[The New Colony]

The New Colony continues its amazingly successful first year in Chicago with "Tupperware: An American Musical Fable". Brought to you by the writing team of "Love is Dead: A Necromantic Musical Comedy" (2008 NYC Fringe Best Music and Lyrics), this world premiere musical is set to make a big splash when it premieres next week at La Costa Theater, 3931 N Elston, Chicago 60618.

Dolores, a young widow in 1950 longing for her independence, is disrupted from her plans to move from Florida when opportunity knocks at her front door. Literally. Suddenly, Dolores finds herself selling a few hours of independence to the women on her cul de sac in the form of Tupperware. As her success spirals out of control, it gives birth to heated neighborhood politics, the loss of her own freedom to the empire she is helping build, and a movement that changed the face of the American dinner table forever.

To listen to songs from the show, see the trailer, read the online playbill and more: visit www.thenewcolony.org/tupperware

The show has an industry opening on Monday July 13. It will run Thurs-Sun at 7:30pm July 16-August 9.

[kozafluitmusique]

.........Tupperware?

The musical?!?!?

[Breena]

Seriously?

[andrewhobgood]

Hi! I'm one of the writers on Tupperware. And yep - we're 100% serious. (We've gotten that reaction a lot over the last year. haha)

Though it's probably not what you're thinking. The title might sound like a silly, 50's spoof - but it's actually a historical reimagining of when Brownie Wise (the creator of the Tupperware Party) moved to Kissimmee, FL with the intention of (almost subversively) helping women gain their independence in a male-dominated world. Tupperware was a catalyst for many women of that time to develop not only a stream of income, but to become the major bread-winner for her family. In many cases, their husbands quit their jobs to work with their wives as essentially an entrepreneurial small business team. Something that most people DON'T associate with the 50's.

So while the musical does feature colorful, burping bowls (and cups, trays, bundt cake pans, salt and pepper shakers, etc) throughout - it's really the story of how something as simple as a plastic bowl gave women the opportunity to gain independence, and the risks and fears that came with this radical change in the traditional American Family paradigm.

[andrewhobgood]

This week's New City Chicago feature article in the arts section was about Tupperware. You can read it at:
http://newcitystage.com/2009/07/06/plastics-and-process-the-new-colony-throws-a-tupperware-party/

And the Chicago Sun-Times just recommended us as well:
http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/stage/1659602,WKP-News-call10North.article

Also - if anyone has any questions about the show (I love shop-talk, particularly about new musicals and writing them) - my email is andrew(dot)hobgood(at)thenewcolony(dot)org

Thanks!
- Andy

[The New Colony]

Tupperware runs for three more weekends so if you are in the Chicago area, come on out and see us! Tickets are at thenewcolony.org/tupperware

Chicago Tribune- "...it's a mark of the company's versatility; "Tupperware" is a far cry from the infantile boys club portrayed in "Frat," New Colony's hit from the spring, but there's an underlying sensibility that ties the works together. This is a group savvy about gender dynamics and pop culture...the production has a bright comic heart and the feminist soul of Betty Friedan wrapped with a bow inside a blues-inflected score. Recommended!"

Talkin Broadway- "This little show could have a very bright future...the score is as good as many of the new musicals that have opened on Broadway in recent years."

TimeOut Chicago- "... this production features wit and talent sharp enough to more than win over even the most showtune-skeptical... as gorgeously sung as it is richly scribed."
4 OUT OF 5 STARS!

Edge Chicago- "The New Colony has delivered a winning new musical that I hope has a life beyond this production... Highly Recommended!"

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