Ƭapp’s resident production company premieres “One State, Two State, Red State, Blue State,” a political satire about the state of the union, December 2 & 3.
For those of us who've been turned off by the current state of political rhetoric, this piece is a fascinating, thought-provoking breath of fresh air.
— — Lynne Porter, MFA, director of Ƭapp’s Department of Visual and Performing Arts
American red state and blue state politics take center stage in Theater Fairfield’s new musical, which premiered last night as part of Ƭapp’s 2017 “Theater in the Raw: Lucille Lortel Festival of New Work.”
The University’s resident production company will present two additional performances of playwright Wesley Savick’s political satire, One State, Two State, Red State, Blue State, at the PepsiCo Theatre on Saturday, Dec. 2 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 3 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 for general admission, $6 for seniors and University staff, and $5 for Fairfield students and children, and can be purchased in person at the Quick Center Box Office, by phone at 203-254-4010, or online at .
With an original score composed by Brian Bernhard and Scott Nicholas, One State, Two State, Red State, Blue State is a brand new contemporary musical that explores the current state of the union with a sense of humor and poignancy. The story is told from several vantage points – personal, political, and historical – and features a series of catchy songs, rap battles, presidential tweets, and a singing Greek chorus that bring a fresh perspective to America’s modern democracy. Playwright and Suffolk University Boston Theatre Professor, Wesley Savick, describes his theatrical work as an urgent, celebratory response to the United States’ current national climate.
“The theatre faculty gravitated to this play for a number of reasons,” explained Lynne Porter, MFA, director of the University’s Department of Visual and Performing Arts. “It examines the current American political situation in a highly theatrical fashion while embracing both the red and blue sides of the situation. For those of us who've been turned off by the current state of political rhetoric, this piece is a fascinating, thought-provoking breath of fresh air.”
The cast of Theatre Fairfield’s production stars Kiersten Bjork ‘21, Liam Cahill ‘18, Martha Hegley ‘20, Sean Larson ‘18, Jessie Lizotte ‘18, Kaylee Moran ‘18, Bridgit Murray ‘19, Romina Rabines ’19, Vanessa Rubenstein ‘21, and Fallon Sullivan ‘20. The production is directed by Jan Mason, with musical direction by Nenad Ivovic. Ƭapp Theatre Professor Martha S. LoMonaco, PhD, is producing the play along with Porter, who is also designing the lighting and scenery. Julie Leavitt is designing costumes and props and Anne Kendall is serving as the production’s technical director.
One State, Two State, Red State, Blue State is part of Theatre Fairfield's mission to bring social justice issues to the stage so audiences can share and debate ideas in post-show conversations. For more information, visit
