2012 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. She received international recognition for her composition Storms and Whispers from the International Association of Women in Music. She received her B.A. in music composition from UCLA and her Masters from NYU’s Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program.
PIGGY NATION THE MUSICAL plays at the Jerry Orbach Theater at the Snapple Theater Center at 210 W. 50th St. Performances are on Saturdays at 11am & 5pm and Sundays at 12pm.
Tickets are available at the Snapple Theater Center box office at 212-921-7862, or online at www.Ticketmaster.com. Visit www.PiggyNationNYC.com.
A percentage of ticket sales will benefit The Piggy Nation Foundation which teaches thoughtfulness and consideration through the creative arts. The Foundation has designed programs for children of all ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds with the purpose of developing good manners, creativity and self-confidence for a new generation. The Piggy Nation Foundation introduces children to the important discipli
Tags: childrens show, entertainment for families in nyc, family musical, off broadway theatre, piggy nation the musical, robin gorman newman
