“GHOST OF JOHN McCAIN” ANNOUNCES CAST FOR THE ROLES OF HILLARY CLINTON, LINDSEY GRAHAM, JOE BIDEN & MORE
Press Contact:
Rick Miramontez / Gerilyn Shur
rick@omdkc.com / gerilyn@omdkc.com
212 695 7400
FOR RELEASE ON MONDAY, AUGUST 12, 2024
THE NEW MUSICAL
“GHOST OF JOHN McCAIN”
ANNOUNCES CASTING FOR THE ROLES OF
HILLARY CLINTON
LINDSEY GRAHAM
JOE BIDEN
& MORE
AT OFF-BROADWAY’S SOHO PLAYHOUSE
FOR ITS WORLD PREMIERE PRODUCTION
New York, NY — Political strategist and public relations executive Jason Rose, Businesswoman Lynn Londen, and longtime John McCain campaign consultant Max Fose, producers of Ghost of John McCain, announced the full cast and creative team for the upcoming musical comedy. They include Lindsay Nicole Chambers (Hillary Clinton, Daughter-Wife, Sexy Lady Fox News Anchor, others), Ben Fankhauser (Roy Cohn, Lindsey Graham, Joe Biden, others), Anthony Zambito (Understudy- Trump, Graham & others) , Gisela Adisa (Understudy – Clinton, Karen, Trump’s Brain, & others) and Joshua David Robinson (Understudy – McCain, Trump’s Brain, Graham & others).
Last week, the production announced that Jason Tam will play John McCain, Luke Kolbe Mannikus will play Donald Trump and Aaron Michael Ray will play Donald Trump’s Brain and Others. The new musical is currently undergoing last minute script changes to include a character based on the newly named presidential candidate Kamala Harris. As previously announced, the role of Kamala Harris will be played by Zonya Love who also plays Eva Peron and Karen.
Featuring a book by Scott Elmegreen and a score by Drew Fornarola, Ghost of John McCain will begin performances on September 3 at the Soho Playhouse, ahead of its official opening night on Tuesday, September 24. The limited engagement will run through Election Day, with a final performance on Sunday, November 10.
With direction by Catie Davis and choreography by Sunny Min-Sook Hitt, Ghost of John McCain thrusts the late Senator into an afterlife he never expected when he finds that “heaven” is inside Trump’s brain. There, he encounters a “Greek Chorus” of iconic figures, including Hillary Clinton, Roy Cohn, Eva Perón, Teddy Roosevelt, Robert Jordan, Lindsey Graham, George W. Bush, Tiffany Trump, Grizabella from CATS, Barack Obama, Kanye West, Grant Woods, Elizabeth Warren, Taylor Swift, Joe Biden, Sarah Palin, Eric Trump, Clint Eastwood — and now Kamala Harris — who rebel against the former President’s relentless demands for affirmation.
An uproarious exploration of power, rivalry, and the human condition, Ghost of John McCain is the ticket we need during the election cycle from hell. Ghost of John McCain was co-conceived by McCain’s first chief of staff and the late Arizona Attorney General, Grant Woods, eulogist at McCain’s service along with President Biden.
The creative team includes Lawrence E. Moten III (Scenic Design), Mieka van der Ploeg (Costume Design), Ashley Rae Callahan (Hair & Wig Design), Colleen Doherty (Lighting Design) and Daniela Hart/Uptown Works NYC (Sound Design). Vadim Feichtner will serve as music director. Casting is by Jason Thinger, CSA.
Tickets are now available for purchase at www.sohoplayhouse.com or by phone at (212) 692-1555 beginning at 3pm each day.
DOWNLOAD HEADSHOTS AND KEY ART HERE
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C O M P L E T E C A S T B I O G R A P H I E S
Jason Tam (John McCain) starred in the hit NBC Live’s “Jesus Christ Superstar,” with John Legend and Sara Bareilles, as Peter. Recently he voiced the role of Duan in Shakina Nayfack’s “Chonburi…Butterfly Club,” on Audible. He was seen in the Off-Broadway shows, The White Chip (MCC), KPOP (Lortel Award), a collaboration between Woodshed Collective, Ars Nova, and Ma-Yi Theatre Company. Jason’s Broadway credits include Be More Chill (and Off-Bway), IF/THEN, Lysistrata Jones, and the original Paul in the revival of A Chorus Line. He has also been part of numerous Off-Broadway and regional theatre productions. Jason’s TV credits include “FBI,” “The Blacklist,” “Do No Harm,” “Guilty,” “Hawaii 5-0,” “One Life to Live,” and “Beyond the Break,” and he was seen in the documentary Every Little Step. Jason holds a BFA from NYU Tisch and recently joined the Board of Directors at Keen Company.
Luke Kolbe Mannikus (Donald Trump) Luke is excited to make his Off-Broadway debut. Broadway: Pippin, Matilda The Musical (OBC), Priscilla Queen of the Desert (OBC). Most recently Luke performed in Bye Bye Birdie at The Kennedy Center. 2024 Graduate of the University of Michigan’s Musical Theatre Department. Grateful to God. Thank you, Jason, this team, Nancy, and family. @lukemannikus www.lukemannikus.com
Aaron Michael Ray (Donald Trump’s Brain & Others) is delighted to make his Soho Playhouse debut! Other Off-Broadway: The Low Road (The Public Theater) and Spamilton. National Tours: A Wonderful World (Pre-Broadway Tour) and Come From Away (1st National Tour). Select Regional: The regional premiere of A Strange Loop (Speakeasy Stage/Front Porch Arts Collective) and The 25th Annual…Spelling Bee (George Street Playhouse). BM in Professional Music from Berklee College of Music and an MFA in Musical Theatre from The Boston Conservatory. Originally from San Antonio, Texas, Aaron has been a jazz trumpet player for over 20 years. Special thanks to HCKR and all his love to his family.
Zonya Love (Kamala Harris, Eva Peron and Karen). Broadway: The Color Purple (Celie), Beetlejuice (Maxine Dean/Juno). Off Broadway: Emma & Max, Avenue Q. First National Tour of Avenue Q. Regional: Deloris in Sister Act, Evilene in The Wiz, Crystal in Little Shop of Horrors, and most recently Becky in Waitress at Broadway @ Sacramento, Bessie Smith in The Devil’s Music at Milwaukee Repertory Theater, and Pearlina in Lights Out Nat King Cole at The Geffen and People’s Light, Mayme in Intimate Apparel at Nevada Conservatory Theater, and Lucretia Collins and Others in The Parchman Hour at The Guthrie. Television: “Blacklist”, “Blue Bloods”, “Dr. Death”, and “Smash.” Zonya is a proud member of @BiVoices. Her mantra, Romans 8:28. IG- @lovezonya
Lindsay Nicole Chambers (Hillary Clinton, Daughter-Wife, Sexy Lady Fox News Anchor, others). Most recently Lindsay was seen in Here We Are, Sondheim’s last musical. Listen to her debut album, ‘This is the Chord, This is the Note’ wherever you stream music. Broadway/Tours: Kinky Boots (Lauren, First Nat’l Tour), Elf (Jovie, Nat’l Tour), Lysistrata Jones (Robin), Legally Blonde, Hairspray. Off Broadway and Regional: Loch Ness (Nessie, The Rev); Griswold’s Broadway Vacation; The Heart of Rock and Roll (Nina, The Old Globe); I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (George Street Playhouse); Clue Onstage (Miss Scarlett, Bucks County Playhouse); Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man (Robyn); Triassic Parq (Velociraptor of Science, SoHo Rep). TV/Film/Streaming: “Dickinson,” “Fosse/Verdon,” “Submissions Only.” www.lindsaynicolechambers.com @heyitsLNC
Ben Fankhauser (Roy Cohn, Lindsey Graham, Joe Biden, others). Ben made his Broadway debut as Davey in the original cast of Disney’s Newsies (Also on Disney+). Off-Broadway: Mack & Mabel, Dear World (City Center Encores!), Saturday Night, Bar Mitzvah Boy, A Commercial Jingle For Regina Comet (co-author) 1st. National Tours: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical and Spring Awakening. Regional Theatre: Flamingo Kid (Hartford Stage), I Hate Hamlet (Bucks County Playhouse), The Secret Of My Success (Houston’s TUTS), A.D. 16 (Olney Theatre Center), An American In Paris (Music Theater Wichita), Big River, Something Rotten, Fiddler On The Roof (Sacramento Music Circus), She Loves Me (Gulfshore Playhouse). TV/Film credits include: “FBI: Most Wanted,” “The Deuce,” “Indoor Boys” Ben is a Cleveland native and has a B.F.A from Ithaca College. @PlzNfankU
Anthony Zambito (Understudy- Trump, Graham & others) is excited to make his Off-Broadway debut with Ghost of John McCain! Other theatre: Sleepy Hollow the Musical (NYC Workshop), A Very Brady Musical (Ogunquit Playhouse), Brighton Beach Memoirs (Maltz Jupiter Theatre), Peter Pan (Fulton Theatre), Treasure Island (MSMT). TV/Film: “Boomer Stoop” (Comedy Central), “Redemption in Cherry Springs” (Hallmark), “Girls” (HBO), “Dying Swan” (Pilot). May the world heal and grow with laughter. Love you, mom, dad, Jerry, Julia, and Justine! @anthonyzambito.
Gisela Adisa (Understudy – Clinton, Karen, Trump’s Brain, & others), (she/her). Broadway: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. (Lucille). 1776 (Robert Livingston, John Adams u/s). 1st National Tour: 1776 (John Adams). Sister Act. (Deloris Standby). Regional: Lights Out: Nat ‘King’ Cole. (Eartha Kitt), Geffen Playhouse – L.A. Stage Alliance Award nomination, Best Featured Actress. Man of La Mancha (Aldonza), Westport Country Playhouse – CT Critics Circle nomination, Best Actress. Shoebox Picnic (Odette), Alabama Shakespeare Festival. Once on This Island (Erzulie), Actors Theatre of Louisville. Film/Television: “Nanny”(Sundance ‘22 winner), “Shield,” “Luther,” ”FBI,” “Raising Kanan,” “Kaleidoscope,” “Younger,” “Royal Pains.”Voiceover: Dreamworks Animation’s “Dew Drop Diaries” and Netflix’s “Ridley Jones.” Listen to Gisela sing “Cool Like Me” on the Ridley Jones album on Spotify. B.A in Arts, Fordham (Drama, African-American Studies). Proud member of Broadway Inspirational Voices and Broadway Serves. Follow @imgisela on Instagram www.iamgisela.com
Joshua David Robinson aka JDR (Understudy – McCain, Trump’s Brain, Graham & others). (They/He) Broadway: The Minutes. Off-Broadway: War Words (New York Rep), House of Telescopes (Pipeline Theatre), Arden of Faversham (Red Bull), The Unbelieving (The Civilians), X: Or Betty Shabazz vs The Nation (St. Clements), Sense of an Ending (59E59Theaters), The Convent of Pleasure (Cherry Lane), Twelfth Night (TFANA) Regional: The Lehman Trilogy (The Huntington Theatre), JQA (Arena Stage), Sherwood: Adventures of Robin Hood, Three Sisters, (PlayMakers Repertory), Love’s Labour’s Lost (The Folger), Secret Hour (Capital Repertory), A Connecticut Yankee (The Guthrie), All the Way (Cleveland Playhouse). Podcast: When Crit Happens, Omagoshakee High. They are a member of The Actors Center and hold an MFA in acting from NYU Tisch. They are always working to use the art of storytelling as a means to engage with their community and as a vehicle for social change. @JDRloves_U.
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