Tim Hur
in association with Ryan J. Davis and Jeffery Self
present
a special concert performance of
BIG TENT
The Tammy Faye Bakker Musical
Written and Conceived by Jeffery Self
Music and Lyrics by Ben Cohn and Sean McDaniel
Directed by Jeffery S. Self
Wednesday, May 23rd at 8PM
New World Stages (on the set of ALTAR BOYZ)
Featuring a cast of ten and a four piece rock band!
A cultural icon for more than thirty years, Tammy Faye Bakker’s phenomenal rise from farm girl to evangelist superstar has finally been put onstage with a terrific pop-country score. Her unique style has made her beloved by mainstream Christians, as well as by gays and other outsiders whom she welcomed under her “big tent.†In this ninety minute, six character musical, we follow Tammy as she fights to maintain her dignity amidst sex and business scandals. Her perseverance in the face of private tragedy and public ridicule has made her a testament to the endurance of the human spirit.
Casting info will be announced soon!
It's FREE! Please RSVP at [email protected]
BIG TENT was conceived by Jeffery Self, and is directed by Ryan J. Davis, featuring music and lyrics by Ben Cohn and Sean McDaniel, and a book by Jeffery Self.
Ben Cohn and Sean McDaniel have been writing together for six years. They attended New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts Graduate Musical Theatre Writing program.  Their musical Owl Creek has been seen in NYC workshops, and was produced at Ithaca College.  Currently in development: White Noise, Project Bluebook, and the untitled Tammy Faye Bakker Musical.  Ben is currently the Assistant Conductor and Pianist for Wicked.  Other Broadway credits include Spelling Bee, Woman in White, In My Life, and Wonderful Town.  He is the Musical Supervisor and Arranger for White Noise.  Ben attended Ithaca College.  Sean is currently the drummer for Monty Python’s Spamalot.  Other Broadway credits include Wicked, Lion King, Avenue Q, Aida, Les Miserables, Millie, Fiddler, Nine, Assassins, Wonderful Town, Producers, and Rent.
He also plays for Audra McDonald. Â Sean attended The University of North Texas.
Jeffery Self had assisted such Tony Award winning directors as Joe Mantello and Melvin Bernhardt before he could legally vote. Most recently, he wrote books and lyrics for Definition of a Housewife, with Joshua Morgan, which received workshop productions at Columbia University and Montclair Music Theater this past summer. His work has been produced by such regional companies as the Horizon Theater in Atlanta, Georgia and Artists Collective in Los Angeles, CA. For a very brief time he attended the drama school at North Carolina School of the Arts.
Ryan J. Davis recently conceived & directed the critically acclaimed hit musical, 'White Noise' at the New York Musical Theatre Festival. Hailed as "Much-talked-about" and "Provocative!" by The New York Times, it was one of the few shows not only to extend their run, but sell it out entirely. 'White Noise' was featured on the national network televisions shows 'Good Morning America' and 'ABC Primetime Live.' In New York, he also directed 'Grace Falls' (FringeNYC 2006), 'Genius Famous' (FringeNYC 2005), as well as numerous other productions. Regionally, he directed a "spectacular production" (City Paper) of 'Hedwig & The Angry Inch' in Rochester, NY. As an Assistant Director Off-Broadway, he contributed to 'Jacques Brel Is Alive...' (dir. Gordon Greenberg), 'If You Give A Mouse A Cookie…' (dir. Kevin Del Aguila), ‘The Secret Garden’ (dir. Stafford Arima) and ‘Slut’ (dir. Gordon Greenberg).
    Ryan was a national staffer on Howard Dean's Presidential Campaign and this election cycle he was a consultant on Mark Green's Attorney General Campaign. In 2004 he directed progressive commercials for BlogPac.org, which were honored by The American Association of Political Consultants.
