Performing in the 2014 Green Show Sunday, August 17 and Tuesday, August 19.
This is their second season in the OSF Green Show.
A Rag-Hop, Gospel-Soul, Musical Explosion of Epic Proportions.
The Unfortunates band is comprised of the writers and musicians involved with the 2013 OSF world premiere musical The Unfortunates. The group is made up of the hip hop a cappella band 3blindMice, singer-songwriter Casey Lee Hurt, members of the local folk band Hamfist and everyone's favorite drummer Mike Fitch.
About the show The Unfortunates:
A musical pilgrimage through uniquely American genres delivers five prisoners to salvation — or at least keeps the terror at bay. Facing an uncertain end, they bring to life the story of Big Joe, a tough bartender who risks everything to save the armless courtesan Rae from a deadly plague. Combining the heat of a gospel revival with the sweet sorrow of the blues, The Unfortunates convinces us that any great challenge can be faced with dignity, grace, and compassion.
Jesse Baldwin (Keyboards, Accordion, Guitar, Vocals)
Previous OSF credits: Eight seasons as a Lighting Technician and Green Show performer. Other theatres: Berkeley Repertory Theatre, California Shakespeare Theater, American Conservatory Theater, TheatreWorks, San Francisco Opera, Oakland Opera, San Jose Opera, Smuin Ballet, others. Other credits: Multi-instrumentalist in the Country/Bluegrass group Hamfist and the indie folk group Kites & Crows. Education: BA in literature and theatre, Reed College.
Jon Beavers (Vocals and Playwright)
Jon Beavers is a California-based actor and songwriter. Other credits: Member of 3BlindMice and the hip-hop duo 6Brooks, whose music has been featured in numerous television programs, including NBC’s Parenthood. Also a member of the Alto Nido Arts Collective. Actor: EST West in Los Angeles, Seattle Shakespeare Company, Les Dechargeurs in Paris. TV: Malcolm in the Middle, Nickelodeon’s music education program, The Fresh Beat Band.
Mike Fitch (Drums)
In two seasons at OSF: Handler, The Unfortunates. Other credits: Drummer/Percussionist for numerous Jazz, Latin, Funk, and Rock music ensembles in the Southern Oregon area. OSF Green Show musician, 2004–2005. Artist and graphic designer. Education: BFA in fine art, Southern Oregon State College.
Casey Hurt (Playwright, Music Director, Guitar and Vocals)
Casey is an indie-acoustic singer-songwriter from Los Angeles. Songwriter: He has made seven albums. His 2011 album, Mended Souls, debuted in the top 25 on the iTunes singer-songwriter charts. His music has been featured on many West Coast radio stations, including Seattle’s KEXP and Los Angeles’ KCRW. TV: His songs “Come to Me” and “Sunday Mornings” were featured on CW’s One Tree Hill; “I’ll Be Near” was featured on Necessary Roughness; “Favorite Sweater,” with the band Belles Bells, was featured on Jane By Design and as the closing credits for an indie film. His music has also been featured on Bar Karma and Current TV. Producer: He has produced numerous bands up and down the West Coast, including 6Brooks, Adrianne Richards, Plum, Parker Ainsworth, Bella Boncat. Performance: Performed with Tyrone Wells, Alex Boyé, Davey Faragher (played for Elvis Costello), Michael Urbano (played with Sheryl Crow, John Hiatt, Smashmouth). Tours: Has toured all over the U.S. and Europe.
Ian Merrigan (Vocals and Playwright)
Other credits: New York: Soho Rep, Lincoln Center Institute, Sonnet Rep, Target Margin, IRT Theater.
Regional: Circle X (Los Angeles), Seattle Shakespeare Company. Music: Featured on NBC, Current TV, IFC, KCRW, Symphonics Live. Shared stages with The Roots, KRS-One, Saul Williams. Bands: 3BlindMice, 6Brooks, The Polite 16, Member of the Alto Nido Arts Collective. Education: BFA, North Carolina School of the Arts.
Ramiz Monsef (Vocals)
This season at OSF: Angelo, Drummer and Ensemble in The Comedy of Errors; Lovell, First Murderer and Ensemble in Richard III. In six seasons at OSF: Enemy, Stack, Doctor in The Unfortunates; Paris, Patroclus, Ensemble in Troilus and Cressida; Nym, Jamy, French Soldier, Ensemble in Henry V; Black Swan Lab (2012, 2013); Pompey in Measure for Measure; Longaville in Love’s Labor’s Lost; Fortinbras, Player/King, Ensemble in Hamlet; Arragon’s Attendant, Ensemble in The Merchant of Venice; Romeo and Juliet; Richard II; Wild Oats; Titus Andronicus; As You Like It. Other: Playwright, The Unfortunates. Other theatres: New York: Eurydice (Second Stage Theatre), All That I Will Ever Be (New York Theatre Workshop), The Leopard and the Fox (Barrow Group), Betrayed (The Culture Project). Regional: The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity (Actors Theatre of Louisville); Mary Zimmerman’s Arabian Nights, Eurydice (Berkeley Repertory Theatre); One Short Sleepe (The Humana Festival of New American Plays); the Steppenwolf production of The Time of Your Life (Seattle Repertory Theatre, A Contemporary Theatre); Guantanamo (The Studio Theatre); Eurydice (Yale Repertory Theatre). Film/TV: Law & Order, The Watchlist (Comedy Central). Ramiz is involved in the underground hip-hop community and performs with his group 3 Blind Mice.
Joseph A. Porto (Bass and Vocals, The Unfortunates)
In 17 seasons at OSF: currently Assistant Technical Director / Project Manager. Scenic Carpenter, 1996–2007. Construction Supervisor, OSF Scene Shop: As You Like It (2012), Party People (2012), The White Snake (2012), The Pirates of Penzance (2011), She Loves Me (2010), Throne of Blood (2010), Well (2010), Henry VIII (2009), Macbeth(2009), The Servant of Two Masters (2009), Fences (2008), Othello (2008) and a dozen others. Other credits: Bassist for the local band Hamfist. Education: BA in theatre, Iowa State University.
The Unfortunates Band on Community: During the 2013 season we were very ingrained into the music and acting community in Ashland, Oregon. We're very close with the resident ensemble group Universes and have major ties to the hip hop community in New York and Los Angeles.
www.theunmusical.com