“BECAUSE IT’S SUNNY IN L.A. (Especially On Skid Row)”

WRITER & PRODUCER THADDEUS NAGEY

RISKING EVERYTHING TO MAKE AN IMPACT

ON THE HOMELESS EPIDEMIC IN CALIFORNIA

“BECAUSE IT’S SUNNY IN LA (Especially On Skid Row)”

LOS ANGELES, CA (April 27 2023) – Thaddeus Nagey, in his debut as an Equity Musical Theatre Producer and Union Playwright, is pulling out all the stops for his world premiere of BECAUSE IT’S SUNNY IN L.A. (Especially On Skid Row). The show is set to open June 3rd at The Hudson Backstage Theatre.

This project was created from years of personal experiences with homelessness and Nagey is determined to truly make a positive difference in the world and create safe places for marginalized people to have a powerful voice in our communities.

A landmark musical play that culturally addresses the systemic homelessness humanitarian crisis in L.A..

The three-act immersive dark comedy musical, is a play designed to culturally inspire change and the way people think and feel about homelessness. Thousands a year die from issues of homelessness. This play is about the severe nature of homelessness in L.A. Following five homeless characters and their stories living on Skid Row in Los Angeles.

THE TEAM

Directed by Karesa McElheny

Playwright, Composed and Executive Produced by Thaddeus Nagey

Composer and Sound Design by Tim Poulin

Musical Direction by Garth Herberg

Poster Art and Graphic Design by AwildOun

Sound Design by Tim Poulin

Lighting & Visual Design and Set & Costume Design by Thaddeus Nagey

THE REASON WHY I WROTE AND PRODUCED THIS PLAY

“I first started writing this playbook in 2018, (not actually knowing I would write a full length play) as a long poem describing the experience of what it was like to process & honor human remains (and the humanity that comes with it) in the Air Force during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. I had just come out of homelessness & hospitalization in 2016 & went through bridge & section 8 housing, leading up to and during graduate theatre school. While attending, I learned that a staggering 53,000 enrolled CSU students were homeless. Subsequently, I got involved as an acting coach, stage manager, & writer, helping skid row artists in downtown L.A. as a volunteer and intern. I became attuned to the issues of homelessness through personal experience, academic studies, & hands on working with artists that were suffering from poverty and homelessness. Without a lot of support, I started writing poetry, scenes and music and submitted them to the Kennedy Center College Theatre Festival in 2019 & was personally invited to the festival, subsequently winning a BEST PLAY award at the Festival. Ultimately, I wrote this play because I wanted people to learn about the issues of homelessness in a compassionate way through theatre, a form of community engagement, where people drop their guards, listen, & open up their hearts & minds.”

VENUE / PERFORMANCES / TICKETS

The Hudson Backstage Theatre – 6539 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA. 90038.

The show will open June 3 – 24, 2023.

$35 for V.I.P. Premium Seating with a special program (Front rows, first three rows seating). $30 General Admission | $25 for Seniors/Students/Veterans with ID at box office, one hour prior to showing.

Tickets: http://www.onstage411.com/sunnyla

NOTE: Special Events / Talkbacks
Sat, June 3rd @ 5pm-8pm with talkback & special guest. (Press Night).

Sat, June 17th @5pm with talkback & special guest.

Sun, June 18th @630pm (Father’s Day Special Event) with talkback and special guest.

Note To Media: Press are invited to June 3rd or any available performance!

BIO’S

Thaddeus Nagey** – “James” also Playwright, Co-Composer, Executive Producer, Set Design, Visual and Lighting Design, et al.

Hailing from showbiz since 1984, Thaddeus grew up backstage and is a Union Playwright, Composer, Actor, and Realtor in the Los Angeles Metropolitan area. He experienced over nine years of homelessness throughout his life, starting in childhood. He is also a disabled Jewish U.S. military veteran and holds a few college degrees, most recent, an M.A. in Theatre Arts from California State University, Northridge. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild, SAG-AFTRA, Actors’ Equity, ASTR, National Association of Realtors, C.A.R. & SRAR. www.thaddeusnagey.com

** EQUITY

CALENDAR LISTING INFORMATION

LifeStyle and Special Events Theatre Areas: North Hollywood, Metropolitan Los Angeles, Los Feliz, Eagle Rock, Glendale, Burbank, Toluca Lake, Hollywood,West Hollywood, Beach Communities, San Gabriel, San Fernando Valley, Thousand Oaks & Simi Valley

WHAT: BECAUSE IT’S SUNNY IN L.A. (Especially On Skid Row)

A landmark musical play that culturally addresses the systemic homelessness humanitarian crisis in L.A..

A THREE-ACT immersive dark comedy musical, the play is designed to culturally inspire change and the way people think and feel about homelessness. Thousands a year die from issues of homelessness. This play is about the severe nature of homelessness in L.A. Follows 5 homeless characters and their stories living on Skid Row in Los Angeles.

CAST: Veve Melendrez**, emelle**, Thaddeus Nagey**, Iron Donato and two additional TBC

PRODUCTION TEAM: Directed by Karesa McElheny, Written & Produced by Thaddeus Nagey, Composed by Tim Poulin & Thaddeus Nagey, Musical Direction by Garth Herberg, Poster Art and Graphic Design by AwildOun, Sound Design by Tim Poulin,

Light & Visual Design by Thaddeus Nagey and Set & Costume Design by Thaddeus Nagey

WHEN: June 3rd – 24th, 2023, 2023

Performances will be Sat. Jun 3 @5PM | Fri. Jun 9 @8:30PM | Sat. Jun 10 @3:30PM |

Sat. Jun 17 @5PM | Sun. Jun 18 @6:30PM | Fri. Jun 23 @8:30PM | Sat. Jun 24 @5:30PM

Ticket Pricing:

$35 for V.I.P. Premium Seating with a special program (Front rows, first three rows seating). $30 General Admission

$25 for Seniors/Students/Veterans with ID at box office, one hour prior to showing.

Online tickets: www.onstage411.com/sunnyla

VENUE:

The Hudson Backstage Theatre
6539 Santa Monica Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA. 90038

Los Angeles Journal

LAJ ARTICLES

“BECAUSE IT’S SUNNY IN L.A. (Especially On Skid Row)”

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