Superman meets The 39 Steps in this hilarious and heartfelt new musical about the world's first superhero. 5 actors take on 50+ roles and make magic with good, old-fashioned stagecraft to tell the epic story of two brothers whose farm-town lives are upended when they discover they have superpowers -- and one of them is predestined to save their distant planet. Fears will be faced, villains will be battled, and love triangles will get messy in pursuit of that iconic question: Are true heroes born, or are they made?
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Up and Away’s world premiere was produced by PITTSBURGH CLO in January 2018 (director: Marlo Hunter). It had an extended sixteen-week run, and was the featured performance of the National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) Spring Conference. Up and Away was the first world premiere developed through Pittsburgh CLO’s Next Generation Initiative.
Prior to this, the show (formerly titled Super Hero) was produced as a staged reading by the MANHATTAN MUSICAL THEATRE LAB at the Snapple Theaterin New York in November 2014, and received an Anna Sosenko Assist Trust grant.
In January 2020, the show had its West Coast premiere at the BROADWAY ROSE THEATRE COMPANY in Portland, Oregon. The production was nominated for multiple Portland theatre awards, and won three.
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Jerry Jessup: Kind, smart, but fearful man who is happiest staying put on the farm, but will stop at nothing to protect the ones he loves. Also plays Rebel Warrior, Royal Council Member, Blind Nun, Beekeeper, and T-Rex.
Joe Jessup: Confident, strapping farm boy with childlike enthusiasm, clueless charm, and big ambitions. Also plays Royal Council Member, T-Rex and Pumpkin Head.
Susie Dare: Feisty but sweet jingle singer willing to go the extra mile to realize her dream to become a reporter. Also plays Royal Soldier, Beekeeper, T-Rex, and Pumpkin Head.
Player 1: Plays multiple roles, but primarily Ronak Fairchild (eccentric billionaire) and Mr. Malfeasance (evil genius magician). Also plays King Alien, BCN Radio Announcer, Sarah Dapper Cracker, Newsie 1, Vertigo, Conrad Jackson, Beekeeper, Cab Driver, T-Rex, Newsie 3, Henchman #1, Bank Teller 1, and Science Teacher.
Player 2: Plays multiple roles, but primarily Mother Jessup (unemotional, no-nonsense farm woman) and Roxie Moron (professional criminal’s moll). Also plays Queen Alien, Sally Dapper Cracker, Blind Nun, Police Officer, Laverne, Widow Cranky, Alfred, Cat Lady, Newsie 2, Reporter, Nun 2, Nun 3, Henchman #2, and Bank Teller 2.
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Director/Choreographer: Marlo Hunter
Music Direction: Doug Levine
Scenic & Prop Design: Reid Thompson
Costume Design: Leon Dobkowski
Lighting Design: Keith Truax
Orchestrations: Matt Castle & Frank Galgano
Fight Direction: Randy Kovitz
Dramaturg: Olivia O'Connor
Associate Director/Choreographer: Rainey Rowan
Production Stage Manager: Tim Brady
Produced by Pittsburgh CLO at The Greer Cabaret Theatre at Theatre Square
Orchestrations by Frank Galgano and Matt Castle
Comic book art by Vince Dorse
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World Premiere - Pittsburgh CLO 2018
“Nothing but praise for the ingenuity and polish of this show…With five actors, two pianos, a drum and a unit set, they have crafted a world that is at once comic-strip broad and full of authentic heart, smart enough for adults but clean enough for kids to enjoy together… Within ten years, mark my words: theatres around the country will be putting up, up, Up and Away in their black-boxes.”
— BroadwayWorld Pittsburgh
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“Catchy and clever… As much as Up and Away incorporates the tropes of superhero comics…it veers well onto its own course, with unexpected twists and turns and a wildly unexpected ending.”
— Pittsburgh Post Gazette
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“…One of the best productions at the CLO Cabaret in recent years…both clever and cute, comic and well sung, adeptly performed and well-conceived…if you like your musicals to be toe-tapping and tuneful as well as amusing and engaging, Up and Away hits many high notes on the entertainment spectrum.”
— Pittsburgh Owl Scribe
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John Wascavage and Erika Strasburg sing “Good News” on Pittsburgh Today Live, CBS Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh CLO presents…“Up and Away” with Michael Greer, Christine Laitta, Quinn Patrick Shannon, Erika Strasburg, and John Wascavage (plus Waseem Alzer and Julianna Avolio)
Photos provided by Pittsburgh CLO and Keith Truax.
Video provided by CBS Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh CLO.
Broadway Rose Theatre Company 2020
“It’s a marvel in the making…adorkable…buzzy, zippy fun…hilariously hummable…Up and Away proves you don’t need $75 million dollars to put on a memorable superhero musical.”
— The Oregonian
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“UP AND AWAY is a fast-moving, Bam! Pow! Splat! of a good time…”
— BroadwayWorld Portland
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“It is said that certain moments in your life are indelibly etched in memory – for me, add in the first time I saw the Beatles, Janis Joplin…Little Shop of Horrors…and now Broadway Rose’s production Up and Away. Yes, it is that funny…the exuberant, unapologetic silliness left me breathless…Unless you have zero tolerance for unrestrained fun, buy tickets now and treat yourself to a spectacular couple of hours.”
— Westside Theatre Reviews
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Photos by Sam Ortega.
Video provided by Broadway Rose Theatre Company.