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John just wrapped three days shooting the dark comedy indie feature film, Stranger Than Paradise. In it he plays an over-the-top zealot of a doomsday cult. Good times!

 

In May 2023 John returns to the Milwaukee Repertory Theater for the final workshop of Run Bambi Run - the true crime musical (with music and lyrics by Gordon Gano of The Violent Femmes) he workshopped last summer. Full production in the fall, opening Milwaukee Rep's 2023-24 season.

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Disaster Chasers, a really cool short film John co-starred in last year, will have its world premiere Sept 18, 2pm at the Coney Island Film Festival (Sept 16-18). You can get tickets for the screening here.

On 9/11, a son finally decides to fight back against a father who is obsessed with chasing after national tragedies. Written and directed by Chris Wronka. 
About
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After closing out performances of 'Yemandja' at The Holland Festival in Amsterdam in June, John immediately began a workshop of a new musical by Gordon Gano (of The Violent Femmes) called 'Run Bambi Run ' at Milwaukee Rep. With a cast of 10 actor/musicians, it tells the early 80's true story of Lawrencia Bembenek, ex-Playboy bunny, ex-Milwaukee cop, and accused murderer. John was excited to play electric guitar, banjolin, and percussion, as well as the roles of all the lawyers - good and bad!
John was thrilled to join the cast of Yemandjaa new musical co-conceived and starring the Beninese global pop legend Angelique Kidjo. Three years in development, with music co-created by Angelique and her husband Jean Hebrail, and book and lyrics by their daughter Naima Hebrail Kidjo, it tells a story of unity and healing through the troubled history of the West African slave trade in the 1800s. Developed with and directed by Cheryl Lynn Bruce, choreography by Beatrice Capote, costumes by Mary Jane Marcasiano, and music directed by John Samorian. Produced by The Office performing arts and film. John played the principal role of Mr. DeSalta, a Portuguese slave trader (based upon an actual historical figure, who was the subject of Bruce Chatwin's debut novel, The Viceroy Of Ouidah). Yemandja had its triumphant world premiere at MassMOCA Mar 4-5, and performances at The Broad Theater in Santa Monica, CA (Apr 14-16), Cal Performances in Berkeley, CA (Apr 21), The Kennedy Center in DC (May 6-7), and finally Amsterdam, The Netherlands (June 14-18). John has been a fan of Angelique Kidjo since seeing her first US performance in NYC back in 1992.
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(photo by Doug Mason)

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MORE NEWS
Principal on the serial podcast The Grunge Musical. 
John also toured the UK in November with Reverend Billy & The Stop Shopping Choir, performing in 6 cities and doing street actions in conjunction with activists demanding concrete action at COP26 in Glasgow. John was among 5 singers who recorded at BBC's Radio Four for Loose Ends, with Clive Anderson and Stephen Fry
Top-of-show guest star on FBI: Most Wanted (CBS, Paramount +), Season 2, Episode 11: 'Obstruction' .
Principal on The Food That Built America (History Channel) Season 2, Episode 8: 'Soup Wars' .
Contact:
Booking:
Marilynn Scott Murphy
Professional Artists Agency
(212) 247 8770
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