Jerry Springer The Opera
The London Sensation!
Extended! Now through June 7!
Music by Richard Thomas
Book and Lyrics by Stewart Lee & Richard Thomas
Directed by Paul Daigneault
The only work in history to earn "Best Musical" honors from all four major British award groups, Jerry Springer - The Opera is a fascinating mix of high art and low culture. Witness America's favorite talk show host as he suffers the worst day of his career in the funniest, most talked-about musical ever.
Recommended for mature audiences. Contains adult language and frank sexual content.
With: Michael Fennimore, Amelia Broome, Kerry A. Dowling, Luke Grooms, Brian Richard Robinson, and Timothy John Smith.
Running time: 2:20 including one 15-minute intermission
Articles:
Read Suzanne Bixby's interview with show creator Richard Thomas
Jerry Springer, the Opera? Read Richard Dyer's assessment of why Jerry Springer is indeed an opera.
Here's what the local press has to say:
"Jerry Springer: The Opera ... is, in fact, not only an opera but a clever - and sometimes more than clever – PIECE OF ART. By turns HILARIOUS and THOUGHT-PROVOKING, obscene and moral, it both amuses and instructs. But mostly amuses." –Louise Kennedy, Boston Globe
"BRASSY, OFFENSIVE and HILARIOUS, and I wouldn’t have it any other way." –Jenna Scherer, Boston Herald
"One of the most REFRESHINGLY ORIGINAL and GENUINELY FUNNY theatrical productions of the young 21st century." –Iris Fanger, Quincy Patriot Ledger
"There has never been anything quite like this WILD RIDE!" –Carolyn Clay, Boston Phoenix
"An UNFORGETTABLE theatrical experience... INSANELY FUNNY!" –Donn Saylor, Theater Examiner
"It is absolutely THE MOST OFFENSIVE SHOW in Boston and you'll RELISH every minute of it!" –Larry Murray, BerkshireFineArts.com
May 2009
Click a showtime below to purchase tickets.
| SUN | MON | TUE | WED | THU | FRI | SAT |
| APR 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | MAY 1 8:00 PM |
2 4:00 PM 8:00 PM |
| 3 3:00 PM |
4 | 5 | 6 7:30 PM |
7 7:30 PM |
8 8:00 PM |
9 4:00 PM 8:00 PM |
| 10 3:00 PM |
11 | 12 | 13 7:30 PM |
14 7:30 PM |
15 8:00 PM |
16 4:00 PM 8:00 PM |
| 17 3:00 PM |
18 | 19 | 20 7:30 PM |
21 7:30 PM |
22 8:00 PM |
23 4:00 PM 8:00 PM |
| 24 3:00 PM |
25 | 26 7:30 PM |
27 7:30 PM |
28 7:30 PM |
29 8:00 PM |
30 4:00 PM 8:00 PM |
Cast
| Jerry Springer | Michael Fennimore* |
| Steve Wilkos | John Porell |
| Warm-up Man/Satan | Timothy John Smith* |
Guests (in order of appearance)
| Dwight/God | Luke Grooms* |
| Peaches/Baby Jane | Ariana Valdes |
| Zandra/Irene/Mary | Amelia Broome* |
| Tremont/Angel Gabriel | Jared Troilo |
| Montel/Jesus | Brian Richard Robinson* |
| Andrea/Angel Michael/Valkyrie | Kerry A. Dowling* |
| Shawntel/Eve | Joelle Lurie |
| Chucky/Adam | Wesley Thomas* |
Audience/Ensemble (in alphabetical order)
| Ziggy Washington | Michael Andrako |
| Elvis Wasowski | Cheo Bourne |
| Dwayne Wayne | Dave Chirstensen |
| Gilbert Nixon White | Cory Kotas |
| Betsy Lou Danvers | Lindsey Larson |
| Ernest Diggle | Darnell T. Roulhac |
| Mercedes Serenity Jones | Erin Sjostrom |
| Laurie Ray Johnson | Kendall Anne Thompson |
| Carlo Collins | Matthew Varelia |
| Tania Jetson | Hilary Werthmann |
Production Staff
| Director | Paul Daigneault |
| Production Manager | Paul Melone |
| Artistic Associate | Jim Fagan |
| Music Director/Conductor | Dan Rodriguez |
| Music Supervisor | Paul S. Katz |
| Prod. Stage Manager | Dawn Schall |
| Asst. Stage Manager | Maura Neff |
| Scenic Designer | Eric Levenson |
| Costume Designer | Seth Bodie |
| Lighting Designer | Karen Perlow |
| Sound Design/Engineer | Aaron Mack |
| Projection Design | Seaghan McKay |
| Props Supervisor | Jarrod Bray |
*Member of Actors' Equity Association (AEA), the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States.
Production Photos
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Audience Response
Show Previews
Favorite "Jerry Springer" Clips
To help his actors research the characters they play onstage in Jerry Springer - The Opera, director Paul Daigneault asked each cast member to send him a clip from the “The Jerry Springer Show” that they thought somehow related to one of the characters they play. After seeing how funny and outrageous these clips were, we decided to share some of the these clips with you.
Below are some of the actors’ favorite “Jerry Springer Moments. Enjoy!
| Amelia Broome: I am playing Zandra -- referred to as a "crack whore." I picked this video because I felt that this woman had the same sense of loose morality and addictive personality as Zandra. I was also amazed by how the real life woman stayed unapologetic and almost proud throughtout the segment. |
Kerry A. Dowling: I am playing Andrea, whose husband reveals among other things that he is cheating with Baby Jane -- which ends in a fight including hair-pulling. This one starts with the hair and keeps going. By the end it takes 3 bouncers to get them apart! |
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Matthew Vareilia: I chose this clip, because not only did I find the "Fat, pregnant, pissed-off stripper" to be hilarious, but I was also inspired by the "Gravy Man" who is shown later on in the video. He is a great example of a classic Jerry Springer guest: unapologetic, eccentric, completely uninhibited and up for anything to get an audience reaction -- not to mention that he took full advantage of his "Jerry Springer Moment" by getting in to that pool full of gravy and mashed potatoes! Gotta love it! |
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Erin Sjostrom: My character, Mercedes Serenity Jones, was inspired by this video because Amy is not just a dumb ho or a strip slut. She is going to school, is able to support herself, and plans to retire to a glamorous, leisurely life by the time she is 30 -- the girl has got her dreams all figured out and is not going to let anyone get in her way. |
On Friday, May 1, a group of Catholic demonstrators calling themselves TFP - America Needs Fatima gathered in front of the Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts to protest the opening night of the SpeakEasy Stage Company production of Jerry Springer - The Opera. Here is a video of the protest and a few photos from that event:
Protest Video
Protest Photos
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All protest photos © 2009 Mark L. Saperstein. All rights reserved.
SpeakEasy Press Contact:
Jim Torres
Director of Marketing,
Press and Public Relations
Phone: 617-482-3279
Cell: 617-529-1670
Fax: 617-482-3280
Basic Show Information
Jerry Springer The Opera
Music by Richard Thomas
Book and Lyrics by Stewart Lee & Richard Thomas
Directed by Paul Daigneault
May 1 - May 30, 2009
PDF Downloads
- Calendar Listing
- Press Release (coming soon)
Hi-Resolution Images
 I've Been Seeing Someone Else - A man (Luke Grooms) confesses his infidelity to his fiancee (Ariana Valdes) in a scene from the SpeakEasy Stage Company production of JERRY SPRINGER - THE OPERA, running now thru May 30 at the Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts. Also shown are Michael Fennimore as Jerry Springer and Dave Christensen as a security guard. Tix/Info: 617-933-8600. Photo: Stratton McCrady. |
 Amelia Broome as Zandra: IRNE Award-winner Amelia Broome in a scene from the SpeakEasy Stage Company production of JERRY SPRINGER - THE OPERA, running now thru May 30 at the Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts. Tix/Info: 617-933-8600. Photo: Stratton McCrady. |
 A woman (Joelle Lurie) lives her dream to be a pole dancer in a scene from the SpeakEasy Stage Company production of JERRY SPRINGER – THE OPERA, running now thru May 30 at the Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts. Also shown are Wesley Thomas (seated, left) and Cory Kotas (center). Tix/Info: 617-933-8600. Photo: Stratton McCrady. |
 A woman (Joelle Lurie) surprises her husband (Wesley Thomas) by revealing her secret desire to be a pole dancer in a scene from the SpeakEasy Stage Company production of JERRY SPRINGER – THE OPERA, running now thru May 30 at the Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts. Tix/Info: 617-933-8600. Photo: Stratton McCrady. |
 Jerry (Michael Fennimore) comes between a wannabe poledancer (Joelle Lurie, left) and her mother (Amelia Broome, right) in a scene from the SpeakEasy Stage Company production of JERRY SPRINGER – THE OPERA, running now thru May 30 at the Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts. Tix/Info: 617-933-8600. Photo: Stratton McCrady. |
 The Klu Klux Klan has its “Jerry Springer Moment” in a scene from the SpeakEasy Stage Company production of JERRY SPRINGER – THE OPERA, running now thru May 30 at the Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts. Tix/Info: 617-933-8600. Photo: Stratton McCrady. |
 Ariana Valdes as Baby Jane in a scene from the SpeakEasy Stage Company production of JERRY SPRINGER - THE OPERA, running now thru May 30 at the Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts. From left: Amelia Broome, Wesley Thomas, Joelle Lurie, Jared Troilo, and Luke Grooms. Tix/Info:617-933-8600. Photo: Stratton McCrady. |
 The ghosts of his former guests haunt Jerry in purgatory in a scene from the SpeakEasy Stage Company production of JERRY SPRINGER - THE OPERA, running now thru May 30 at the Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts. From left: Amelia Broome, Wesley Thomas, Joelle Lurie, Jared Troilo, and Luke Grooms. Tix/Info: 617-933-8600. Photo: Stratton McCrady. |
 Timothy John Smith as Satan in a scene from the SpeakEasy Stage Company production of JERRY SPRINGER - THE OPERA, running now thru May 30 at the Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts. Tix/Info: 617-933-8600. Photo: Stratton McCrady. |
 Jared Troilo (left) and Michael Fennimore (right, as Jerry Springer) in a scene from the SpeakEasy Stage Company production of JERRY SPRINGER - THE OPERA, running now thru May 30 at the Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts. Tix/Info: 617-933-8600. Photo: Stratton McCrady. |
