Pat Tuesday: Introducing The Cast of BIG BEAR
here we go!!!!
WOW, BIG CAST REVEAL DAY.
As you know from joining this newsletter, I am producing a play I’ve written and will be directing this October in Los Angeles. The play is called BIG BEAR, and it features an ensemble of nine friends who fall into chaos in that very particular hour-and-a-half between waking up on the last day of a group trip and needing to clean the house before a strict 11am AirBnB checkout time.
If you want to watch this show (in LA or from home)—and/or you want to support independent art and theater and creation, please do this for me so that you are kept in the loop when tickets are available…
Click “Notify me on Launch” on the Kickstarter!
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Now, back to the cast!
I wanted to build a cast of people I love, and people that you love. And specifically, a group of people that will be a dream to work with. And to reveal the cast, I chose to post it in person. But since you’re not in LA, take a look at here, on an electrical box in North Hollywood:
INTRODUCING THE CAST OF BIG BEAR
(in no particular order, they’re all important)
GREG - JOEY RICHTER
Also a STARKID superstar, Joey and I know each other mostly from seeing movies together—it’s a dream. So for the film bro, it’s gotta be Joey. Also, Joey and Lauren are a real couple, so to have them play a fake couple is just gonna rock.
MYKEL - CHRIS RENFRO
Hot off a run as Mary’s Teacher in “Oh, Mary!” on BROADWAYYYY, Chris is back in LA and is playing the most complicated, lovable, detestable, and sympathetic character in the whole show. They are such an incredible theatre performer, and I’m so excited to see them explode this entire show to bits.
LOU - PATRICK MCDONALD
I weighed casting myself in this show deeply. Hell, I still might replace myself. But I’m excited for the challenge, and the character is very personal to me for a lot of reasons. Here’s hoping it doesn’t kill me <3
STU - JON MATTESON
Jon (STARKID) is the reason is this play is happening. I coincidentally ended up on a flight with him back from Nashville on New Year’s Day, and I was telling him about this play I wrote 4 years ago I was thinking about doing. He told me to go for it. And at a very special table read when I first unearthed this to see if it was legible, Jon read Stu and it was literally kismet. He’s (unfortunately) born to play this role. It’s gonna be transcendent.
HELENE - EMILY SKEGGS
You know her as a Tony nominee from “Fun Home” and a cult celebrity from “Dinner In America”—I know her as a friend from college and incredible gardener who has always just been the coolest possible person. Working with her is a balm for the soul, and she’s gonna be bringing such heart and pain to this role—it’s gonna be unreal.
MICHAELA - KIMIA BEHPOORNIA
You’ve seen Kimia in Dropout and “Abby’s” and “Atypical” and a million commercials, but she’s one of the most singular people you’ve ever met. As Michaela, she’s the outsider that the rest of the group dares to dislike—so we needed someone you can’t help but love. She’s also the funniest and deeply in love with theater like all of us.
ANNABELLE - ANGELA GIARRATANA
From Dropout to SMOSH to Starkid, Angela is one of the most beloved people in all of the internet—so I figured it was time for her to play the worst friend all of us have. Our shared love of theater is one of the binding ties of our friendship (we created MAMMA MIA! BUT DIFFERENT just to make something), and there’s no way I’m doing a show without her. You’re not ready for this transformation.
DEENA - VIC MICHAELIS
From VIP on Dropout and a Hallmark movie and a soon-to-be Apple TV mega-hit, you already love Vic. They are such a joy to work with, because if they wanna do it, they make it happen no matter what. When I asked Vic to do this show, they agreed—sight unseen. And as the only common sense person in this whole ensemble, they’re going to make you laugh more than anyone—and that’s a tall order.
And there’s your friends! I can’t wait to tell you more about this incredible show! As the process gets underway, I’ll be updating on this email thread—and if you don’t want to miss the big launch, please click “Notify me on Launch” on the Kickstarter - right here right now!
Love you! Goodbye!
Patrick
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MEANWHILE, SOME MORE FUN THINGS TO CHECK OUT…
PAT’S PROJECTS
HAVIN’ A DAY WITH JON MATTESON AND MARIAH ROSE FAITH - we made lemonade in my car—it was a disaster
AOAOAOA LIVE! AT DYNASTY THIS SUNDAY, JULY 20TH - come see the improvised Hollywood roundtable podcast live, or watch via livestream!
PAT’S PICK
SKELETONS BY THE SEA by Taylor Ashton - Just a sweet little ditty about enjoying the beach on a sunny day, no matter the skin you’re in. Good lil summer vibes for every body.