The Inclusive Musical
A Satire About Advertising
THE SCENE
We've all sat in that casting session. The one where you're trying to cram the entire demographic spectrum of Earth into a 30-second yogurt commercial. Where inclusion stops being a value and turns to abject tokenization. We wanted to capture that specific reflex: how we weaponize diversity until it becomes its own parody.
THE DREAM
My writing partner and I are developing a full-length musical that explores the advertising industry and how it reflects and concentrates the greater cultural issues at play. To prove the concept could work, we decided to produce and shoot the show's explosive opening number "Interracial Couple In A Cheerios Ad." Because the only way to handle such serious topics is with Old Hollywood song and dance.
PRODUCTION
We managed a cast of 25 and a crew of 35. Broadway-level choreography. A custom set build. Quick change costumes for the entire cast. A professional tumbler. A skin-tight dalmatian latex suit. The logistical complexity of a small Super Bowl spot. It remains the most complicated and exciting project I've ever touched.
RECEPTION
Turns out this specific advertising flavor of hypocrisy is a crowd-pleaser.
We won the Audience Award at the surprisingly prestigious Dances With Films and screened at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in LA. Got into over 30 film festivals globally. Proved that niche industry satire can still pack a house in Hollywood.
We brought on director-choreographer Christine Lakin, who choreographed and directed Disney Channel's High School Musical and many episodes of The Goldbergs.
THANKS TO THE TEAM
Co-Creator: David Roth | Music Director: Nick Gage
Film Director: Christine Lakin | Choreographer: Anna White
Editor: Andy Green | Production Company: Steve Unlimited
