An exciting new creative collaboration between independent film and independent theater begins this June at Fringe Festival with an adaptation of the indie cult classic comedy horror film Hell’s Kitty! The Los Angeles theatre company New Musicals Inc. (NMI) and the entertainment production company Smart Media have teamed up to present HELL’S KITTY: The Musical is a comedy, horror musical based on the original award-winning Hell’s Kitty web-series, comic book, and movie. There’s even a musical exorcism of a cat sung mostly in Latin, with “Exorcismus Feline,” and the theme song from the film sung in ensemble humorously titled “My Pussy’s Possessed.”
Unlike the movie, the musical is more of an unrequited love story involving a lonely, struggling writer, who blames his cat for his lack of inspiration, not knowing that his cat is possessed by someone from his past. The musical like the movie, which attracted horror fans and cat lovers alike, with its uncanny array of iconic cult figures from classic eighties horror films, hopes to develop the story line further by adding new musical performances, and expanding off of what began in the film with Dale Midkiff (Pet Sematary) performing a parody of Frank N’ Furter in drag. This time, however, the actors will really be singing!
Adapted for the stage by Hell’s Kitty writer/director and star, Nicholas Tana, HELL’S KITTY: The Musical is a collaborative contribution between Nicholas Tana and Alexa Borden, a Los Angeles based composer, who arranged most of the music while Tana contributed to the lyrics and melody. Other musical contributors include Richard Albert, a German based film composer, who also worked on the film and web-series, and Spanish born composer, Miguel Coiz. The song “Chainsaw Kitty,” written by Richard Albert and Nicholas Tana, was an American Tracks Winner for Best Song in a Film in 2018 and will appear in the musical to be directed by veteran musical theater director, Denis McCourt.
The HELL’S KITTY: The Musical story centers on a fictionalized account of Mr. Tana’s precarious relationship living with his possessive and possessed cat named Angel, and his inability to date as a result. While the musical numbers move the plot along at an entertaining pace, Nick’s initial denial of his cat’s more nefarious, supernatural tendencies (Imagine Stephen King’s Carrie as a Cat) fades away, once he realizes that buried within the cute, cuddly cat resides someone far more sinister. The musical provides fresh insights into the lead antagonist, Rosemary Carrie, who is to be played by seasoned performer, Matt Valle. The quality cast also includes Joey Hunt as Nick, Isabel Caxide, as Angel, Patrick Steward as Adam, Maeve Osgood as Lisa, and Gina Mora as Dr. Strode, with costume design by Michael Muellen, and choreography by John Paul Batista.
CREATOR’S QUOTES
“At its core, HELL’S KITTY: The Musical is a tragic love story about an artist’s struggle to find inspiration amidst chaos, loneliness, and confusion. The music ranges from pop/rock to contemporary musical theatre, with song styles reminiscent of Tin Pan Alley’s burlesque and cabaret sounds; speckled with creepy meow choruses that remind the listener first and foremost that HELL’S KITTY: The Musical, is meant to entertain. There’s something in it for everyone, whether you like cats or not. And I’m pleased with the caliber of talent who’ve agreed to participate. But don’t take my word for it, come experience it for yourself.”
Tickets can be purchased at The Broadwater Theater or online: BUY TICKETS.
DATES:
1st Preview: Sunday, June 9 at 10:30pm
2nd Preview: Thursday, June 13 at 8pm
Opening: Friday, June 14 at 10pm
2nd Show: Friday, June 21 at 10:30pm
3rd Show: Saturday, June 22 at 10pm
4th Show: Friday, June 28 at 9:30pm
5th Show: Saturday, June 29 at 9pm
LOCATION:
The Broadwater Theater
1078 Lillian Way, Los Angeles, CA 90038
SAMPLE SONGS TITLES:
EXORCISMUS FELINE
I LIKE PETS
LOVE IS A SIMPLE EMOTION
MY PUSSY’S POSSESSED
HELL’S KITTY: The Musical has a run time of 70 minutes.
For more information, visit https://hellskitty.com/.
ABOUT NEW MUSICALS INC. (NMI)
New Musicals Inc. (NMI) is an established theater organization responsible for hosting many programs supporting new musicals in development. The theatre company develops several dozen musicals each year for producers and writers all around the country through table readings, workshops, concerts, and occasional productions, with its academic wing, the prestigious Academy for Musical Theatre, offering courses both online and live in Los Angeles for professional musical theatre writers. The Academy for Musical Theatre has been around for more than 40 years since its inception as the Lehman Engel Musical Theater Workshop, and has helped hundreds of writers and producers launch thousands of musicals. Furthermore, NMI sponsors several widely attended nationwide events, including Stages Musical Theatre Festival, the Search for New Musicals, the New Voices Project, and a biennial Conference on the Biz of the Musical Theatre Biz. The Incubator at NMI is a workshop/playground for musical theatre. Whether you’re creating a musical from scratch — or if it’s already underway — NMI offers a complete process for developing a musical.