The Next Theatre Company prides itself on producing unorthodox plays. This holiday season the Evanston-based group did just that with its production of “A Very Merry Unauthorized Children’s Scientology Pageant.”
The musical, written by Kyle Jarrow and based on a concept by Alex Timbers, chronicles and satirizes the life of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard.Although the musical pokes fun at some of the tenets of Scientology and the practices of its members, Marketing Director and Artistic Administrator Chelsea Keenan said the play had more substance.
“The play works on a couple of levels,” she said. “First it parodies children’s Christmas pageants … those sorts of plays that you are forced to go watch as a parent.”
The musical ran from Dec. 5 to Jan. 3 at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes St. The show, which was heavily marketed to North Shore residents, attracted many families and sold about 1,000 tickets, Keenan said. Ticket prices started at $15 for adults and $10 for kids, making it a “more affordable way to take your family to the theater,” Keenan said. “Tickets to the Nutcracker are $75 for a kid.”
Although the musical is aimed at adult audiences, Keenan said kids understood the play’s message as well.
“Kids understand criticism,” she said. “A message here is that it is wise for children to question their elders, and I don’t think that message is lost on them.”
Director Kathryn Walsh said it was surprisingly easy to direct a political satire featuring a cast of actors ranging in age from 9- to 14-years-old.
“It’s amazing how savvy they are,” she said.
The nonprofit theatre company tends to produce riskier plays with a more political message than Broadway or commercial theatres, Keenan said. As its mission statement outlines, The Next puts on “socially provocative, artistically adventurous work.”
Communication senior Amy Buckler, who interned at The Next, said what drew her to the company is the “edgy” type of plays it produces.
“You see the play, and you leave talking about it,” she said. “It’s nice to see a theater with a voice.”
This was the first year the company produced “A Very Merry Unauthorized Children’s Scientology Pageant.” Although the show is political, Keenan said the audience didn’t find the show controversial.
“Our audience is very informed and open-minded,” she said. “So I didn’t hear any criticism.”
