Luigi: The Musical
CAST ANNOUNCEMENT: LUIGI: THE MUSICAL NYC STAGED READINGS JUNE 15-20
Luigi Mangione: Mike Cefalo (Broadway’s New York, New York)
Sam Bankman-Fried: Andre Margatini (Co-Writer and OriginalCast)
Diddy: Chine Ikoro (UCB)
The Guard: Phillip Taratula (The Skin of Our Teeth, And Just Like That, HBO)
The Comedic Musical That “Hit the Internet Like a Supernova”(Newsweek)
June 15, 7pm - SOLD OUT
June 17 at 7:00pm - SOLD OUT
June 17 at 9:30pm - low tickets
June 18 at 7:00pm - SOLD OUT
June 18 at 9:30pm - low tickets
June 20 at 7:00pm - SOLD OUT
MEDIA INQUIRIES TO KATHRYN MUSILEK: km@sharkpartymedia.com
NEW YORK, NY - The co-creators and Executive Producer of Luigi: The Musical, are proud to announce the cast for the upcoming staged readings. From Lin-Manuel Miranda’s New York, New York, Mike Cefalo will play the part of Luigi Mangione. From the original San Francisco cast of the as well as one of the writers of the show, Andre Margatini will continue in their beloved role of Sam Bankman-Fried with their “strong comedic chops” (SFist) and “the show’s best vocal performance” (SF Gate). Diddy will be played by the beloved viral UCB comedian, Chine Ikoro. The Guard will be played by Phillip Taratula who has been in several Broadway productions including The Skin of Our Teeth and Ginger Twinsies and TV and film including HBO’s And Just LIke That and High Maintenance.
Luigi: The Musical, the dark comedic musical which has evoked a resounding, viral response since its announcement and has sold out every date performed in its home city of San Francisco has inspired profound journalistic features in the New York Times, NPR’s All Things Considered, and Washington Post to name just a few. The NYC debut in June kicks off a new iteration of the hit show in the form of a staged reading at The Green Room 42 (570 10th Av inside The Yotel).
The show was inspired by the bizarre true story of three high-profile inmates (Luigi Mangione, Diddy and Sam Bankman Fried) who were all held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn at the same time. What began as an idea scribbled on a napkin at the SF Eagle has become one of the year's most talked-about independent theater debuts with coverage from Stephen Colbert, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Independent and many more in addition to the aforementioned major features. As Newsweek put it, “the musical itself hit the internet like a supernova, instantly going viral.”
Part comedy, part social commentary, Luigi: The Musical reimagines larger-than-life public figures as exaggerated characters representing three disillusioned pillars of American life: healthcare, Hollywood, and tech. "Luigi: the Musical uses comedy to bring deeper questions to the surface," says creator Nova Bradford. "Why did this case garner the reaction that it did? And what happens when people stop trusting their institutions?"
Luigi: the Musical doesn't glorify violence, it interrogates it. Beneath the absurdity and punchlines (SF reviewer ‘Wonder Dave’ calls it “a beautiful, queer, chaotic lightning rod”) lies a serious critique of how violence is packaged and consumed in American media. The show takes aim at a culture where brutality is both entertainment and spectacle, inviting audiences to laugh while also asking why we're so quick to tune in when someone gets hurt. But it goes further, examining how violence is not just the act of individuals, but of elite institutions like healthcare, Hollywood, and tech through their neglect and lack of accountability. Through sharp satire and irreverent humor, Luigi: the Musical uses comedy as a tool to expose just how normalized, and profitable, violence has become, challenging viewers to reckon with their own responses along the way.
Luigi: The Musical will hold its staged readings June 15-20 at The Green Room 42. Media space is limited but PR inquiries can be sent to Kathryn Musilek: km@sharkpartymedia.com
MEDIA ADVISORY DETAILS AND ASSETS:
WHO:
Created by: Nova Bradford
Book by: Nova Bradford, Arielle Johnson, Andre Margatini, and Caleb Zeringue
Music by: Arielle Johnson
Lyrics by: Arielle Johnson and Nova Bradford
Branding and Logo Designer: Caleb Zeringue
CAST:
Luigi Mangione: Mike Cefalo
Sam Bankman-Fried: Andre Margatini
Diddy: Chine Ikoro
The Guard: Phillip Taratula
WHAT: Staged reading of the viral satirical hit, Luigi: The Musical - the show’s NYC Debut
WHERE: The Green Room 42, 570 10th Ave, NYC
WHEN: 90 minute run-time
June 15, 7pm - SOLD OUT
June 17 at 7:00pm - SOLD OUT
June 17 at 9:30pm - low tickets
June 18 at 7:00pm - SOLD OUT
June 18 at 9:30pm - low tickets
June 20 at 7:00pm - SOLD OUT
TICKETS: $29-$79, 21+
Luigi: The Musical Online: Website - Instagram
About The Creators/ Producers/ Cast:
Nova Bradford (Creator, Writer, & Lyricist)
Nova Bradford is a satirist, scholar, and writer exploring the space between the academy and the underground. At the intersection of science, art, and society, Nova’s work takes many forms---including academic research, creative writing, and performance art. Nova is also a director, producer, and performer known for works that blend comedy with social critique. She is one half of Bread & Circuses, a production company which she runs with partner Andre Margatini. The duo is currently shooting a television show, THESPIANS, a mockumentary about the San Francisco theater troupe that created Luigi: the Musical.
Arielle Johnson (Composer, Writer, & Lyricist)
Arielle is a standup comedian, writer, lyricist, choreographer, and pianist who enjoys taking (musical) risks and collaborating with other artists. Standup credits include Ruckus Revival, Castro Comedy Cabaret, and Don't Tell Comedy. She has written and directed one previous musical, "The Minotaur: A Dark Comedy About Losing Your Mind In Grad School".
Andre Margatini (Writer, Role of Sam Bankman-Fried)
Andre Margatini (they/he) is a Bay Area based author, filmmaker, and performer who got their start at the Magnet Theater in New York. They are the author of Fred: An unbecoming woman and they were on the writing team for Luigi: the Musical before originating the role of Sam Bankman-Fried. Andre is currently filming a television show, THESPIANS—a (slightly) fictionalized account of the San Francisco theater troupe that created Luigi: the Musical—which they are writing and directing alongside partner Nova Bradford.
Caleb Zeringue (Writer)
Caleb Zeringue is a comic, writer, and producer who executive produced the original run of Luigi the Musical, scaling it from a gay dental office in the Castro to a sold-out international phenomenon covered by the New York Times, NPR, and CNN. As a stand-up, he's a NYC Queer Comedy Festival finalist with sets at Cobb's, The Stand, Gotham, and Edinburgh Fringe. His latest, The Drill Master, co-written with Jenny Zigrino (Dropout, SiriusXM), is the mostly true story of America's gayest founding daddy. The staged reading at The Elysian in LA starred Zigrino and Zeringue alongside Bobcat Goldthwait, Cameron Esposito, Adam Conover, and Dylan Adler. A fall NYC run is to be announced.
Mike Cefalo: Cast, Luigi Mangione
Mike has appeared on Broadway in New York, New York, Off-Broadway in White Rose, Uh Oh!, and A Day in Hollywood / A Night in the Ukraine, and starred in the national tour of The Band’s Visit. Film: Movie With All My Friends and The Old Guitarist opposite Dominic Chianese. Next up, catch Mike as the voice of PAC-MAN in the animated series PAC-MAN Snack Breaks. @mikecef
Chine Ikoro: Cast, Diddy
Chine Ikoro is a comedian, actress, and writer based in New York City. She is a mainstage performer at Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, where she recently completed her second season with house character team BETTY and performs regularly on their premiere weekend sketch show ASSSSKETCH. Her original characters and sketches have gone massively viral across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Catch her performing sketch, characters, and standup regularly across NYC.
Phillip Taratula: Cast, The Guard
Broadway: The Skin of Our Teeth (LCT). Off Broadway: Ginger Twinsies (The Orpheum), The Beastiary (Ars Nova); Becomes a Woman (Mint Theatre Co) National Tour: What the Constitution Means to Me
Regional: Yale Rep, Barrington Stage, Syracuse Stage, Two River, Huntington, Humana Festival, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Portland Stage, Tuacahn, Gulfshore Playhouse, O’Neill Conference, North Shore Music Theatre, Film / TV: Almost Love; “And Just Like That (HBO Max), “Dr. Death” (NBC/ Peacock), “High Maintenance” (HBO), “For Life” (ABC), “FBI” (CBS), “The Outs” (Vimeo Originals). BFA, Boston University
Praise for Luigi: The Musical:
“It’s campy, it’s silly, and it’s such a wild success in San Francisco that it might get a national tour.” - Vice
“A Beautiful, queer, chaotic lightning rod.” - Wonder Dave
“Hilarious in its irreverence and uncomfortable in the truth-telling under the jokes,”
- Broke Ass Stuart
“one of the year’s weirdest, wildest, and most unexpectedly profound new shows”
- Instinct Magazine
"[Luigi: The Musical] proves that we still crave theater that helps us make sense of current events and envision fresh political possibilities." - San Francisco Chronicle
“Currently packing in audiences—and now extended—at The Independent Theater, Luigi: The Musical is a sharp, clever, and gloriously irreverent parody of pop culture and current events.” - Stage and Cinema
ABOUT THE GREEN ROOM 42:
THE GREEN ROOM 42 opened in 2017 and has since become one of New York City’s most celebrated destinations for live performance, dining, and special events. Rising above Times Square, The Green Room 42 brings together a Cabaret, Rooftop, and Supper Club under one dynamic brand—offering nightly shows, all-day dining from breakfast through dinner, and a vibrant seasonal rooftop bar that showcases the city from above. Since its debut, The Green Room 42 has redefined the modern cabaret experience in NYC. The venue has hosted more than 5,000 artists—including icons such as Lillias White, Josh Groban, Sara Bareilles, Tina Fey, Katharine McPhee, Bowen Yang, Bette Midler, and Judy Kuhn—cementing its status as a powerhouse home for Broadway’s biggest stars and the industry’s most exciting emerging talent. Guests enjoy inspired dishes, signature cocktails, craft beer, and a curated wine list—served table-side to elevate every performance. With flexible, beautifully designed spaces across the Cabaret, the Supper Club, and the Rooftop, The Green Room 42 stands as a premier destination for unforgettable nights out, social gatherings, and private events of any size. Tickets and reservations are available at www.TheGreenRoom42.com. The Green Room 42 is located at 570 Tenth Ave.
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