On 6 Jan 2021 there was an unprecedented attack on the US Capitol, the Vice President, Congress, and the democratic process, attempting to disrupt the certification of the 2020 presidential election results. This has now inspired a show, January 6th the Musical, by Kiely Sugayan & Jessie Ballard, which is heading to the Edinburgh Fringe next month.
“When violent insurrectionists stormed the United States Capitol on 6th January 2021, they ruined a birthday forever. Kiely and Jessie are best friends who share the same birthday and the same big dreams of theatrical stardom. On the fateful day of the insurrection, their birthday goes from bad to worse when allegations emerge of their involvement in the attempted coup. Faced with their special day going down in infamy and spending the rest of their lives in prison, can Kiely and Jessie sing and dance their way to innocence?”
Where: Studio at theSpaceTriplex
When: 7-29 Aug
Ticket link: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/january-6th-the-musical
What can you tell us about your show? What is it about and where did the idea come from?
This show is about friendship. It’s about how to have hope even when it feels like the world is ending every day. We have been working on this show for 3 years; Fringe has been the goal for a long time. The show started as a way to celebrate our birthdays together and has turned into the most creatively fulfilling project either of us has ever worked on. January 6th the Musical is the obvious choice to take to the Fringe because it’s a story only we can tell, and it’s a unique story and perspective on something everyone knows. Working towards a performance, whether it be one or 26, is always a great way to get stuff done. We are ready to see where this show can go.
How would you sell it to audiences in one paragraph?
January 6th the Musical is about life after a national tragedy happens on your birthday. More specifically, it’s about why Kiely and Jessie were seen in the back of a cop car in Washington, DC on January 6th, 2021. Audiences can expect madcamp humor, catchy musical numbers that will get stuck in your head, and enough characters to fill all 535 seats in the United States Congress.
Do you enjoy participating in the Fringe? And do you have any moments you particularly remember?
This is our first Fringe! We are most excited to meet artists from around the world and get inspired by the work everyone is doing. As creatives in NYC, it is easy to think New York City is the center of the world, but this festival proves that theory wrong a million times over. We are so excited to see things we could never imagine being real. That’s what makes Fringe so magical.
What are you looking forward to the most in Edinburgh?
Making new friends, laughing and crying a lot, and pushing our bodies to the limit. It’s a return to summer theater camp in the best way possible. We are excited to reconnect with our inner child and inner dreamer again.
What’s next for the show?
We really hope to be able to bring this show to audiences all over the world. We definitely want to do a London run. We hope this musical resonates with people all over the world, as it really is a story about friendship, optimism, and making the best out of a terrible situation out of your control.