WikiMusical
book and lyrics by Blake J. Harris & Frank Ceruzzi
music by Trent Jeffords
direction by Richard J. Hinds
musical direction by Sonny Paladino
with Brenda Braxton, Darius Harper, Trey Harrington, Michael Mahany, Noah Marlowe, Alison Novelli, Heather Jane Rolff, Lucas Schultz, Barry Shafrin, Adam B. Shapiro, Perry Sherman, Bob Walton
part of The New York Musical Festival (NYMF) at the Pearl Theatre Company space
WikiMusical a musical satire of the virtual age. It tells the epic story of two estranged brothers who find themselves, quite literally, trapped in cyberspace. To get back home, they will need help from allies like the Cuddly Kittens (who may or may not have created the Internet), a cowardly Emoticon (who is searching for his long lost love, Princess LOL), and an omniscient Narrator (who may or may not be Morgan Freeman). With an Alice in Wonderland-like logic and wit, this satirical new musical explores how our preoccupation with the virtual world has affected our ability to live in the real one.
WikiMusical is a quintessential quest story, inspired by such classics as The Wizard of Oz, Alice and Wonderland and
The Phantom Tollbooth (with a dash of Tron, a sprinkling of Super Mario Bros. and a hint of Avenue Q). The show’s hip and memorable pop score features twelve original songs that are firmly grounded in musical theater, including “Search Engine Crash” and “Mean Is the New Nice.”
When the winners of the prestigious international Search for New Musicals were announced in November 2016 at New Musicals Inc. in Los Angeles, the Second Prize went to WikiMusical.