Joseph Blough
Capellaro notes that the cast of Blasphemy! includes some of the best actors the city has to offer.
Perhaps not, but there are sure to be plenty of strange and even fantastical visions in the new musical Capellaro co-wrote with her husband Andrew Rohn that takes aim at religious fundamentalism and intolerance. Presented as "An Unholy Trinity of Musical Comedies," Blasphemy! will guide viewers on a journey that begins with Rapture, proceeds thence to Purgatory, and concludes in Paradise. Each stop offers encounters with characters more sacrilegious than any monkey, including Royal Republicans, a seemingly doomed choir director, and a menagerie of unbelievable beasts, first and foremost in the form of a singing and dancing fish. Premiering at the Bartell Theater this weekend, the musical is previewed in a new extended trailer created by Justin Bomberg of video preview of Blasphemy! follows. Capellaro notes that the cast includes some of the best actors the city has to offer, as well as many longtime collaborators who appeared in their previous productions. "There's a great story behind each talented actor in Blasphemy!, she declares. Sarah Whelan and Marcy Weiland have worked with them since their first version of Temp Slave at Brave Hearts Theater in 1997. Christopher Babiarz and Kelly Maxwell appeared in Walmartopia, meanwhile, and Bonnie Balke is returning as Satan from the original Blitz version of the "Purgatory" segment of the musical. Also joining their theatrical family in the show are Don Dexter, Bartell managing director Sarah J. Hoover, and former Mercury Players artistic director Pete Ryberg, who does double-duty as the aforementioned fish and a growling Dick Cheney. "We're also reuniting with another Merkin, Annie Chiles, who designed, wrote, and directed two 'intermezzos,'" notes Capellaro, "a shadow puppet show condensing creationist views into a four-minute piece and a shadow puppet show illustrating the Big Bang and evolution." Blasphemy! premieres on the Drury Stage at the Bartell Theatre on Friday, January 9 and is currently scheduled to run over the subsequent three weekends through Saturday, January 31. Performances are scheduled for 8 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and there is a single matinee at 2 p.m. on Sunday, January 18. Tickets are $15, and can be reserved in advance by calling (608) 661-9696, #1, as well as purchased online. Also, as a fundraiser for the Bartell, the companies collaborating on the production are also seeking sponsors to contribute to the show, with donation levels running from $100 for "Thank You for the Music" to $5,000 for the "Big Bang." Fans of the show can also look forward to more another video from Bomberg about the evolution of Blasphemy!, including footage from the very first reading of the work. If you have a video about Madison or by Madisonians, please consider adding it to the Isthmus YouTube group or send a message.
