POOR PEOPLE!

THE PARODY MUSICAL

Full Casting Announced! 

Hell in a Handbag Productions Presents the World Premiere of

POOR PEOPLE! The Parody Musical


By Tyler Anthony Smith


Directed by Stephanie Shaw


Music Direction by Andrew Milliken


Choreography by Christopher Kelley


May 2 – June 16, 2024 at The Chopin Theatre









































The cast of Hell in a Handbag Productions’ world premiere of POOR PEOPLE! The Parody Musical


includes (top, l to r) ensemble members David Cerda*, Sydney Genco*, Caitlin Jackson* and Elizabeth Lesinski*


(center, l to r) ensemble member Tyler Anthony Smith* with Matty Bettencourt, Brittney Brown and Taylor Dalton,


(bottom, l to r) Dakota Hughes, Patrick O'Keefe, Shane Roberie and Tommy Thurston.



CHICAGO (February 22, 2024) – Hell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to continue its 22nd season with the world premiere of POOR PEOPLE! The Parody Musical, an insane homage to many of the characters, songs and tropes of those very expensive Broadway and West End musicals about the less fortunate (Annie, Oliver!, Les Miz, Sweeney Todd... you get the gist). 

Written by ensemble member Tyler Anthony Smith* with direction by Stephanie Shaw, music direction by Andrew Milliken and choreography by Christopher Kelley



The cast includes ensemble members David Cerda*, Sydney Genco*, Caitlin Jackson*, Elizabeth Lesinski* and Tyler Anthony Smith* with Matty Bettencourt, Brittney Brown, Taylor Dalton, Dakota Hughes, Patrick O'Keefe, Shane Roberie and Tommy Thurston. Understudies include Connar Brown, Miguel Long, Halli Morgan and Brandon Nelson.



It’s 1979 in dangerous, smoky, glorious New York City. Our story’s red-headed protagonist Li’l Orphan Arnie (Dakota Hughes) is fleeing from the guardianship of a sex-starved, meth-cooking madwoman (Sydney Genco*). Out on the streets, they befriend a slinky dancing cat (Matty Bettencourt), who leads them to a magical manhole, transporting them back in time to Paris, France in 1815. Trading in one poverty-plagued lifestyle for another, Arnie gives up the desire to find their parents and joins forces with a gang of pick-pocketing prostitutes, led by the mysterious Fagin (David Cerda*).


Life becomes even more dire when Mama Moneybags (Brittney Brown), a corrupt Republican from the future, takes it upon herself to put Fagin’s troupe out of work. Thankfully, there’s a bounty of colorful, destitute characters to help save the day, such as the tuberculosis-ridden Pantene (Caitlin Jackson*), a feral Beggar Woman (Elizabeth Lesinski*) and Nance, the classic hooker with a heart of gold (Tyler Anthony Smith*). Will the sun come out tomorrow? Do you hear the people sing? Will we be changing all of the lyrics to avoid being sued? Yes!


Comments playwright Tyler Anthony Smith, "When I was in the fourth grade, I was supposed to be in the ensemble of our district's high school production of Oliver! I got sick, missed too many rehearsals, and was forced to exit the show. 

So not only is this Handbag's response to Apple TV's Schmigadoon!, it's also my revenge."


The production team includes G. "Max" Maxin IV (Scenic, Lighting and Projection Design), Rachel M. Sypniewski (Costume Design), Miranda Coble (Sound Design), Maggie O'Brien (Props Design), Jabberwocky Marionettes (Puppet Design), Keith Ryan* (Wig Design), Syd Genco* (Make-up Design), Michael S. Miller* (Graphic Design), Rick Aguilar (Photography), Jenna Raithel (Stage Manager), Veronica Kostka* (Assistant Stage Manager) and David Cerda* (Executive Producer).


*Denotes Handbag Ensemble Member

 

PRODUCTION DETAILS:

 

Title: POOR PEOPLE! The Parody Musical – World Premiere!

Playwright: ensemble member Tyler Anthony Smith*

Director: Stephanie Shaw

Music Director: Andrew Milliken

Choreographer: Christopher Kelley



Cast (in alphabetical order): David Cerda* (Fagin), Sydney Genco* (Miss A), Caitlin Jackson* (Pantene), Elizabeth Lesinski* (Beggar Woman) and Tyler Anthony Smith* (Nance) with Matty Bettencourt (Fosse Kitty), Brittney Brown (Mama Moneybags), Taylor Dalton (Epipen), Dakota Hughes (Li'l Orphan Arnie), Patrick O'Keefe (Twinky), Shane Roberie (The Groomer of the Flop'ra) and Tommy Thurston (Pretty Rich Boy). Understudies: Connar Brown, Miguel Long, Halli Morgan and Brandon Nelson.



Tickets go on sale Friday, March 1, 2024 

Previews: Thursday, May 2 at 8 pm, Friday, May 3 at 8 pm, Saturday, May 4 at 8 pm, 

Sunday, May 5 at 4 pm and Thursday, May 9 at 8 pm

Opening/Press performance: Friday, May 10 at 8 pm

Regular run: Saturday, May 11 – Sunday, June 16, 2024

Curtain Times: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm; Sundays at 4 pm.

Industry Night: Wednesday, June 12 at 8 pm

Tickets: $25 previews, $42 general admission, $60 VIP/reserved seating. Group rates $36 for 10 or more.  

 

About the Artists

Tyler Anthony Smith (Playwright)  is in show business. He/She/They is/is/are a proud Hell in a Handbag ensemble member. Lots of performing here and there, lots of writing this and that, lots of saying, “There's a hole in my crotch. Again.” Ms. Smith is not represented by any sort of talent agency. Instagram: @judithnightlight


Stephanie Shaw (Director) has presented her original solo performance work for a wide range of venues in the Chicago area, as well as NYC. An alumni member of the Neo-Futurists, she wrote and performed regularly for Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind for five years. She has directed a number of solo shows for Live Bait Theatre, The New York Fringe, Sweetback Productions, and the simple pleasure of Tyler Anthony Smith and his audiences. She directed Tyler’s FRANKENSTREISAND for Hell in a Handbag, and has directed for The Neo-Futurists, The New York Fringe, Oak Park Festival Theatre, MirrorBox Theatre (Cedar Rapids), and over a dozen plays and musicals for the theatre department of Columbia College Chicago, where she is a Professor of Instruction. Once upon a time, she was a theatre critic for The Chicago Reader.

 

Andrew Milliken (Music Director) has been a music director/pianist in the Chicago area since 2016. Previous credits with Hell in a Handbag include Poseidon! An Upside Down Musical, Bewildered and The Facts of Life: Satan’s School for Girls, for which he also composed the music with David Cerda.

 

Christopher Kelley (Choreographer) is a choreographer, dancer and teacher based in Chicago. Favorite performing credits include The Muny, Lyric Opera of Chicago, The Paramount, Marriott, Drury Lane, Porchlight and Timberlake Playhouse. Christopher was a company member of Chicago Repertory Ballet from 2020-2023. They have taught ballet and jazz at several studios around Chicago and are on faculty at Visceral Dance Chicago and CCPA. BFA in Music Theatre from CCM.



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