Bloomsburg University Theatre is set to present “ANTI-HERO: REVENGE OF THE SW*FTIES,” a dark comedy by Derick Edgren Otero that explores the lengths superfans might go to defend their idol. The production, directed by Prof. David A. Miller, will run November 7-10 at the Alvina Krause Theatre in downtown Bloomsburg, with evening performances Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 PM and a Sunday matinee at 3 PM.
The 90-minute play centers around a group of Taylor Swift fans, known as Swifties, who gather on the eve of her “Midnights” album release in October 2022. Their mission? To force a critic named Scott Brunner to change his negative 2017 review of Swift’s “Reputation” album, which they believe unfairly impacted its Metacritic score.
The production involves approximately 50 students and staff members, including a cast of seven, a stage management team of three, and eight student designers. Additional crew members handle marketing, house management, and technical aspects of the show. Guest scenic designer Jen Varbalow has created an innovative set that cleverly represents internet spaces, with Swifties positioned on an elevated platform to distinguish their online world from the physical realm below.
Miller notes that while the show centers around Taylor Swift fandom, audiences don’t need to be Swifties to enjoy it. “It’s not a play about Taylor Swift as much as it’s about seeing, when somebody’s obsessed with a celebrity, how far would they go?” Miller explains. The production features special effects, including Swift-inspired butterfly elements in the lighting and scenery, along with distinctive visual elements for the Swifties’ characters that Miller promises will engage (and possibly creep out) audiences.
The production holds special significance as it marks the first staging of the play outside of Iowa, where playwright Edgren Otero developed it during graduate school. Some scenes were newly written this summer and will be performed for the first time, making this production part of Bloomsburg University’s “Plays in Bloom” program, which focuses on new play development.
Despite the show’s connection to Taylor Swift, audiences won’t hear any of her music during the performance due to copyright restrictions. Instead, the production employs creative solutions, such as characters wearing headphones while supposedly listening to Swift’s songs.
Students can obtain free tickets with their student ID either at the Haas Center for the Arts box office or at the theater one hour before curtain time. The show runs without intermission and promises to deliver both laughs and thought-provoking moments about celebrity obsession in the digital age.
The cast features Kelsey Sheffe as Cora, with Ymani Marseille-Garcia, Rho Keppley, and Gia DeLuca as her fellow Swifties. Kalie Peterson plays Cora’s mother, Bonnie, Colin Search plays music critic Scott Brunner, and Andrew Meschke plays Scott’s husband, Malcolm. The production team includes costume designer Abbey Bowman, sound designer Thomas Halko, lighting designer Mitchell Leso, stage manager Francesca Webb, assistant stage managers Gibby Goodenough and Amelia Heigel, dramaturg Emily Shaffer, and social media associate Katie Kuhlen.
