In press release:
LUCIFER is the story of the Bible from the Devil’s perspective. With the looming deadline quickly approaching, The Boss assesses that a crucial element is missing. One particularly cunning angel comes up with a game-changing solution: humans. Betrayal and obsession take hold leading this angel down an iconic path to their own personal Hell.
Music and lyrics by Michael Mott (WHERE THE SKY ENDS, FAUSTUS) and singer/songwriter Mike Squillante (SONY ATV, NBC’s THE VOICE) with book by Corey Skaggs (MOB WIFE). Gregg Wiggans (CUCKOLD, PROMISES PROMISES, NBC’S SMASH) is directing and Jesse Murphy (SUMMERLAND PROJECT, DELINQUENT) is producing. Tony Award-winner Trent Kowalik (BILLY ELLIOT) will play “Gabe,” Jackie Burns (WICKED, IF/THEN) is “Lucy,” T. Oliver Reid (SISTER ACT, PETER PAN LIVE!) is ‘Raff,’ Mitchell Jarvis (ROCK OF AGES, THE UNCIVIL WAR) is ‘Jay,’ Angela Billman (THE SUMMERLAND PROJECT) is ‘Pam,’ and Charlie Brady (SOUTH PACIFIC) is ‘Mike.’
“Lucifer originated from an unsettling reflection of mine,” says producer Jesse Murphy, 24. “If Heaven and Hell did exist, I was sure I was going to the latter. I hoped that the person running it wouldn’t be so bad.” Singer/songwriter Mike Squillante, 26, joined forces with Murphy to try to tell that tale. “I’ve always been fascinated by origin stories,” he says. “Given that no-one’s ever done Christianity in that way before, with the Devil at the forefront, Jesse’s idea seemed particularly explosive to me.” Mike has made a name for himself, performing via his YouTube channel of over 3,000,000 total views as well as opening for national acts, notably Atlantic Records’ Melanie Martinez on her Dollhouse Tours.
The pair would set about creating their new musical with Murphy overseeing book and Squillante heading up the music. After working on the first round of script and songs with two excellent creatives, Zach Herrmann and Brittan Mahrer, Jesse and Mike sought fresh eyes that knew the theatre landscape. “Mike is a pop/rock artist with a very edgy writing style akin to the likes of Rent or American Idiot. It works exceedingly well for the concept but we knew that we’d need to maintain musical theater roots,” says Murphy. Composer/lyricist Michael Mott was brought on to collaborate with Squillante. His successes include his “Broadway Records” album, orchestrated by Drama Desk Award-nominee Kim Scharnberg (Jekyll & Hyde; The Scarlet Pimpernell). His music has been sung by Tony nominees Jeremy Jordan, Laura Osnes, and Orfeh, as well as talents Zachary Levi, Sierra Boggess, and Justin Guarini. Mott would keep the work inside the theater, playing a vital structural counterpart to Squillante’s unique, non-conventional approach.
This October, TopRat Productions will partner with the All Stars Project, Inc. to offer a first look at Lucifer in a series of presentations featuring Tony Award-winner Trent Kowalik (Billy Elliot) and Jackie Burns (If/Then, Wicked). The All Stars Project is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to transform the lives of youth and poor communities, using the developmental power of performance, in partnership with caring adults. A portion of the proceeds raised from the Lucifer presentations this fall will be going to the All Stars Project and their free after school programs.
Check out Mike Squillante’s YouTube page here: www.youtube.com/MikeSquill.
Content courtesy of TopRat Productions
Writer, mother, realist, cloud lover, daydreamer, dessert enthusiast, sweet tea addict, perfectionist, and lover of life and Christ, but not in that order. http://www.fanfiction.net/~vikingloverelle
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