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21 Chump StOpening Date: June 7, 2014
Closing Date: June 7, 2014 Air date: June 20, 2014 Medium: online Where to watch: YouTube |
Stage Production Notes
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s 14 minute one-act musical based on This American Life episode “What I Did for Love” about a high school student who falls in love with an undercover police officer, and is arrested for selling drugs.
First airing in 1995, This American Life is a popular and highly influential radio program and podcast that has won multiple awards, including a Pulitzer Prize for audio reporting. Hosted by Ira Glass, the program focuses on a weekly theme and builds people-driven stories around the central theme.
In honor of Valentine’s Day, on February 10, 2012, This American Life aired “What I Did For Love,” stories based on theme of “people who believe in love and do all kinds of things for love”. Act 2 of the program, “21 Chump Street” by Robbie Brown, reported what happened when young undercover police officers were sent into high schools in Florida undercover to pose as students and catch real students selling drugs and weapons.
One such student was Justin Laboy, an 18-year-old honor roll senior student at Park Vista Community High School. Justin quickly fell for new “student”, Naomi Rodriguez, and although he had never sold drugs before, Justin ultimately sold Naomi a small amount of marijuana on school property. This was a felony under Florida law, and Justin was later arrested, charged, and strongly encouraged to take a plea deal resulting in three years probation and a permanent record.
On June 7, 2014, This American Life broadcast “The Radio Drama Episode” live from the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) as part of RadioLoveFest, a 5 day festival celebrating the history of radio. “The Radio Drama Episode” was described by host Ira Glass as “the most ambitious live show we’ve ever done.” The event included nearly 50 actors, singers, dancers, musicians, and comedians, as well as a performance of new mini-musical 21 Chump Street, based on Justin Laboy's story from "What I Did For Love."
The mini-musical was composed by Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton) and featured Anthony Ramos as Justin, Lindsay Mendez as Naomi, Alex Boniello, Gerard Canonico, and Antwaun Holley as The Cousins, and Lin-Manuel Miranda as The Narrator. It was directed by Michael Mayer (Funny Girl), with choreography by Lorin Latarro (who also appeared in Company).
The video of the mini-musical, and a cast album were, “like Beyonce,” dropped on June 20, 2014.
A year later, in June 2015, it was announced that 21 Chump Street was available for licensing through the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization. The musical has since been performed by high schools around the United States.
21 Chump Street premiered in the UK in November 2016 at the Tristan Bates Theatre as part of the annual season of new musical theatre programming Page to Stage.
In 2018, the mini-musical was performed at London’s Courtyard Theatre under the direction of Lizzy Connolly. The cast included Tyrone Huntley (Justin), Melissa James (Naomi), Cedric Neal (The Narrator), Matthew Caputo, Shiv Rabheru, and Miles Barrow (The Cousins).
21 Chump Street is available for licensing via Concord Theatricals.
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s 14 minute one-act musical based on This American Life episode “What I Did for Love” about a high school student who falls in love with an undercover police officer, and is arrested for selling drugs.
First airing in 1995, This American Life is a popular and highly influential radio program and podcast that has won multiple awards, including a Pulitzer Prize for audio reporting. Hosted by Ira Glass, the program focuses on a weekly theme and builds people-driven stories around the central theme.
In honor of Valentine’s Day, on February 10, 2012, This American Life aired “What I Did For Love,” stories based on theme of “people who believe in love and do all kinds of things for love”. Act 2 of the program, “21 Chump Street” by Robbie Brown, reported what happened when young undercover police officers were sent into high schools in Florida undercover to pose as students and catch real students selling drugs and weapons.
One such student was Justin Laboy, an 18-year-old honor roll senior student at Park Vista Community High School. Justin quickly fell for new “student”, Naomi Rodriguez, and although he had never sold drugs before, Justin ultimately sold Naomi a small amount of marijuana on school property. This was a felony under Florida law, and Justin was later arrested, charged, and strongly encouraged to take a plea deal resulting in three years probation and a permanent record.
On June 7, 2014, This American Life broadcast “The Radio Drama Episode” live from the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) as part of RadioLoveFest, a 5 day festival celebrating the history of radio. “The Radio Drama Episode” was described by host Ira Glass as “the most ambitious live show we’ve ever done.” The event included nearly 50 actors, singers, dancers, musicians, and comedians, as well as a performance of new mini-musical 21 Chump Street, based on Justin Laboy's story from "What I Did For Love."
The mini-musical was composed by Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton) and featured Anthony Ramos as Justin, Lindsay Mendez as Naomi, Alex Boniello, Gerard Canonico, and Antwaun Holley as The Cousins, and Lin-Manuel Miranda as The Narrator. It was directed by Michael Mayer (Funny Girl), with choreography by Lorin Latarro (who also appeared in Company).
The video of the mini-musical, and a cast album were, “like Beyonce,” dropped on June 20, 2014.
A year later, in June 2015, it was announced that 21 Chump Street was available for licensing through the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization. The musical has since been performed by high schools around the United States.
21 Chump Street premiered in the UK in November 2016 at the Tristan Bates Theatre as part of the annual season of new musical theatre programming Page to Stage.
In 2018, the mini-musical was performed at London’s Courtyard Theatre under the direction of Lizzy Connolly. The cast included Tyrone Huntley (Justin), Melissa James (Naomi), Cedric Neal (The Narrator), Matthew Caputo, Shiv Rabheru, and Miles Barrow (The Cousins).
21 Chump Street is available for licensing via Concord Theatricals.
Filmed Production Notes
The performance at BAM was recorded live and released both as a radio episode, and as a 2 hour video special on June 20, 2014. The video was directed by Seth Lind.
At the time of writing, the 21 Chump Street segment has had over 2 million views on YouTube.
The film of the full BAM event is available for free on YouTube, and can also be downloaded from This American Life for $5.
The performance at BAM was recorded live and released both as a radio episode, and as a 2 hour video special on June 20, 2014. The video was directed by Seth Lind.
At the time of writing, the 21 Chump Street segment has had over 2 million views on YouTube.
The film of the full BAM event is available for free on YouTube, and can also be downloaded from This American Life for $5.
21 Chump Street PRODUCTION CREDITS
Theatre: Brooklyn Academy of Music, NY
Producer: Ira Glass, Robert Saenz de Viteri, Robyn Semien, Julie Snyder, Film: Ben Cohen and Ben Katz
Book, Music, & Lyrics: Lin-Manuel Miranda
Director: Michael Mayer Film: Seth Lind
Musical Director: Ben Cohn
Orchestrations: Michael Starobin
Choreography: Lorin Latarro
Scenic Design: Christine Jones
Costume Design: Andrea Lauer
Lighting Design: Mark Barton
Sound Design: Nevin Steinberg
Stage Manager: Anne McPherson
Cast:
Lin-Manuel Miranda (Narrator), Anthony Ramos (Justin Laboy), Lindsay Mendez (Naomi Rodriguez), Alex Boniello (Tevin, Boy/Cousin 1), Gerard Canonico (Derek, Cousin 2/Lawyer), Antwaun Holley (Andrew, Cousin 3/Police Officer)
Musicians: Emily Brausa (Cello), David Cinquegrana (Guitar), Jonathan Dinklage (Violin), Sean McDaniel (Drums), Mark Vanderpoel (Bass), Scott Wasserman (Music Assistant)
Theatre: Brooklyn Academy of Music, NY
Producer: Ira Glass, Robert Saenz de Viteri, Robyn Semien, Julie Snyder, Film: Ben Cohen and Ben Katz
Book, Music, & Lyrics: Lin-Manuel Miranda
Director: Michael Mayer Film: Seth Lind
Musical Director: Ben Cohn
Orchestrations: Michael Starobin
Choreography: Lorin Latarro
Scenic Design: Christine Jones
Costume Design: Andrea Lauer
Lighting Design: Mark Barton
Sound Design: Nevin Steinberg
Stage Manager: Anne McPherson
Cast:
Lin-Manuel Miranda (Narrator), Anthony Ramos (Justin Laboy), Lindsay Mendez (Naomi Rodriguez), Alex Boniello (Tevin, Boy/Cousin 1), Gerard Canonico (Derek, Cousin 2/Lawyer), Antwaun Holley (Andrew, Cousin 3/Police Officer)
Musicians: Emily Brausa (Cello), David Cinquegrana (Guitar), Jonathan Dinklage (Violin), Sean McDaniel (Drums), Mark Vanderpoel (Bass), Scott Wasserman (Music Assistant)
Sources
Articles
Websites
- Andrew Gans, “Musical from Hamilton's Lin-Manuel Miranda Now Available for Licensing” Playbill (June 12, 2015)
- Andrew Gans, “Lin-Manuel Miranda’s 21 Chump Street Begins September 14 at London's Courtyard Theatre,” Playbill (Sept 14, 2018)
- Michael Gioia, “This American Life Musical Event, With Lin-Manuel Miranda, Lindsay Mendez and More, Will Be Available for Download,” Playbill (June 16, 2014)
- Ira Glass, “High Schools Performing the Musical Lin-Manuel Miranda Wrote for Our BAM Show,” This American Life (Oct 19, 2018)
- Mark Shenton, “Lin-Manuel Miranda's 21 Chump Street to Make U.K. Premiere,” Playbill (Aug 1, 2016)
- Stage Tube, “STAGE TUBE: Watch Lin-Manuel Miranda, Lindsay Mendez and Anthony Ramos in 'What the Heck I Gotta Do' from 21 CHUMP STREET,” Broadway World (June 24, 2014)
- Reggie Ugwu, “‘This American Life,’ Now a Pulitzer Winner, Is Once More a Pioneer” The New York Times (May 7, 2020)
Websites
- BAM, “Programs: RadioLoveFest,” Accessed via: https://www.bam.org/programs/2014/radiolovefest
- Concord Theatricals, “21 Chump Street,” Accessed via: https://www.concordtheatricals.com/s/65830/21-chump-street
- Lin-Manuel Miranda, “21 Chump Street,” Accessed via: https://www.linmanuel.com/project/21-chump-street/
- This American Life, “What I Did For Love,” Accessed via: https://www.thisamericanlife.org/457/what-i-did-for-love
- This American Life, “About,” Accessed via: https://www.thisamericanlife.org/about
Written by Luisa Lyons (Sept, 2020)