About the Show The Crew | See the Show! Press | Giving Back Production History |
Written and performed by John Paul Karliak
Directed by Tiger Reel & Matthew Craig
Musical Direction by Billy Thompson & DJ ChocliXxX
About the Show
In this one-man musical comedy, writer/performer John Paul wants so badly to be the perfect son for his adoptive mother: a delicate Catholic housewife from Scranton. But as he realizes he can't be the ideal local boy, he seeks answers from a very different source: his fashion-writing, married-to-a-British-pop-star birth mother. Through stories, characters and song, John Paul tells of his quirky relationships with these wildly different women and how sometimes you have to meet a "Material Girl" to truly appreciate "America's Sweetheart."Donna/Madonna debuted at New York's Theatre Row in 2010, and has since grown from a personal love letter to John Paul's two mothers into a universal tale of the need for our parents' love and acceptance. Aided by the direction of Tiger Reel (LA's Action! Theatre) and Matthew Craig (writer, "SNL") and memorable musical arrangements and mash-ups by Billy Thompson (Invasion! The Musical) and club staple DJ ChocliXxX, this solo performance has garnered awards at every tour stop since its debut. Critics and audiences from New York to Los Angeles to San Francisco agree that Donna/Madonna is a hilariously witty yet family-friendly tale that anyone should see... especially with mom.
"GO! Karliak's execution is top-drawer. His delivery is brisk but unrushed, his sense of humor, contemplative but unsentimental. Inhabiting the skin of his drastically different mothers, Karliak's range is gleefully apparent." - LA WEEKLY"Brief musical numbers are peppered throughout, and Karliak fabulously basks under the stage lights in these utterly entertaining moments." - NYTHEATRE.COM
See the Show!
| No Performances Scheduled. Stay tuned! |
Press
08/01/12 - Sheena Metal Interview, LA Talk Radio (starts at 68:00)
08/26/11 - REVIEW - Rebecca Bernard, Show Business Weekly
08/20/11 - REVIEW - Adrienne Urbanski, Theatre Is Easy
08/19/11 - REVIEW - Robert Windeler, Backstage (NY) *CRITIC'S PICK*
08/18/11 - REVIEW - Julie Congress, NYTheatre.com
08/03/11 - REVIEW - Neal Weaver, Backstage (LA) *CRITIC'S PICK*
07/25/11 - REVIEW - Amy Lyons, LA Weekly *GO!*
07/20/11 - REVIEW - Kevin P. Taft, FrontiersLA
07/08/11 - REVIEW - Steven Stanley, StageSceneLA.com *WOW!*
07/07/11 - REVIEW - Gil Kaan, CultureSpotLA.com
07/01/11 - Sheena Metal Interview, LA Talk Radio (starts at 67:00)
06/20/11 - LA Stage Times - First Person: "The Real Housewife of Scranton"
06/29/11 - Interview with Steve Julian
Giving Back
Originally written as a love letter to my two mothers, Donna/Madonna has since become a love letter to all those seeking acceptance in their families. Thus, I am committed to benefitting organizations that assist young people in that mission.
Production History
May 2010 - Celebration Theatre (first full reading)
July 2010 - iO West (reading)
Aug 2010 - Celebration Theatre (workshop production)
Nov 2010 - 2010 United Solo Theatre Festival* (world premiere)
June 2011 - The Marsh San Francisco (west coast premiere)
July 2011 - The Lounge, Los Angeles (LA premiere)
August 2011 - New York International Fringe Festival+
September 2011 - San Francisco Fringe Festival#
October 2011 - Atlantis Events, Mexican Riviera Cruise
July 2012 - The Lyric Theatre, Los Angeles
August 2012 - Chance Theater, Anaheim
October 2012 - Gorilla Tango Theatre - Chicago
*Best One Man Show Award
+Overall Excellence in Solo Performance
#Best of Fringe Award
