MacLean collaborating with indie rocker Craig Finn.
Ali MacLean has tapped indie-rock stalwart Craig Finn, frontman for The Hold Steady, to pen original music for the new mounting of her play This Will Be Our Year.
This grunge rock-n-roll story follows the star-crossed, ten-year love affair between Gen (a struggling New York jewelry designer) and Hugo (a fledgling British rock star). In this modern tale of love and longing, Hugo and Gen play havoc with each other’s lives.
We follow Hugo and Gen from the ’90s to the early aughts, as they criss-cross through the eras of grunge and riot grrls, Brit-pop and boy bands, Lilith Fair ladies, and rap-rock. This musical Greek chorus serves as a time marker and their emotional soundtrack.
During the play, Hugo writes new songs which describe his mental state and relationship with Gen. Hugo’s band, May Day, will perform these songs in upcoming productions. The show has brought on Craig Finn to write those songs.
Craig Finn has released 8 albums with his band, The Hold Steady. Described by Pitchfork as “a born storyteller who’s chosen rock as his medium,” Finn has also released 6 solo albums with his trademark ‘author of degenerate lit-major lyrics set to bar-band power chords'(GQ).
Based on true events that occurred when MacLean worked as an on-air personality at a punk rock radio station, This Will Be Our Year was workshopped at the Antaeus Theater, Ensemble Studio Theatre, and She NYC Arts Festival (at the Zephyr Theater), where it played to sold-out crowds.
The show picked up five Broadway World Award nominations, including nods for Best Play, Best Director, and Best Performer.
Keep up with news about This Will Be Our Year here.
She’s Not There – a play by Ali MacLean, debuts at Ensemble Studio Theatre’s Winterfest
As part of EST/LA’s Winterfest Playreading Series, She’s Not There, by Ali MacLean, delves into the struggle, battle, and ultimate repercussions mental illness has not only on the victim, but to all those in her life as well. With Paul McKinney, Lizzie Peet, J.P. Manx, Anil Margsahayam, Keith Szarabajka, J.P. Manoux, John Ennis, Kathleen Coyne, Tom Sibley, Lauren Kelly, Clayton Frey, and more! Directed by Christopher Raymond
January 26th, 8pm
Tickets can be found at:
https://dime.io/events/winterfest-2018/1/2018/
Synopsis:
SHE’S NOT THERE
When Rob meets Anna, he think she’s the one. When Anna meets Rob, she thinks maybe she can finally be happy. But there is a third party in the relationship that may destroy their union. Every night a shadowy form visits Anna and tries to kill her. This play anthropomorphizes depression and explores how it can devastate a person and the lives of those around them.
Ali and Tony Camin have launched a campaign for their new comedy series WAGS TO RICHES.
Check it out below:
WAGS TO RICHES is a story about two middle aged guys who lose their jobs and decide to start a doggy daycare in their garage – because they think it sounds like it’s easy. Now, this isn’t just any comedy show. It’s a chance to see your favorite actors and comedians – with their real dogs.
We have regulars on the show, like Mark Fite from Tenacious D’s Festival Supreme and Two Headed Dog, and Samm Levine from Freaks And Geeks and Wet Hot American Summer. We have a whole lot of special guest stars signed on, plus several canine stars who have more training than the both of us.
We have some networks interested in our show, so we are raising money to make the pilot and show them how great it would be to see this on the air every week. It’s funny and it has dogs, and who doesn’t love funny dogs?
Plus, because we believe in comedy for good, a portion of the profits will be donated to Best Friends NKLA, a no kill shelter here in Los Angeles. So it’s like we are making important art AND saving lives.
You can help us achieve our goal – make the pilot and help dogs find homes!
If you know a dog lover, please pass this along.
Thanks for taking a look:
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/wags-to-riches-pilot-dogs-television/x/16174277#/
Ali hosting Top Tune at the Hotel Cafe in Hollywood with Scout Durwood and Rick Overton on panel. Great night of music and comedy!
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Hilarious night performing in Top Tune with Henry Phillips, Nyima Funk, and Gary Shapiro at the Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles. If you get a chance to check out this show, do it. It’s like a comedic version of The Voice.
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Flashing back to my pilot presentation of CELEBRITY BUZZ at the Comedy Central Stages in Hollywood. This scene was a Fashion Police spoof featuring myself, Angela Hoover, Baron Vaughn, Mark Fite, and Amber Benson. Directed by James Urbaniak.
Ali MacLean 