POOR PEOPLE! The Parody Musical is an insane homage to many of the characters, songs and tropes of those very expensive Broadway and West End musicals about the less fortunate (Annie, Oliver!, Les Miz, Sweeney Todd... you get the gist).

It’s 1979 in dangerous, smoky, glorious New York City. Our story’s red-headed protagonist Li’l Orphan Arnie is fleeing from the guardianship of a sex-starved, meth-cooking madwoman. Out on the streets, they befriend a slinky dancing cat who leads them to a magical manhole, transporting them back in time to Paris, France in 1815. Trading in one poverty-plagued lifestyle for another, Arnie gives up the desire to find their parents and joins forces with a gang of pick-pocketing prostitutes, led by the mysterious Fagin.

Life becomes even more dire when Mama Moneybags, a corrupt Republican from the future, takes it upon herself to put Fagin’s troupe out of work. Thankfully, there’s a bounty of colorful, destitute characters to help save the day, such as the tuberculosis-ridden Pantene, a feral Beggar Woman and Nance, the classic hooker with a heart of gold. 

Will the sun come out tomorrow? Do you hear the people sing? Will we be changing all of the lyrics to avoid being sued? Yes!

PLEASE NOTE: The Chopin Theatre's downstairs space is not accessible and requires the use of stairs to enter and exit. We apologize for the inconvenience.