The authors clockwise from left: Joel McCrary, Mathew Smith Young, Kelly Holden-Bashar, Cory Rouse, Peter Allen Vogt, Ryan Smith, Steve Purnick, Allen Simpson, Edi Patterson, Brian D. Bradley, Lisa Fredrickson
In 2004, Joel McCrary and Kelly Holden-Bashar were at the dog park talking about every movie out there being turned into a broadway musical. They agreed the idea of a Lord of the Rings musical was laughable... but what if it were supposed to be funny? That was the spark that started Fellowship!
Over the next few months, they wrote the book for the parody musical. Then with friends that were fellow actor/improvisors, they had a script reading. Surprised that the early draft was in good shape, Kelly and Joel asked composer Allen Simpson to join the team, and they began writing songs along with the original cast, using a highly improvisational and collaborative process.
In December of 2004, the show opened to critical acclaim, leading to the run being extended several times. What was supposed to be a three-week workshop production turned into six months of sold out houses. In 2005, Fellowship! moved to San Diego and the Lyceum Theater with a production for fans at Comic-Con.
After receiving the stage rights from the Saul Zaentz Company in 2009, Fellowship! mounted a hugely successful run at the Falcon Theater (now the Garry Marshall Theater). In 2010, the creators teamed with production company Senovva and took the show to the New York Musical Festival. The show has since been re-mounted several times across the U.S.
Fellowship! currently available for professional licensing click CONTACT to receive more information
