Straight down the center, boys. Look left. Guard the right.

The Unfortunates challenges its audiences, as it challenges  the characters that populate the strange, yet familiar, world of Big Joe and his community. The Unfortunates  is the musical that would happen if Dorothy took the red pill from Morpheus and followed Mr. Tumnus through the Looking Glass, and if Dorothy had giant fists. Presupposing a world at war, a world facing an unknown plague, this show uses the music of the American idiom, Gospel, Jazz, Blues, Folk, Rock, and Hip Hop, to express, and hopefully exorcise, the fears that we all share. Only when he faces his fears can Big Joe “Rise Up”. The same, likely, is true for the rest of us.

Created by Jon Beavers, Casey Hurt, Ian Merrigan and Ramiz Monsef, with additional material by Pulitzer Prize finalist Kristoffer Diaz (The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity), The Unfortunates was originally developed and produced by The Oregon Shakespeare Festival and later by American Conservatory Theater.
 

"The Unfortunates convinces us that any great challenge can be faced with dignity, grace, and compassion." - Oregon Shakespeare Festival

"There are rare times when live theater transcends reality and becomes believably magical. The Unfortunates... plays like a dream, a dream that plays into the hearts and souls of its characters and its audiences." - Herald and News

THE UNFORTUNATES is presented by special arrangement with Uproar Theatrics

www.UproarTheatrics.com

Opening Act Lineup

Given the styles music, and musicians, that have inspired this show we thought it would be a great idea to invite some local (and not so local) musicians to join us. We are so lucky to have the following lineup to present to you. All of our “openers” will begin playing approximately 30-45 minutes before curtain.

Friday March 4th (7:30pm start time) - Tidewater Brass Band: A traditional 6-piece New Orleans style brass band. Tidewater will present a set featuring the ultimate classics of the style, performed as they should be!!

Saturday March 5th - To Be Determined (we have a couple acts that we're talking with about this date, but if you know, or if you ARE, a band that might like to join us, reach out!)

Sunday March 6th (1:30pm start time) - The Mark Quinn Experience: Salesianum English Department stalwart Mark Quinn brings his signature style and harmonica driven hijinks to our stage. He play the harp, but he's no angel!

Friday March 11th (7:30 start time) - Kevin Clifford and Jonah Tolchin of Dharmasoul: Kevin is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and band leader from Princeton, NJ. He paid his dues playing in New Orleans before coming home, bringing his unique brand of blues, jazz, and funk inspired music with him. https://www.kevinclifforddrums.com/

Saturday March 12th (7:30 start time) - Roadside Trip: Pulled from players in the Sallies, Ursuline, Padua communities, this band may be just starting out, but they aim to please with selections from the classic American Jazz, Blues and Gospel, songbooks. 

Sunday March 13 (1:30 start time) - Instant Bingo: Led by Arts and Innovation Faculty Member Ben Drake this band is a Hyper-Folk-Rock band of family, and friends playing songs about movies we love and things we find beautiful, wacky-dacky, or true. https://instantbingojam.com/ 

Salesianum School Theater is proud to be presenting another season of theater. Our productions this year all connect to Salesianum's theme for the year, “Rise Up” and explore what communities, in the grip of trauma, have to do, together, to do just that.

Radium Girls, our fall play, explored how a community can respond to trauma by rising up and seeking justice.

The Unfortunates looks at how love can be what helps us to our feet, and allows to stand in the face of our gravest fears and darkest dangers.

After Juliet, our upcoming spring production, recognizes the resilience and strength of young people to do the right thing, even when it is the hardest thing, and how faith in the possibility of redemption, can pull you through.