Contemporary arts center OZ Arts Nashville has announced that its premiere run of an exciting new "Roadkill Musical" called Sloppy Bonnie has been extended for an additional week, due to high demand. From its premiere on May 20, Sloppy Bonnie will run until June 5. Presented in association with Vanderbilt University Theatre, the musical will see OZ Arts' parking lot transformed into an outdoor honky-tonk for this "cosmic country musical."
Sloppy Bonnie follows a well-intentioned bride-to-be named Bonnie (aka “Sloppy Bonnie” when she’s drunk) as she sets off on what she hopes will be an inspirational road trip to be with her fiancé, Jedidiah. She hasn't heard from him since he left for a revival retreat in the mountains. So what could go wrong, right?
Along the way, her cookie-cutter femininity causes her to wreak accidental havoc, to sometimes deadly result. The outrageous new musical simultaneously celebrates and satirizes Southern womanhood and features over a dozen songs, including memorable titles like “Jesus Riding Shotgun,” “You Might Call Me Basic,” and “McNugget of Your Love.”
The musical is a collaboration by playwright Krista Knight (Vanderbilt Writer in Residence), composer Barry Brinegar, and Nashville director Leah Lowe. Developed over the past several years in collaboration with students at Vanderbilt University, Sloppy Bonnie features a talented cast of new and familiar names.
Alabama native Amanda Disney, who recently graduated from The American Music and Dramatic Academy in New York City, stars in the title role. She is joined on stage by well-known Nashville actors, and LGBTQ+ community members, Curtis Reed and James Rudolph II, who portray more than a dozen characters throughout the musical.
“We’re delighted by the overwhelming response we’ve received to the upcoming premiere of Sloppy Bonnie,” said Mark Murphy, OZ Arts Executive and Artistic Director. “It’s a pleasure to get to present such a unique and fun theatrical piece that was developed locally and takes a tongue-in-cheek approach to examining Southern identity. Hosting the performances outdoors in our parking lot allows us to continue making the safety of attendees and performers our top priority, but it’s clear that the future is bright for the return of live performances.”
The show will run from May 20 to June 5, 2021 with limited audience capacity. There will also be a special ASL-interpreted performance on Thursday, May 27 at 8pm. Tickets for Sloppy Bonnie range from $20-$30 and are on sale now.
Health and safety protocols will be enforced, including mandatory masks when audiences are not seated, limited capacities and social distancing. Those unable to attend in-person will have the opportunity to watch via a live stream event from June 11-27 (viewable on Fridays and Saturdays at 7pm CT and Sundays at 4pm CT).