Liberal Bloggers Stage “Burning Bush: A Faith-Based Musical” – And the President is Invited

New York, NY (PRWEB) September 1, 2005

When political bloggers Noah Diamond and Amanda Sisk present their theatrical show “Burning Bush: A Faith-Based Musical,” they’re hoping to have a guest of honor in the audience – who happens to be the main character. “George W. Bush is cordially invited,” declares Ms. Sisk, “and we’re very pleased to offer him two tickets to any performance – absolutely free.”

Sisk bristles at the suggestion that the invitation is facetious. “Absolutely not,” she says. “We wouldn’t invite him if we didn’t think he should be there. If the president wrote a musical called ‘Burning Sisk,’ I’d definitely check it out.” She feels that “the cast and the band, who have worked so hard, might be insulted if he turns us down.”

Mr. Diamond adds that two complimentary tickets are offered to Cindy Sheehan, the Gold Star Families for Peace co-founder who has camped outside Bush’s Crawford ranch hoping to ask him why her son was killed in Iraq. “Maybe if she can corner him in the lobby or something,” Diamond says, “she can get in a word with him.” He points out that Manhattan’s HERE Arts Center, where the show will be performed, is “a very comfortable space,” so Mr. Bush “won’t feel intimidated.”

Corey Moosa, who also appears in “Burning Bush” and co-produced the show, has participated in several productions at HERE. He says that no President of the United States has ever attended a performance at the venue. “This is a big chance for Bush,” Moosa says. “To be the first.”

Last year, the “Burning Bush” team presented “City Under Siege,” a satire of the 2004 Republican Convention. Diamond and Sisk are the authors of the daily political blog Nero Fiddled (http://www.noahdiamond.com/nerofiddled), which serves as the source for much of “Burning Bush.” They say it is the first musical based on a blog.

According to Sisk, the principle behind inviting Bush is that “if you produce a piece of work that’s about a real person, you should let that person know about it.” In that spirit, the other real-life figures portrayed in the show are also invited to attend – which extends official invites to Barbara Bush, George H.W. Bush, Laura Bush, Condoleezza Rice, Karl Rove, and Donald Rumsfeld.

Diamond adds, “Vice President Cheney is also in the show, and he can come see it, but unfortunately our budget is tight, and we can only offer Cheney one half-price ticket.”

About the Show:

“Burning Bush: A Faith-Based Musical” runs September 15, 16, and 17 at 8:30 pm at the HERE Arts Center, 145 Sixth Avenue (between Spring and Broome). Tickets, $15, available at smarttix.com, or call (212) 868-4444. Starring Amanda Sisk, Corey Moosa, Ellie Dvorkin, Kim Moscaritolo, Noah Diamond, and Brian Hoffman as George W. Bush. The band: Mike Biskup, Drew Brady, Steve Dans, and Boris Veysman. Written and directed by Noah Diamond and Amanda Sisk. More information: http://www.noahdiamond.com/burningbush.

About HERE:

Since 1993, HERE has been one of New York’s most prolific producing organizations, and today, it houses New York’s most daring and unique theatre, art, music, and dance in its recently purchased facility. Previous works originally produced by HERE include Trey Lyford & Geoff Sobelle’s Drama-Desk nominated “all wear bowlers,” Eve Ensler’s “The Vagina Monologues,” Basil Twist’s “Symphonie Fantastique,” the inaugural production of the Dream Music Puppetry Program, Camryn Manheim’s “Wake Up! I’m Fat” and original musical and dance works created and directed by Kristin Marting. HERE supports the work of artists at all stages in their careers through full productions, artist residency programs, festivals, and subsidized performance and rehearsal space. All work at HERE is curated based on the strength and uniqueness of the artist’s vision. This production is being presented through HERE’s Supported Artist Program, which provides artists with subsidized space, as well as technical and administrative support. For more information, visit here.org.

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