Biblical Book of Job Gets Remixed
J.O.B. THE HIP-HOPERA
September 25 - October 1 at The 45th Street Theater
** as part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival **
"one of the best shows L.A. has seen in many years" -- Daily Variety
"sensational" -- LA Times
"Filled with intelligent humor, wicked rhymes, catchy music, spirited dance and a captivating story" -- Back Stage West
New York Musical Theatre Festival in association with Alex Kruglov & FDLT Productions presents the New York Premiere of J.O.B. THE HIP-HOPERA. With book and lyrics by Jerome Sable & Eli Batalion and music by Jerome Sable, Eli Batalion & Joe Barrucco, the production is co-directed by Stefan Novinski and Hassan Christopher. The LA Premiere was recently nominated for 3 LADCC Awards, 3 LA Weekly Awards and 3 Ticketholder Awards.
J.O.B. THE HIP-HOPERA spins around Hoover Records, the producer of the biggest, baddest hip-hop in the west. Here label president J. Hoover is pitted against his right hand man Job in a test of loyalty and friendship. Meanwhile in the jingle department, it's MC Cain against his brother and fellow rapper MC Abel in their struggle for success. It’s the Old (School) Testament retold as an allegory of contemporary corporate life in the music biz. Two stories. Two turntables. Ready? Remix...
Performances will be presented on the following schedule: Mon. Sep. 25 at 8pm / Weds. Sep. 27 at 8pm / Thurs. Sep. 28 at 4:30pm / Fri. Sep. 29 at 8pm and 10:30pm / Sun. Oct. 1 at 1pm. The 45th St. Theatre is located at 354 West 45th St bet 8th & 9th Aves. Tickets are $20, available at nymf.org.
J.O.B. THE HIP-HOPERA stars Jerome Sable & Eli Batalion in dual roles with support from an ensemble of breakers (Hassan Christopher, Marissa Labog and Aimee Zannoni), an RnB vocalist and a scratch DJ. The production features choreography by Hassan Christopher, sets by Donna Marquet, lighting by Steven Young, and sound by Joe Barrucco.
Jerome Sable and Eli Batalion (aka Sable & Batalion) are a writing/performing duo who have known each other since kindergarten and have been collaborating creatively for the last 13 years. The duo is best known for their award-winning work in musical theatre and hip-hop-based comedy. Originally from Montreal, they have performed all over the world at such places as the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (Scotland), the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and the Just For Laughs Festival. sableandbatalion.com.
Stefan Novinski‘s directing credits include Wreckage by Carida Svitch for New Dramatists, Sideways Stories at South Coast Repertory; Skin of Our Teeth at the Evidence Room (LA Weekly Award, Best Revival 2003); Cosmonaut's Last Message...(LA Weekly Awards for Direction and Best Production 2003); and Fen (Garland Award for DIrection). Stefan is a member of Lincoln Center Director's Lab.
Hassan Christopher's career spans nearly fifteen years, beginning as a Deep House freestyle artist in Chicago. A former student at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, he is founder of the Company of Strangers, and has become Dance Faculty at UCLA, Loyola Marymount University and The Edge Contemporary Dance Center in Hollywood. Some of his commercial credits include choreography for Britney Spears, Usher and Shakira.