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freeFall Theatre is gearing up to close its 26\/27 season with a gleefully chaotic new musical parody, Bash of the Titans, co\u2011written by Eric Davis<\/a>, Michael Raabe<\/a>, and Matthew McGee<\/a>. The trio has built a reputation for sending up pop\u2011culture universes with affection and precision, and this time they\u2019re diving headfirst into the neon\u2011lit, sword\u2011swinging world of 1980s fantasy cinema. For McGee, the spark came from looking at what audiences are craving right now. \u201cI think every theater company now is wondering what type of shows audiences want to see, and we\u2019ve seen that people really get into music and comedy,\u201d he says. Their 2016 intergalactic Pirates of Penzance spoof proved how much fun freeFall audiences have with genre\u2011bending mayhem. \u201cWe thought it was time to do a musical spoof of the 1980s swords and sorcery films. Eric had long wanted to program this into a season and so we made it the closer for 26\/27.\u201d<\/p>\n\ud83c\udfad NEW! Tampa Theatre Newsletter<\/p>\n
The creative process behind Bash of the Titans mirrors the show\u2019s playful energy. McGee describes a rhythm of early brainstorming followed by independent writing sprints before the team reconvenes to stitch everything together. \u201cAfter a few initial meetings, we all worked separately for the most part and then came together before rehearsals to refine and tweak the material. Something we are still doing now in the rehearsal process. Eric really worked on the structure, Michael on the arrangements and I have been punching up comedic material.\u201d That shared shorthand comes from a deep well of Gen X nostalgia. \u201cWe are all proudly Gen X and it\u2019s what we felt we knew the best in order to spoof the original material. That goes for references and songs. It\u2019s a celebration of our childhood.\u201d<\/p>\n
That nostalgia pulses through the score, which riffs on the decade\u2019s unmistakable sound. McGee explains that the team leaned into familiarity while reshaping it for parody. \u201cWe really tried to work hard to capture the sound of the time and make enough changes that the songs are parodies of other familiar 80s songs. Songs everyone knows.\u201d The story itself pulls from a wide constellation of Greek myths, all filtered through the trio\u2019s irreverent lens. \u201cWe knew we LOVED the idea of the Greek gods interfering with the lives of mere mortals. So, we used a real mix of the different myths. You\u2019ll see Medusa, Poseidon, Aphrodite, The Kraken, Pegasus and many more.\u201d<\/p>\n
Visually, the world of Bash of the Titans leans into spectacle with a wink. McGee describes it as \u201cAncient Greece meets Las Vegas showroom. It\u2019s kitschy fun!\u201d And while he\u2019s careful not to spoil surprises, he hints that one moment in particular will stop the show cold. \u201cI won\u2019t spoil it, but the Pegasus reveal is going to be a big hit.\u201d<\/p>\n For freeFall, the production fits squarely within the company\u2019s ethos. \u201cAs a company we tend to program shows that are more timeless than timely. We want a broad audience and this current show is truly for everyone.\u201d McGee hopes audiences leave with the same sense of delight the creative team felt while building it. \u201cI hope they leave feeling happy and excited about the next adventure we plan to take them on.\u201d<\/p>\n And as for what comes next, the team is dreaming big. \u201cWe are working harder and harder on pieces that could have a life beyond freeFall. Who knows? Bash of the Titans could be the next Titanique.\u201d<\/p>\n Bash of the Titans runs June 12 through August 2, 2026, at freeFall Theatre, 6099 Central Avenue in St. Petersburg. Learn more and buy tickets at\u00a0https:\/\/freefalltheatre.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n A twice-published author, multi-time award-winning playwright, magazine writer, theatre reviewer, and newspaper journalist with 30+ years in journalism and business copywriting, Deb is not one to shy … (read more about this author)<\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\nEven with all the winks and wildness, McGee is adamant that the show\u2019s heart stays intact. \u201cI think the plot holds up really well and could exist without the self\u2011referential and fourth wall breaking type of humor. The comedy is really just the cherry on top.\u201d That balance is helped by a cast he calls essential to the show\u2019s success. \u201cIt\u2019s a powerhouse cast and I\u2019m not sure it would work as well without these particular performers. We are thrilled we were able to book Kissy Simmons<\/a> and Victor E. Chan<\/a>. They are both so terrific as Aphrodite and Poseidon.\u201d<\/p>\n
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