On September 20th, 2004, I performed The Adventures of Michael Jackson and the Animals of Neverland Ranch at Gamm Theatre in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The performance was as part of Lymphomania, an evening of vaudeville, variety, and live music to benefit artist, Jen Swain who was battling lymphatic cancer.
Based on Michael Jackson Was My Lover, a pulp tell-all book, The Adventures of Michael Jackson and the Animals of Neverland Ranch was a table-top short-form puppetry piece focused on the reclusive pop-star’s whimsical abuse of the animals in his private zoo. Abby Saunders assisted with puppetry in the proscenium of an over-sized storybook.
Lymphomania was directed by Peter Sampieri and hosted by Tony Estrella and Casey Seymour Kim. Also in the lineup were, Trinity Rep Company members, Imrov Jones, the Grapes of Wrath blugrass band, Dave Rabinow, Liz Gotauco, Anne Scurria and Barry Press, Matt Furtado, Sarah Martini, Stephen Berenson, Ben Steinfeld, Rachel Kann, Titular, Sarah Moore, and Stephen Wrombleski
