A Very Merry Unauthorized Children’s Scientology Pageant - Live! Off-Broadway was truly a labor of love where I embarked on a five year journey to get it back Off-Broadway for the first time since 2006 at New York Theatre Workshop. This was an independent project where I collaborated with LIU Brooklyn and my production company, Unattended Baggage.
Synopsis: A one-act dark musical comedy that links the relationship between pageantry, children’s theater, and cults. Filmed as a TV special in the style of NBC LIVE! (picture of ANNIE, the latest NBC Live). Imagine for a second if ANNIE LIVE! was set entirely in the orphanage. Add in a self-aware Scientology pageant, and that’s kind of our show.
Below is my preferred cut of the film, which was re-taped on a VHS. Below that is our Live Cast Album.
Written by Kyle Jarrow, based on a concept by Alex Timbers
Directed, Executive Produced, Designed, and Adapted for television by Sean Pollock
Producers: Angel Edme, Niara Seña, & Melanie Alice Ward
Associate Producer: Paige Esterly
Digital Producer: Jay Cruz
Associate Director/Choreographer: Sarah Rose
Musical Direction/Orchestrations: Richard Lowenburg
Accompaniment: John Wysocki
Assistant Musical Direction: Austin Birdy
Director of Photography: Saro Varjabedian
Editor: Phill Skokos
Stage Manager: Michelle Giout
Assistant Stage Manager: Binh Phan
Sound Engineer: Jesse Timm
Post Production Sound: Anna Marcus-Hecht
Lighting Design: Akvinder Kaur
Guittarist/Bassist: Jonathan Mirsky
Drummer: Austin Birdy
Assistant Choreography: Nuria Hunter
Starring: Gloria Manning as L. Ron Hubbard, Maxim Swinton as The Angel, Sadler Selby as Donald, Nick Vivar as Andy, Jadaya Bivins as Ensemble, Byron Ramirez as Ensemble, Jordan Greenberg as Ensemble, Liliana Ruiz as Ensemble, Eric A. Walker Jr. as Ensemble, Neo Vela as Ensemble, Molly K. Lyons as Swing, Serena Parrish as Swing.