Theater News

Joe’s Pub to Play Musical Popes with Popesical: In Concert

Adam Overett’s new musical comedy takes aim at the behind-the-scenes action of the papal conclave.

An artist's rendering of of papal candidate Cardinal Fouette.
An artist’s rendering of of papal candidate Cardinal Fouette.
(©facebook.com/Popesical)

Fanatical Catholic protesters might want to mark their calendars for May 27. That night at 7PM, Joe’s Pub will host a one-night-only concert performance of Popesical, a new musical comedy by Adam Overett.

No, this is not a show about delicious clergy-themed summertime treats. Rather, Popesical in Concert: You Choose the Pope gives audiences a musical glimpse into the papal conclave; that’s the process by which cardinals choose a new pope. In Overett’s take, the candidates include Australian Cardinal Wallaby, questionably Catholic Cardinal Bergenstein, and the dubiously named Cardinalissimo Francisco Franco. My money is on Franco.

The last real papal conclave took place March 12-13 of this year. White smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on the second day to signify the selection of Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio (now known as Francis I), the Catholic Church’s first South American pope.

Patti Murin (Lysistrata Jones) will lead the cast, which also features Marshal Kennedy Carolan (Hair), Lindsay Nicole Chambers (Forbidden Broadway), Madeleine Doherty (Sister Act), Natalie Charle Ellis (Forbidden Broadway), David Perlman (Baby It’s You!), Tally Sessions (Big Fish), and Jason Michael Snow (The Book of Mormon). Denis Jones directs. It should be noted that all of the women in this cast are playing male cardinals. Blasphemy!!!

The listing on the Joe’s Pub website notes: “In this special one-night-only concert extravaganza — YOU CHOOSE THE POPE,” suggesting that the event will call upon the audience to make the final selection. It sounds kind of like The Mystery of Edwin Drood, but for the leader of the world’s largest faith.

Click here for more information and tickets to Popesical.

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