Hi, I'm Minnie McGee. All I ever wanted was to be the female David Bowie. And I was so close it was not to be believed. Then one day I woke up in a cubicle, and it turned out I'd been here for over 4 years. How (the hell) did I get here? HELP! HELP!
MISSION STATEMENT:
Cube Rat’s objective is to help bridge the gap between what people think their lives should be, and what they are, hopefully without inciting too many suicides.
SYNOPSIS:
Minnie McGee wants more than life itself to be the female David Bowie. She has trained and prepared her whole life for this calling when one day, somehow as if she fell through a wormhole, she finds herself typing in a cubicle, four years later!
BIOS:
DANA McCOY - Co-author, Songwriter, Minnie McGee
Dana McCoy is what's commonly referred to as a lifer. She was born singing and dancing, has trained in all the disciplines of performance since then; Ballet, Modern and Jazz at the North Carolina School of the Arts, Musical Theatre training at Boston Conservatory, then the Cleo Lane Vocal Scholarship and Berklee Grant to study composition, voice and performance at Berklee College of Music.
Since school Dana has toured as a singer/songwriter and performer in the US, UK and Europe, been a staple on the New York City music scene singing in recording studios and clubs, and as one might expect, her live shows always include various forms of dance.
In the 1990's Dana opened her own music company, Featherweight Productions, and produced her first solo album (Taking Shape, available on iTunes) that went on to become a Billboard Editor’s choice for Album of the Year. As creative director of Featherweight, Dana produces CDs, films, songs for herself and other artists, music for fashion shows, film and commercials, has written and performed in several Rock Musicals, and in the process, completely forgot to have kids. Samples of her work can be found at: www.danamccoy.com
GORDON STEWART – Co-author
It’s no wonder Gordon Stewart was drawn to direct Cube Rat once one considers his strikingly unusual mix of artistic, business and political experience.
Before, during and after getting an MFA in directing from Yale Drama School, Gordon directed and/or conducted some 30 productions. They include the premiers of Cowboy Mouth by Sam Shepherd and Patti Smith, and Sleep by Jack Gelber, (both at the Edinburg Festival) Jesse and the Bandit Queen for Joseph Papp at the Public Theatre, and was the original director for the Elephant Man production that moved to Broadway as Gordon went to become principal Speechwriter for President Jimmy Carter. Earlier he had been chief speechwriter and executive assistant for programs and policies to New York City Mayor, John Lindsay (and still directing in the hours away from his day jobs.)
A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Oberlin College, Mr. Stewart also holds a master's degree from the University of Chicago; a certificate in theatre and music from the University of Vienna; and a master's in fine arts from the Yale University Drama School. Mr. Stewart is a member of the WGA, West, The Century Association and is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
GRETCHEN CRYER - Director
Gretchen Cryer is best known for writing the book and lyrics and starring in "I'm Getting My Act Together and Taking It On the Road" with music by Nancy Ford. The show was originally produced in New York City by Joseph Papp's Public Theater followed by a 3-year run at the Circle in the Square, and hundreds of subsequent productions here and abroad. In Chicago the show won the Joseph Jefferson Award for the Best Musical and Gretchen won the Best Actress Award. The cast album won a Grammy nomination. Gretchen has written numerous other shows with Nancy Ford - "Now Is the Time for All Good Men," (off-Broadway) "The Last Sweet Days of Isaac," (Obie Award - Best Musical, Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award) and countless others. She has recorded 2 albums for RCA, starred on Broadway in her own Cabaret Act, is a member of the Dramatist Guild Council, is President of the Dramatist Guild Fund.PROJECT HISTORY:
So Dana, while running amuck in the financial district overhears Mr. Stewart telling some admirers about his many adventures in business, politics and the arts. It was the phrase, “I’m seeking a new outlet for my megalomania†that caught her ear and she chimed straight in. “I think I can help you there, sir.†The two became fast friends with a great deal to connect them, what with both being artists navigating the ivory towers and marble entrances and generally feeling-free environment of Corporate America.
The two met in Gordon’s corner office a couple of times a week (Dana’s cubicle didn’t seem appropriate) and together they developed the story for Cube Rat. Dana collected some great musicians and the first workshop performances of Cube Rat took place on July 12th and 13th, 2007 at SIR, a professional rehearsal studio in Chelsea.
They were surprised by the level of emotion these audiences displayed. The show is supposed to be a comedy, but many people reported that they cried several times during the show. Was Dana that bad? Thought Gordon.
With the continued urging of the initial members of the audience, the two determined they must press on with this thing. Apparently there’re an untold number of people suffering, much like Minnie McGee, in the knowledge that they're way too big a star to be working a punk-ass job like the one they presently possess. Gordon and Dana now realize that the message of their story-- life is humiliating and we’re all disappointed-- is very healing, and should be brought to as many people as possible in the hopes of helping them find comfort in the misery of the masses.
Fortunately for all, Gretchen Cryer was a member of that first audience, and had many inspired ideas for the development of CUBE RAT, so with her guidance, the play was workshopped for five performances in Summer '08 as part of New York's Pillowfight Theatre Festival at The Theatres @ 45 Bleecker Street. These performances consistently received standing ovations and the project was awarded "Outstanding Play of the Festival.
The 45 Bleecker Street Theatre have invited the play to showcase this winter, dates will be posted here.Hope to see you then.
