Photo Flash: JASPER IN DEADLAND Premieres in Pasadena

This summer, California youth and the Pasadena Musical Theatre Program (est. 1995) workshopped Ryan Scott Oliver's brand new Jasper in Deadland, August 5 and 6.

"Jasper in Deadland tells the story of 16-year-old Jasper, who loses his best friend Agnes and travels into the afterlife to retrieve her. But this afterlife-"Deadland"-is some kind of freakish, a hybrid of Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Norse and Judeo-Christian mythologies, divided into seven "circles" where Jasper encounters Cerberus, the demoness Ammut, Loki and his daughter Hel, a psychotic redneck named The Chuckster, and the ever mysterious Mr. Lethe. Will Jasper retrieve his best friend Agnes? Or will he join the Dead forever?"

The show features Herbert Ayala, Julia Byrne, Pavel Czernek, Kair Davis, Tabitha Elder, Chris Hunter, Judah Lacy, Fednike Nozistene, Johan Silla, Miriam Sulker-Hall, Luna Trejo, Christopher Vidimos with Sierra Adams, Lauren Bailey, Mira Banerjee-Brown, Tanya Barraza, Amber Barrios, Audrianna Bartholomew, Mariah Benn, Pepe Bradshaw, Marianna Crisostomo, Kara Ellis, Payton Emerson, Jessica Garza, Melodie Gibson, Julia Goff, Hana Golden, Kevin Gonzales, Briana Gonzales, Kayla Johnson-Granberry, Sophia Kownatzki, Precious Lacy, Arthur Martinez, Cheri McKenzie, Alyson Mello, Claudia Mendez, Owen Migel, Grace Mikuryia, Jacqueline Partida, Tabatha Pina, Amy Prochaska, Lilia Royce, Emiliano Tellez, Corinne Thomas, Katherine Vasquez, Emily Waters, Kaitlyn Walker and Alexander Kownatzki as Jasper.

Production team for Jasper includes Company Manager is Anne Clark, Asst. Music Director Jordan Baum, Asst. Choreographer Camden Gonzales, Asst. Stage Manager Allison Dufford, Stage Manager Ashley Thaxton. The Puppets are Designed by Michelle Finston, Lighting Designed by Curtis Mueller, Costumes, Hair and Make-up Designed by Gwyneth ConawayBennison, Sets Designed by Kurt Boetcher. Music Supervised by Brett Ryback, Vocal Direction by Cindy Abbott, Choreography by John Todd, and Directed by Ryan Scott Oliver.

In June, Jasper in Deadland received two professional readings, the first in New York City featuring a cast of Lindsay Northen, Katie Gassert, Cortney Wolfson, Andrew Kober, Charles Franklin, Lindsay Mendez, Rich Silverstein, Kevin Michael Murphy, and F. Michael Haynie; and subsequently in Los Angeles with Coby Getzug, Maggie Anderson, Daniel Tatar, Jordan Segal, Will Collyer, Ben Goldberg, Anne Clark, Lakesha Bowen, and Robyn Clark.

Ryan Scott Oliver is currently writing the score for Disney Theatrical's stage musical Freaky Friday, directed by Memphis's Christopher Ashley. 2011 Lortel Award Nominee, 2009 Jonathan Larson Grant Recipient, 2008 Rodgers Award Winner. Music and lyrics for 35mm (directed by Daisy Prince), Darling (featured on NBC's The Apprentice), Mrs. Sharp (Playwrights Horizons July 2009 starring Jane Krakowski, dir. by Michael Greif), and the 2010 Writer's Guild East Awards; a collection of his work, Rated RSO, played the Kennedy Center, Joe's Pub, New York Musical Theatre Festival; Off-Broadway:

TheatreWorksUSA's We the People. Songbook now available: Music+Lyrics by Ryan Scott Oliver: Volume 1. More at www.ryanscottoliver.com.

The Pasadena Musical Theatre Program (PMTP) is "a unique performing arts training organization where students are encouraged to realize their full potential as theatre artists and performers. We believe that students learn best when they are encouraged by theatre professionals who love what they do and do what they love. And, most of all, we value the individuality, diversity, and talent levels of all of our students."

BroadwayWorld brings you coverage of the Pasadena premiere of JASPER IN DEADLAND below.

Photo Credit: Matthew Murphy (http://www.MurphyMade.com)