FROM THE MINDS OF NICHOLAS KAMINSKI AND GRAMMY-NOMINATED STEPHEN KAMINSKI THE DIRECTORS COMPANY PRESENTS THE WORLD-PREMIERE WORKSHOP PRESENTATION OF BIG FAMOUS, THE POLKA PONZI MUSICAL

MARCH 20-21, 2025
​NEW 42 STUDIOS

For more information, visit

www.directorscompany.org

The Directors Company (Leah Michalos, Producing Director; Michael Parva, Artistic Director) is proud to announce the workshop presentation of the new musical BIG FAMOUS, directed by Rachel Klein. This laugh-out-loud comedy features book, music and lyrics by Nicholas Kaminski and music and lyrics by Grammy Award nominee Stephen Kaminski. The presentation will occur on Thursday, March 20th, and Friday, March 21st at New 42 Studios (229 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036). For more information visit, www.directorscompany.org.

Meet Jan Lewan—the most ambitious polka star you’ve never heard of… until now. BIG FAMOUS is a high-energy, satirical new musical based on the unbelievable true story of a Polish immigrant who turned his accordion-fueled dreams into a glittering empire—by any means necessary.

With boundless charm, a big heart, and even bigger schemes, Jan builds a polka dynasty that stretches from Pennsylvania’s Polish halls to the casinos of Atlantic City and beyond. But when the money stops flowing, and the walls start closing in, will he con his way out of trouble?

Featuring a wildly infectious polka score, laugh-out-loud comedy, and a story so absurd it has to be true, BIG FAMOUS is a rollicking tale of music, ambition, and the American Dream gone spectacularly off the rails. Based on true events, audiences will be entertained from the first polka to the last!

“BIG FAMOUS is both an immigrant story and an exploration of identity in the face of an entertainment industry that demands conformity,” says co-creator Nicholas Kaminski. “It's also a show with heart, written by the people who lived it.”

“BIG FAMOUS  tells the compelling story of the pursuit of the American Dream,” pitches in his father and Grammy Award-nominee Stephen Kaminski, “only to have it go so very wrong. It is a story filled with laughter, choices, greed, tragedy, and, most of all, music!.”

"A polka ponzi scheme? I was intrigued by this story from the moment I read it,” exclaims director Rachel Klein. “I'm excited to work with the Kaminskis, the incredible father and son writing team, who were authentically a part of this world of 1980s/90s polka-mania, and tell this clever, heartfelt, and deeply entertaining story about an unconventional anti-hero."

The production stars Aaron Ramey (Young Frankenstein, The Bridges of Madison County, The Visit) as Jan Lewan, Dominique Scott (Rock & Roll Man) as Pally Pulaski, Britney Coleman (Company, Tootsie, Sunset Boulevard) as Diane Trent, Lisa Helmi Johanson (POTUS, Drag: The Musical) as Rhoda Jeleski, Leenya Rideout (War Horse, Company) as Zosia Brzeczyszczykiewicz, Brian Russell Carey (Cabaret) as Vick, while Devon Meddock, Tina Stafford, Avery Whitted, Louis Jannuzzi III, Andy Paterson, Carlos Velasquez Escamilla, and Laura Elizabeth Flanagan round out the dynamic ensemble. 

The presentation features music direction by Larry Pressgrove and associate direction by Josh Zacher. The production stage manager is Morgan Holbrook, with assistant stage management from Kelly Merritt.

The developmental workshop is presented by The Directors Company – Artistic Director Michael Parva, Producing Director Leah Michalos, and Associate Artistic Director Heather Arnson – and general management courtesy of Michalos Management LLC. Casting by Stephanie Klapper. Publicity by Katie Rosin/Kampfire PR.

Running Time: 2 hours 15 minutes (with an intermission)

For more information, visit www.directorscompany.org

NICHOLAS KAMINSKI (Book, Music, and Lyrics) is a composer/lyricist, music director and actor originally from Edison, New Jersey and now based in Manhattan. Of his songwriting, BroadwayWorld says “Mr. Kaminski has a talent for catchy melodies and wry, self-deprecating lyrics that have the elegance of Bock & Harnick combined with the bawdiness of William Finn. [...] It is well worth your time to check out this exciting new writing voice before you have to pay Broadway prices.” Nicholas holds his Bachelors of Arts in Music from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University and was a private songwriting student of Mark Hollmann (URINETOWN). Nicholas is also a music educator, currently teaching Musical Theatre Voice at Rider University and previously working as Music Supervisor at LaGuardia High School of the Arts in NYC, and as the Upper School Choir Director and Music Teacher for Golda Och Academy. 

STEPHEN KAMINSKI (Music and Lyrics) ​ is a versatile Grammy-nominated composer and arranger whose work has graced a wide range of entertainment mediums. With a career spanning over multiple decades, Kaminski has composed and arranged soundtracks for various film and television productions, showcasing his talent and versatility. His music can be heard on all major networks and streaming services. Notable credits in his extensive portfolio include the composition and arrangement of the soundtrack for THE POLKA KING (Netflix), starring Jack Black, which was released in 2017 on Netflix. His work also extends to the horror and drama genre with projects such as THE WOMEN IN THE ROOM  and ROAD VIRUS HEADS NORTH. Kaminski's expertise in composition and arrangement is further evident in his contributions to popular animated series like THE SHAMAN KING (Fox) and the theme for THE WORLD SERIES OF POP CULTURE on VH1. His portfolio also includes a diverse range of projects, from documentaries and theatrical trailers to orchestral works and radio ads. With a keen ability to tell stories through his music, Stephen Kaminski continues to leave an indelible mark on the entertainment industry. Kaminski is a graduate of Berklee College of Music in Boston with a degree in Film Scoring.

RACHEL KLEIN (Director) is an NYC-based director specializing in new musical development. Rachel most recently directed SPELLS OF THE SEA  at the Kennedy Center. Off-Broadway: THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO HEATHER (Theatre 555; starring Katey Sagal); RED ROSES, GREEN GOLD (Minetta Lane Theatre/ft. the music of the Grateful Dead); AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS (The Davenport Theatre); THE ANTHEM (Lynn Redgrave Theatre); THE OPPOSITE OF LOVE (Royal Family Performing Arts Space). Selected NYC: TINK! (NYMF); MORE THAN ALL THE WORLD (Theatre for the New City); CIRCUS OF CIRCUS (The House of Yes). Selected Regional: ESTHER: A NEW DANCE MUSICAL (starring Sharna Burgess of Dancing With the Stars); THE SUFFRAGIST (starring Nancy Opel), DEAD CERTAIN (composer: Air Supply's Graham Russell); 54 THE MUSICAL (starring Michaela Jaé Rodriguez and Frankie Grande). Selected Workshops & Readings: THE TROUBLE WITH DEAD BOYFRIENDS, HIGH PRIEST (Paul Iacono’s meditation on the Warhol Factory); HELEN (Starring Bonnie Milligan), ALMOST GOT ‘EM (starring Marc Kudisch, Alison Fraser, and Brooks Ashmanskas); MEDUSA: A NEW POP OPERA. Charity: Ms. Klein directed the charity roast of Michael Musto raising funds for the Callen Lorde Community Health Center, featuring Rosie O'Donnell, Bruce Vilanch, Bianca Del Rio, Randy Rainbow, and Jinkx Monsoon. Ms. Klein is a proud member of SDC, founding member of Iconoclast Theatre Collective, guest teaching artist at Fordham University, serves on the New Musical Screening Committee for NAMT, directed DOUBLE, DOUBLE  for Bite Sized Broadway (ft. Richard Kind) and is the Director/Showrunner of the audio series THE WORLD TO COME (ft. Adrienne Barbeau). www.rachelkleindirector.com

THE DIRECTORS COMPANY (Producer) is an award-winning not-for-profit theatre company with an extraordinary record in its mission to develop and produce groundbreaking new plays and musicals for the American theatre public. For 40 years, The Directors Company has mentored and supported emerging artists in the development of original theatre works from inception to production, providing artistic and dramaturgical guidance to promising, new theatre artists and their projects. The future of American theatre depends on a regular influx of new works, to which The Directors Company is committed, and the collaborative process we encourage involves not only the playwright and director but audiences as well, who play a part in the emergence of original works giving voice to contemporary concerns.

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