Sasquatched the Musical at Arsene Performing Arts Center

Insect repellant? Check! Extra water bottles? Check! Sasquatch? Che—Wait, what?

Just when you thought you have seen it all, Sasquatch gets his very own musical. Matthew Muns directs Sasquatched! The Musical, written by Phil Darg. This insanely ridiculous show follows the story of Sam, a boy who becomes lost in the woods and befriends the notorious creature of legend, Sasquatch better known as Arthur.

Caught in the crossfire of a TV Crew hungry for media fame and local bar owners seeking success for their rundown business, Sam and Arthur must protect one another and make it out of Columbia National Park!

Arsène’s black box venue, The Cathedral, transports you right into the heart of Columbia National Park, surrounded by trees and greenery amidst the stage lights and intimate setting.

As the show begins, the audience is thrust into an episode of “Modern Monsters” where they are introduced to co-hosts Chaz (Jacob Stoliker) and Dakota (Ayres Went) reporting live on recent sightings of Bigfoot. Perplexed and somewhat hurt by the strange reports, Arthur (Mason Gaida) expresses his heart through “Is That What You Think Of Me?”

Clueless camper, Bert (Sydney Carroll), catches sight of Arthur – The Sasquatch – and takes off running to propel the story forward when she enters the local tavern. Here she tells them of the “Eight Feet Tall (And Smelled Like A Skunk)” creature she spotted.

Due to her typical behavior, Bert’s claims are dismissed by the married bar owner duo of Zeke (Joshua Prim) and Thelma (Shannon Lafrate) Bodinsky. However, their lack of faith soon fades when they dig up their old costumes and plot the greatest Bigfoot hoax ushering future patrons with their, “Welcome To Bigfoot Central,” to boost business.

Meanwhile, “Helicopter Parents,” Jim (Matthew Muns) and Cindy (Mallorie Green) bring their son, Sam (Simon Bishop) to Columbia National Park to enjoy the natural beauty of the great outdoors. Here they meet “Eco-Friendly Park Ranger,” Pat (Sarah Pardington) who helps they determine their route through the National Park. Amidst the distraction, Sam sneaks off to explore the woods on their own and the chaos ensues.

The show follows multiple vignettes as the audience experiences shifting perspectives with the differing groups: the Australian TV Crew featuring Chaz, Dakota, and Steve (Austin Goulding) on the hunt for fame; Bar Owner Couple Zeke and Thelma hungry for money and success; Jim and Cindy desperately searching for their missing son; and Sam and Arthur who form an unlikely friendship meeting allies along the way like Chris the Seismologist (Lucas Thieme).

It’s wild, it’s zany, and it’s absolutely over-the-top. Audiences will be met with the silliest story and songs through this 1 hour and 30min run time that is fast paced and always unexpected. This farce keeps randomness as its top-priority, exploring the most chaotic parts of theatre as the energy of the cast never pauses.

The show is perfect for patrons of all ages as it avoids profanity and minor instances of adult humor. Prevailing through its simple plot and story, Sasquatched! The Musical is a wonderful story of friendship, family, and the desire to see people for who they are inside – beneath appearances.

Sasquatched! The Musical opens Friday, October 18 running through October 27, 2024 at The Cathedral in Macomb, MI.

Go to arseneperformingarts.com for tickets and information