Pop Off, Michelangelo! is the world premiere musical comedy about besties-turned-bitter rivals Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. After realizing they’re both gay, the two childhood friends attempt to earn divine forgiveness by becoming the greatest religious artists of all time. Can Michelangelo gaslight, gatekeep and girlboss his way to the Vatican? Will Leonardo shut up about his helicopter? With an electropop original score as infectious as the bubonic plague, and a script that has not been remotely fact-checked, this brand-new Renaissance adventure is both hilarious and unhinged.
Would you mind giving us a brief insight into what your show is?
It’s like if Wicked, Book of Mormon, SNL, and Call Me By Your Name we’re in a foursome and had a baby. It’s a coming-of-age story of Michelangelo and Leonard Da Vinci who in this telling grew up together and decided to go out into the world to become the greatest artists of all time so god will forgive them for being gay.
Tell us about the creative team and the process involved?
The show is brand new and it’s the first time it will be premiered anywhere. I wrote the book, music, and lyrics. This creative team has never all worked together before but everyone is thrilled to be involved.
How does it feel coming to the Fringe?
It’s a dream, the perfect place to premiere Pop Off, Michelangelo!
There are over 3,000 shows at the Fringe. So, what sets your show apart?
I guess I would say we’re inventing “gay pop”. No, but to be real, our show has the ambition to be a combination of all of the best parts of the fringe and the theater as a whole – hilarious, catchy, inappropriate, meaningful, twisted, and heartfelt all in one.
Is there anything specific you’re hoping the audience will take away?
No one needs to accept you but yourself.
Your ideal audience is in attendance, who’s watching? Or more importantly – who isn’t there…
The girls, the gays, the frociaggines, Beyoncé, Taylor, and Charli…the Pope might not want to come unless he has a really good sense of humour.
It’s an intense month, so where you’re able, how do you plan to relax, and are there any other shows you intend to see or want to recommend?
I think getting out of your own head and going to see someone else’s work is the best way to relax. Also, they are inside out of the sun and some even have air conditioning! Our show shares a producer with DIVA: Live From Hell! so I’ll definitely check that out, as well as some great performers like Rob Madge, and Dylan Mulvaney.
In your ideal world, how can we improve the Fringe, of performance, and the industry?
Obviously everyone wants to produce at the fringe to be cheaper, specifically accommodation, so that would be a plus. Most importantly, I think we need to find ways to connect with audiences again and make sure we’re creating things they really want to see. People love live performance, they just want to know that when they go it’s going to be worth their time and hard-earned money and bring joy.
Interested in being featured on our Have a Gander page? With many previews and Q&As lined up, we’re always happy to chat about including your show in future articles. Please do get in touch through the contact page to feature in an upcoming ‘Have A Gander’