PHOTOS: MOTEL RASDELL Opens at Lowell Memorial Auditorium

Motel Rasdell, A New Musical based on local legends, opened last night at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium!

As college roommates, writers Christina Bracco and Danielle DeMatteo (a Tewksbury native) were sharing the stories of seedy motels in their hometowns, and decided that these stories would make a great musical. After writing a few songs and sketches, the project grew into a full-length piece that was picked up by producers in New York. The show ran in New York City in 2013 and 2014, Chicago in June of this year, and will be heading back to Chicago immediately following the Lowell run.

The local roots are clear in the show, which mentions the supermarket “Market Bucket,” and of course the “Motel Rasdell,” which inevitably conjures memories of a recently closed-down motel that made national headlines.

The year is 1948 and journalist John Applegate has everything a man could want: A beautiful home, a perfect family and a job promotion that’s sending him up the ladder at his newspaper job. So when his first project as chief reporter sends him to investigate the area’s most notoriously sleazy motel, he thinks nothing could possibly go wrong...until it does. Jazzy political satire Motel Rasdell follows what happens when John encounters the motel’s eccentric group of prostitutes and drug dealers, who are all just trying to make a living. When he exposes the lovable misfits’ biggest secrets, all hell breaks loose - will it be every man for himself, or will the Rasdwellers band together to save the only home they’ve ever known?

Motel Rasdell stars Arlington native Benjamin Sheff as John, the savvy and sly reporter that threatens the livelihoods of all of the Rasdwellers when his article exposes their deepest secrets. Growing up in Arlington playing baseball, Sheff never thought he could pursue acting as a career. But after graduating Lincoln Sudbury High School in 2007 (he was last seen on the Lincoln Sudbury stage playing the title role in “Pippin”), he moved to New York City and found success in the musical theatre world. As a part of the award-winning cast at the 2014 Westie Awards, Sheff rejoins Motel Rasdell for the second time.

Musical direction is by Anthony Sacco of Tewksbury, Set Design by recent Andover High School grad Sasha Schwartz, Costume Design by Maureen Krebs of Burlington, and Lighting Design by Jeff Boisseau of Leominster. Choreographed by Brendan Stackhouse, Associate Choreographer of Broadway’s 2015 TONY Award Winner for Best Musical, Fun Home.

Motel Rasdell runs at Lowell Memorial Auditorium July 9-19th, 2015. For more information and tickets, visit www.motelrasdellmusical.com!