Posted on 10/19/2004 10:41:54 PM PDT by bd476
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Youngsters Play Hollywood Spirituals in A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant
By Ernio Hernandez
Following sold-out Off-Off-Broadway and Off-Broadway runs last winter, the Obie Award-honored musical A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant opens in Los Angeles, Oct. 15.The work, featuring a cast of 8 to 12-year-olds, was presented by downtown company Les Freres Corbusier in New York. The Los Angeles run will be co-produced with and at the Powerhouse Theatre for an engagement through Nov. 21. A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant is a self-proclaimed "bizarre new holiday classic — part avant-garde performance art, part children's theater — based on the actual principles of Scientology and the seriously unbelievable life story of founder L. Ron Hubbard." "We're excited to take this production to the very center of the Church of Scientology – Los Angeles. Since the whole goal of the show is to imagine how the Scientologists might stage a nativity pageant, there's no better place to try than in their Jerusalem," stated Timbers in a release. The musical, featuring a book, music and lyrics by Kyle Jarrow, based on a concept by director Alex Timbers, has the children actors portraying the religion's top advocates such as Tom Cruise, Kirstie Alley and John Travolta. The cast of Pageant features Kristopher Barnett, Jamie Dahlke, Katie Ellis, Nikki Haddad, Jessica Haddad, Chigoziri Ikeme, Kyle Kaplan, Molly Elizabeth Matzke, Anthony Quinonez and Mario Quinonez. The design team includes David Evans Morris (set), Juliet Chia (lighting) and Jennifer Rogien (costumes). Kurt Deutsch's Sh-K-Boom Records — who have recorded Broadway's Amour and Off-Broadway's Debbie Does Dallas and The Last Five Years — will release a cast album on Nov. 2. ..."
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(Excerpt) Read more at playbill.com ...
Scientology is a cult and parents have no business allowing children to be exposed to it, whether acting in a theater or in watching it performed on stage as a children's musical.
The Church of Scientology is the same group who was just booted out of Beslan, Russia. Scientologist auditors and "counsellors" showed up and began hypnotizing people under the guise of "counselling" those affected in the tragedy inflicted by the terrorists.
"The Obie Awards, administered by New York's Village Voice, recognize distinguished achievement in Off-Broadway and Off-Off-Broadway productions. The Obies honor people and productions in informally structured award categories."
Obie Awards as listed in Infoplease.com
The Church of Scientology has a tax exempt status. It's anyone's guess as to how much Federal money the Obie Awards as administered by "The Village Voice" receive.
Ping.
Taking satire seriously causes ulcers.
"...part avant-garde performance art, part children's theater — based on the actual principles of Scientology..."
or this:
"We're excited to take this production to the very center of the Church of Scientology – Los Angeles. Since the whole goal of the show is to imagine how the Scientologists might stage a nativity pageant, there's no better place to try than in their Jerusalem," stated Timbers in a release..."
Maybe you missed this:
"The musical, featuring a book, music and lyrics by Kyle Jarrow, based on a concept by director Alex Timbers, has the children actors portraying the religion's top advocates such as Tom Cruise, Kirstie Alley and John Travolta."
The performing company's record company is well known for:
"Kurt Deutsch's Sh-K-Boom Records — who have recorded "Broadway's Amour" and Off-Broadway's "Debbie Does Dallas"..."
Ping.
You are absolutely right, $cientology is a dangerous cult.
However ...
This play is not endorsing $cientology. Instead, it is a not so subtle attack on $cientology using $cientology's own teachings against the cult.
$cientology is one of those scams that does not hold up well to rational examination. The more people know about the specifics of the scam, the less likely they are going to fall for it. Why do you think $cientology does everything it can to keep its "teachings" a secret, even from its own members? Until they have been sufficiently brinwashed, no rational person is going to believe they are infected with the souls of dead space aliens (a core $cientology belief). If the man or woman on the street knew about Space Tyrant Xemu from day one, instead of just taking a "personality test" do yo think they'd get many joiners?
Thanks to Bill Clinton.
Only the Church of Scientology and Anton Levay's Church of Satan have copyrighted texts and trademarks.
Even J.R.Bob Dobbs' Church of the SubGenius permits devotees to copy and circulate.
From the "Playbill" quotes above, it remains difficult to conclude that the musical is attacking the Church of Scientology in any manner, subtle or otherwise.
Calling the musical "Unauthorized" does nothing other than give the impression that the Church of Scientology or any of their less obvious front groups would not approve. This tactic is also used by some book authors and the Church of Scientology itself to generate interest, and to cloak their involvement.
Here are a few links to lists of front groups for the Church of Scientology:
Scientology Owned Domain Names
World Institute of Scientology Enterprises Directory
pillbox_girl said: "If the man or woman on the street knew about Space Tyrant Xemu from day one, instead of just taking a "personality test" do yo think they'd get many joiners?"
Too bad no one told Tom Cruise, John Travolta, Kelly Preston, Kirstie Alley or Giovanni Ribisi about Xenu, or Thetans, or how long it takes to get "cleared" before they spent over a hundred thousand dollars.
"Church of the SubGenius?" LOL That sounds like an apt name for many...
The Church of the Sub-Genius is a gag religion but it has followers, devivals, books, albums, radio programs, et al.
This IS a satire, and it reveals the ridiculousness of Scientology. That show does exactly what you mean to do with your links, just in a different way - show the truth to people who otherwise wouldn't know what that made-up "religion" really teaches. If you've been in Hollywood proper, you see it everywhere since that group owns several major buildings (four that I can think of on H'wood Blvd) and its representatives stand on the street and lure unaware passers-by by making that garbage sound believable (Including a huge "Christmas display" of Ron Hubbard every year). To paraphrase Rush, this play would illustrate absurdity by being absurd.
Clearwater, FL bump! We have many Hubbardites wandering around the city. Sad.
What do you base your opinion on?
I'm sure that is entirely intentional. $cientology is an extremely vindictive organization. Any overt attack would be severely counter-attacked. By remaining subtle (and also by using kids), the producers have created a legally defensible piece which would only make $cientology look bad if they respond.
I just thought of an interesting parallel. Question: Why is it that telling the plain and simple truth about $cientology is considered an attack? Why is it the same for John Kerry? Answer: They are both frauds.
Sooooo, are you a former member of that, ummmmmm, organization?
Hmmmmm, if I answer that, how would you determine if I was telling the truth? Do you have an electronic box with lights that flash? Are you now or have you ever been an "auditor?"
LOL, just kidding about the above, Null and Void.
The answer is NO, I have never been a member of the Church of Scientology, nor have I ever visited any of their "centers."
I am a Christian and have been so my entire life. I believe in Jesus Christ.
http://www.lisamcpherson.org
It was my understanding that L. Ron Hubbard began as a science fiction writer, at one point plagiarizing another's works in a backwards sort of way, that is reversing the story item by item until he worked up a complete "opposite" book.
Then the story goes that he had some sort of paranoid psychotic break and began believing that the FBI was following him. Supposedly through the Freedom of Information Act, it was revealed that the FBI had no interest in Hubbard at all. Apparently, the FBI recognized that Hubbard had some serious mental health issues. Hubbard's "file" supposedly mostly contains his accusatory letters to the FBI regarding his belief that they were following him.
There are conflicting stories about Hubbard's death. Some ex-cult members claim that Hubbard died under mysterious circumstances related to members within the Church of Scientology.
Based upon the Church of Scientology's continual dissemination of propagandizing yet factually incorrect press releases, upon their aggressive and some say deadly cult indoctrination, it would come as no surprise if their affiliation is proven to be even more nefarious, as you have suggested.
Lisa McPherson's story is a heartbreaking, horrific, sickening yet compelling story, Asgardshill. It is a must read for anyone considering contact with the Church of Scientology. They are clever in their recruitment tactics.
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