“A Very Merry Unauthorized Children’s Scientology Pageant,” which mocks Scientology and its celebrity stars won an Obie special citation reports Variety.
The Obies honor achievement in Off and Off Off Broadway theater, and are selected by a panel of theater critics and artists in New York City chaired by Village Voice theater editor Charles McNulty.
Promoted as an “ironic masterpiece,” the pageant production was a “completely unauthorized look at the Church of Scientology featuring a cast of children.”
Using the theme of Christmas the play was a parody of the “spectacular life story of L. Ron Hubbard…dissected against the candy-colored backdrop of the a traditional nativity play.”
A cast of 8-12 year-olds portrayed Scientology celebrities such as former sitcom star Kirstie Alley, John Travolta and “Top Gun” Tom Cruise.
The show, which sold out and was extended, was presented by the Les Freres Corbusier theater troupe.
Scientology’s New York representative didn’t seem to appreciate the spoof and no doubt was not amused by the production receiving rave reviews and now an Obie citation.
For former members of Scientology is no laughing matter, but during the New York theater season last year the purported “cult” at least provided the basis for some Christmas cheer.
Note: “A Very Merry Unauthorized Children’s Scientology Pageant” will be playing in the heartland of Scientology this Fall. The curtain goes up on the production in October and it will continue through November at the Powerhouse Theatre, located in Santa Monica, California.
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