OkayBetterBest
A NEW MUSICAL
production history.
Originally conceived and produced as a stage play, OkayBetterBest premiered in Houston, Texas to critical acclaim in March 2013. In 2015, playwright Michael Weems and composer Rhonda Kess realized its amazing potential as a musical depicting the modern highs and lows of the single life and dating. The score, a mix of pop and musical theatre, accompanies the characters as the show asks: can revenge be acquired by jilted women as they mercilessly seek a patsy for one night? Tricia and her girlfriends are out on the prowl, rebounding from past heartbreak. When Tricia’s plans to find Mr. Right Now don’t go as planned, the evening becomes a more personal war. The concert will include selections from this new musical such as ‘One More Round’, ‘Plain Jane’, ‘Be Careful What You Wish For’, ‘Never Too Old to Rock n’ Roll” and others.
The first Equity workshop occurred in New York City in September 2015 under the direction of Hunter Foster (Tony-nominated actor for Little Shop of Horrors). The cast for this workshop featured the talents of Kenita Miller (Once on this Island), Cassie O'Kenka (School of Rock), Taylor Louderman (Tony-nominated for Mean Girls), Sara Cetrulo (Les Miserables), Josh Sassanella (Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark), Andrew Kober (School of Rock) and George Salazar (Godspell).
OkayBetterBest received an industry reading in New York City on December 4, 2015 at Ars Nova Loft. Hunter Foster again helmed this presentation. The reading featured Broadway vets Jason Gotay (Bring It On, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark), George Salazar (Godspell), Julia Mattison (Godspell), Elena Ricardo (Mamma Mia!), Christina Sajous (Holler If Ya Hear Me, American Idiot), Justin Matthew Sargent (Bonnie & Clyde, Rock of Ages), and Remy Zaken (Spring Awakening).
OkayBetterBest was then performed in concert at New York's Feinstein's/54 Below directed by Tony-nominated director Marcia Milgrom Dodge (for Ragtime). This cast included Stephanie Gibson (Cinderella), L'ogan J'ones (The SpongeBob Musical), Julia Mattison (Godspell), Eric William Morris (Be More Chill), Stephanie Jae Park (The King and I), and Ali Stroker (Spring Awakening) and Larry Owens (Spamilton). Photos below are from this production.
Most recently, OkayBetterBest was performed at Fullerton College in Fullerton, California as a concert presentation in December 2017. It was directed by Timothy Espinosa and the cast featured the following Fullerton College students: Mackenzie Hamilton (Tricia), Rhyan Belanger (Anne), Christianne Santiago (Jenny), Hasti Bakian (Eve), Fernando Cardenas (Martin), Emmanuel Madera (Leif) and Alex Ruiz (Chad).
Photos below are from this production and courtesy of Timothy Espinosa.
