Looking for something new and mid 1990's nostalgic to enjoy over the weekend? Remember those house parties you've gone to with your pals from the high school play? Writer and director Jonathan Wysocki is making his feature film debut with semi-autobiographical film Dramarama. The film has been selected as part of the Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ Film Festival.
Making his feature film debut, the movie stars Nick Pugliese as the film's lead Gene about to attend one final murder mystery costume party with four of his high school friends. Newsies fans will recognize Nico Greetham as Oscar in the film as he seized the day in Newsies on Broadway. The remainder of the film's cast have worked on television like Rose played by Anna Grace Barlow ("Scream Queens," "Supernatural"), Claire played by Megan Suri ("The Brink," "Atypical"), Ally played by Danielle Kay ("Artificial") and Zak Henri ("Bunheads," "Awkward," "Days Of Our Lives").
The film's synopsis sets the scene best: "Escondido, California, 1994. It's the end of summer and Gene is preparing for his high school drama friends’ final murder mystery slumber party. The theatrical hostess, Rose, will fly off to start college the next morning, followed by earnest Claire, magnetic Oscar, and sarcastic Ally. Yet Gene has bigger problems than being left behind by his best friends: he wants to come out of the closet – but is terrified of what his sheltered Christian best friends might think. Jonathan Wysocki’s nostalgic, funny debut feature is a poignant love letter to drama nerds, late bloomers, and the intense friendships of youth."
Musical theatre fans will love the calls out to Stephen Sondheim's Into The Woods and A Little Night Music. It is bound to make any former musical lead or stage crew member to feel nostalgic for those days hanging out with your friends sometimes having those tough conversations and bonding over a bowl of potato chips. You'll remember sharing secrets about who you're crushing on to your best friend without anyone finding out or arguing about the lead roles you didn't get. The small ensemble cast are so fantastically unique, audiences are bound to think "oh you know, I remember someone in our group of friends who was just like Ally." You'll want to grab your non-alcoholic sparkling cider and check out this coming of age film with some thoughtful, fantastic theatre flair.
Dramarama will be available online at midnight Pacific Time starting August 22, 2020 for 72 hours (or until viewership limit is reached). For those of you on the West Coast, Dramarama will also receive an additional drive-in screening at Calamigos Ranch in Malibu on the final day of OutFest, Sunday, August 30th at 7:45pm. Learn more here about how to watch. On Saturday, the cast is participating in an Instagram Pajama Premiere Party that you'll want to add to you calendar!
Check out stills from the brand new Jonathan Wysocki feature film, Dramarama and be sure to keep up with the film on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
