Abduction, an original science-fiction musical comedy created by Columbia College Chicago alumni T.J. Pieffer ’18 and Brad Kemp ’12, is being presented in a staged reading as a benefit for UNICEF humanitarian support in response to the war in Ukraine. The show will be presented THREE PERFORMANCES ONLY – Thursday, June 23, June 30, and July 7, at 7:30 PM each night at the Newport Theatre, located at 954 W. Newport in Chicago’s Belmont Theatre District. For $10 tickets, click here.

The cast of the upcoming performances includes Columbia College Chicago Theatre Department alums Sydney Richards ’18 and De’Jah Jervai ’18, both graduates of the Theatre Department’s BA Program in Musical Theatre; David Gallo ’18, a graduate of the Theatre Department’s BA Program in Acting with a Minor in Voiceover; Lizzy Murray ’20, a graduate of the Theatre Department’s BFA Program in Musical Theatre Performance; and Redding Tews ’20, a graduate of the Theatre Department’s BA Program in Comedy Writing and Performance. Also in the cast is Columbia College student Marcus McGee.

TJ Pieffer

Pieffer, who wrote the show’s book and cowrote the lyrics, is a graduate of the Columbia College Chicago Cinema and Television Arts Department’s BA Program in Television with a Concentration in Writing and Producing and a Minor in Acting from the Columbia College Chicago Theatre Department. He is directing the upcoming performance and is also in the cast. Pieffer is also digital marketing manager for Broadway In Chicago.

Brad Kemp

Kemp, the show’s composer, is a graduate of the Columbia College Chicago Music Department‘s Bachelor of Music Composition program and also took courses in the Theatre Department’s Musical Theatre program. He will be the music director for the upcoming performances.

Jen Sloan

The show’s assistant director is Columbia College alum Jen Sloan ’17, a graduate of the Theatre Department’s Theatre Directing program. And Columbia College alum Bethany Schmieder ’20, a graduate of the Theatre Department’s Comedy Writing and Performance BA program, is the stage manager.

Set in the small town of Pluto, Pennsylvania, Abduction concerns Pippa Peterson, a high school student body president, whose social footing crumbles after she witnesses an alien abduction. As a wave of paranoia spreads through the town, Pippa must convince the people of the grave danger they’re truly in. Will they escape the clutches of hungry, flesh eating aliens in time for this year’s Corn Fest? Abduction features an original score of catchy pop tunes, snappy dialogue, and a talented local cast. As previously reported in this blog, Abduction was presented at the 2019 New York Musical Festival.