"The Hungry Hungry Games: A Parody" comes to CityStage in Springfield on May 8-11.
"The Hungry Hungry Games: A Parody" comes to CityStage in Springfield on May 8-11 There’s another world premiere coming to CityStage and it’s from the same folks who brought their “Spank! The Fifty Shades Parody” to Springfield for a test drive.
This time around the joke is on the popular book and movie “The Hunger Games,” which they have turned into “The Hungry Hungry Games: A Parody.”
“Springfield is a lucky charm for us. Since premiering our ‘Spank!’ parody at CityStage, we now have two touring companies touring 100 cities in the United States this year and it just opened in Australia,” said Jim Millan, director and head writer of the new book to movie to stage parody.
“Since we already have fans in the Springfield audience, we called CityStage and asked them what they thought about again hosting one of our premieres. They got behind us and we’re looking forward to being back in town,” he added.
Based on the best-selling novel by Suzanne Collins, “The Hunger Games” is a futuristic thriller in which the lead character, Katniss Everdeen, volunteers to save her younger sister by taking her place in the Hunger Games, a televised fight to the finish, where two teens are chosen from each of the 12 Districts of Panem to compete, with only one coming out alive.
So, why pick on “The Hunger Games” next?
“First of all, we just loved it. ‘The Hunger Games’ was a great book and movie, and it just seemed to be catching everyone’s attention at the time, just as ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ was a year ago when we put its parody together,” said Millan.
“There is a movie sequel coming to ‘The Hunger Games,’ and it seems to be something everyone is still aware of, and we wanted to address something that continues to be on the top of people’s minds,” he added.
When interviewed, Millan said he didn’t want to give too much away about the show to help keep it a surprise, but at the same time noted they were still writing and refining parts of the show and getting ready for rehearsals in Toronto.
“We’ve been having a lot of fun playing around with the science fiction, action, and romantic aspects of the story,” said Millan about taking on the novel’s focus on poverty, oppression, war, and 12-year-olds with bows and arrows.
The writer and director of the parody said their story is similar to the book “with a classic spin on things.”
“So, Katniss is Kat in our parody and her teenage identity isn’t quite as solid and heroic as the character played by Jennifer Lawrence in the movie. The majority of the ‘games’ take place in the second act, where we expand its world a little bit to see what is going on behind the scenes and who is pulling the strings,” he added.
After seeing the play, audiences can have their voices heard as part of Talk Back sessions with Millan and the cast. There will be no Talk Back on the final night’s performance.
“I believe people are interested in anything fresh and really funny. I’m hoping they will welcome us back to Springfield and will be curious enough to see what we are doing next ... curious enough to give us another shot,” said Millan.
And, for those who might be wondering, “The Hungry Hungry Games: A Parody” is not associated with or authorized by Collins or her publisher Scholastic.