CHICAGO - April 20th, 2018 Striking Out: A Gay Baseball Musical is two act musical about the first straight baseball player in a world where all professional athletes are gay. The show celebrates the LGBTQ community and our nations pastime while questioning the hypocrisy of professional sports.
The Chicago Otters ( a professional baseball team ) are in trouble. Their star player Lance Valentine has torn his acl, mcl, tibia, fibula, patella, meniscus, and in a medical first: melted his knee cap. The owners of the team refuse to pay for any more big contracts so management decides to have an open tryout. Iowa farm kid Jimmy Roberts would be perfect for such an opportunity- he wields a baseball bat like Thor does a hammer. There is only one problem: he's straight and deeply in love with his girlfriend Penny. Figuring that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, Jimmy decides to lie about his sexuality and convinces Penny to come along for the ride as his "sister" in pursuit of both their dreams. She wants to be a TV News personality like her idol Al Roker. Jimmy ends up making the team, but will life as a big city professional athlete with all its temptations, conniving agents, and money lead Jimmy and Penny down the wrong path? Will his secret come out?
Striking Out: A Gay Baseball Musical was created by two comedians Adam Levin and Ryan Ford. After noticing a theme of hypocrisy while watching hours of ESPN the two realized professional sports were right for satire. In terms of tone, think Hairspray meets Damn Yankees.
Striking Out: A Gay Baseball Musical opens Saturday April 28 and runs every Saturday at 8p.m. through June 16th on the MainStage at the Annoyance Theater 851 W. Belmont Avenue, Chicago. Tickets are $20 and $15 for students.
Tickets are available at The Annoyance Theatre box office or online at theannoyance.com .
The Annoyance Theatre is located at 851 W. Belmont. For more information please email Jennifer Estlin at jennifer@theannoyance.com or call 773.697.9693.