Having the ability to create art and music may be an obvious constitutional right in today’s world, but what if this wasn’t the case in a not-so-distant future?
“What I know to be true is that humans are made to create. We are creative beings. If that is taken away, then that means that as individuals, we are nothing without our creativity,” Robb Lott says.
Osceola Arts will play host to “We Will Rock You,” a jukebox musical directed by Lott featuring many of the greatest hits of legendary rock band Queen, at the Main Theater in Kissimmee from July 15-31.
“We Will Rock You” takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where the government has taken control of the production of art and music. Despite not even knowing what rock music is, a group of Bohemians strive to restore the world back to creativity and self-expression while fighting against those who destroyed creativity in the first place.
Although this musical is set in a world far in the future from today, its message can’t help but make the audience wonder what would happen if today’s government attempted to do the same. For Lott, he says being creative is inherent and vital for every individual. Without some form of creativity, he says the world will lose its sense of purpose.
“I think we would see a whole lot of depression, and a whole lot of misunderstanding and not knowing why. Just a loss of sense of purpose in the world,” he says.
Lott believes the world puts parameters on what is considered creative. He says even if a person works as an accountant, that individual is still solving problems in a way others would never imagine. Because of this, he says everyone needs that ability to create.
Bri Stefek, director of marketing and theater operations at Osceola Arts, says creativity in the world is what fuels individuality. Without it, she says day-to-day life would be incredibly bleak.
“It’s just the loss of self-expression. I feel like everyone would start looking and sounding like everyone else, because then you don’t have that expression to be unique and individual, and that would be a really boring, terrible place to be,” Stefek says.
As many people in the world continue to fight against the individuality and creativity flourishing in the LGBTQ community, the value of protecting self-expression is more important now than it ever has been. Lott says he wonders what would happen if people could no longer speak their truth and worries it would take a toll on those in the LGBTQ community who simply want to live their lives as their most authentic selves.
“I think (the loss of self-expression) resonates with people in a scary way, and they want to tell the story that says ‘No, we need to be able to express ourselves, we need to be who we are, and we need to be accepted for that and welcomed and enjoyed and appreciated and for all of the individuality that all of us bring,’” Lott says. “And the only way that we’re going to do that is by allowing people to express themselves and be who they are.”
In a musical that features a band that was known for constantly pushing the envelope with its music, Lott says lead singer Freddie Mercury resonates the feeling of self-expression in its highest form. Mercury has remained a queer icon even decades after his death, largely due to his dazzling stage presence and the ability to be his authentic self everywhere he went.
“His performances when he would step on stage was like, ‘This is who I am, and this is what I do,’ and I don’t think he was ever more at home than when he was on stage in front of thousands of people,” Lott says. “Because it was a feeling of ‘I can be who I am, because who I am is really big, and I need to show the world who I am.’”
With a performer of this caliber leading the music in this performance, Lott says his direction of “We Will Rock You” focuses a lot on matching that outrageous energy. He says he tells actors not to be interesting themselves necessarily, but to be interested in what is going on. In a show that features incredibly detailed costuming, futuristic sets, and iconic songs, the performance must match what the show itself brings to the table.
Stefek says the decision to show “We Will Rock You” was for the audiences at Osceola Arts to switch up their traditional lineup and give the audience a chance to try something new.
Although the classics are almost always worth seeing, Stefek says it is important to push new messages and show audiences a different story.
“It was a little bit of a departure from what old school traditional musicals are, and we’re very much on a path right now to expose our audiences to new and exciting art and theater, have a great time and have all the fun things you want to have in theater and that escape, but do it a little bit differently,” Stefek says.
“We Will Rock You” will be showing at the Main Theater of Osceola Arts from July 15-31, featuring local actors such as Natale Pirrotta, Sarah McKinney, Chadonné Whiskey, and more. Tickets can be purchased on the Osceola Arts’ website.
“Take a chance on musicals that you’re not familiar with and go see a show. Take a chance on a musical that you’ve maybe never, ever heard of, and expose yourself to something new,” Lott says.
