(L-R) Drew Droege and Alison Arngrim, Photo Courtesy of BHBPR
Hankerin’ for an evening of theatrical rustic prairie livin’ infused with modern day Karaoke jams spanning that of the age of the modern LP—well any LP post Shaun Cassidy most likely? Come have a heapin’ helpin’ as a cast of known comedy compadres, and the girl who played Nellie—Oleson that is– take the stage for this singularly rich and dynamic extravaganza! Heck you might even find something retro in the musical itself, hearkening back to TV! The showcase in question: Pairie-Oke! Inspired by an ol’ skool television series, centered around a familiar family of founders who may or may not have taken up residency on a prairie, (but who somehow know the lyrics to the likes of Hippie Hippie Shake Shake, up to and including, what hippies are/were in the first place) this Dan Whitlock written and directed musical is sure to please!
Running three weekends from November 6th to the 22nd at the Cavern Club Theater in Silverlake the performance stars Nellie Oleson herself Aka Alison Arngrim for the very first weekend (November 6, 7, and 8th), along with a host of other singular and seasoned comedic performers. “It’s not often that I get to play my own mother,” Arngrim exclaims concerning her role as “Mrs. Moleson” based on—you guessed it–the ground breaking stage-(coach) mother to Arngrim’s original little bad girl Nellie Oleson.
From Frontiers Magazine’s confirmed “mash-up king” Dane Whitlock and additional creator of tuneful satires such as Are You There God, It’s Me Karen Carpenter and I (Totally) Know What you Did Last Donna Summer, Prairie-Oke!–like the former–is equally sure to play to much critical esteem!
“If you have not seen Prairie-Oke!, it’s pants-wettingly funny!,” Arngrim adds. “It’s a musical parody of an episode of Little House on the Prairie with 80’s rock tunes. All of the roles are gender appropriate except for (of course!) Nellie. Trust me, this is not to be missed!”
As declared by Arngrim’s ex-non-partner in preventable crime, Melissa Gilbert, aka Little House’s Laura Ingalls Wilder, it is, “The best ab workout I’ve ever had. I haven’t laughed that hard for that long in years. Run, don’t walk! You will not be disappointed!”
“Los Angeles Theatregoers recently went nuts for a musical satire called ‘Almond Grove’ (PRAIRIE-OKE!)” –New York Times
“Wonderfully funny…cannot be missed!” – Out.com
“Prairie Hysteria…an absolutely uproarious laugh-until-you-cry kind of show!” –LA I’m Yours
“Hilariously warped theatre mashup musical…the lively Prairie-Oke! Is as endearing as it is demented!” –HuffingtonPost.com
“If you have plans tonight, cancel them and go see this hysterical show!” – Frontiers.com
(L-R) Melanie Hudsell and Alison Arngrim, Photo Courtesy of BHBPR
Fortuitously available for the first three performances, Alison Argrim could be none the more fitting in the role of Mrs. Moleson! In response to her unforgettable bad girl role as Nellie Oleson she has had great success with her own book and one-woman show of the self same title: Confessions of a Prairie Bitch in answer to said deliciously ironic non-type casting. Performed to sold-out crowds in New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Green Bay, San Fransisco, Seattle and France, the book version itself is an additional force to be reckoned with as a noted New York Times Best Seller! Additionally, Arngrim has appeared at numerous Laura Ingalls Historical Events along with hosting “Nasty Nellie’s Tour of Hollywood” and consistently performs on stage and TV to this day.
Other comedians of note to appear in Prairie-Oke!:
Drew Droege—Recipient of Outfest Film Festival’s Special Programming Award for Emerging Talent, featured performer in OUT Magazine’s Out 100, one of LA Weekly’s 2012, “Top 10 Comedy Acts to Watch”, and actor in the wickedly popular web series Hollywood Acting Studio and Not Looking.
Along with Melanie Hudsell –Formerly of Second City and Saturday Night Live infamy, garnering her first big claim to fame satirically personifying “Jan Brady” at Chicago’s Annoyance Theatre in The Real Life Brady Bunch–a character she would later carry over to “SNL”. Other memorable sketch comedy roles from the original “Not-Ready-For-Prime-Time-Players”: Tri-Delt “Di”, Tori Spelling (the one with the flared nostrils and googley eyes), Monica Seles, and Tonya Harding. Other performances of note include appearances on/in Transparent, Bridesmaids, as parody-Paula Dean on The Food Network and a stage satire of The Golden Girls entitled Golden Girlz Live!
Prairie-Oke! runs Fridays and Saturdays at 9 pm and Sundays at 7 pm from November 6th to November 22nd.
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