Watch These Five Fantastic Performances of The Wild Party Before Sutton Foster & the Encores! Cast Raise the Roof

The Wild Party is back in New York City for a few nights of drunken debauchery! Andrew Lippa’s Jazz Age love story is raising the roof at Encores! Off-Center from July 15 through 18. But wait, it gets better. It stars Tony winner Sutton Foster as Queenie, Steven Pasquale as Burrs, Brandon Victor Dixon as Black and Joaquina Kalukango as Kate. We’re so psyched, we’ve been playing the 2000 off-Broadway cast recording on a loop all week—but there are more amazing renditions of Lippa’s songs from all over the country on YouTube. Grab a bottle of bourbon and half a chicken and watch these five amazing performances of The Wild Party!


“Out of the Blue”
Angel Reda, University of Cincinnati (2003)
Before appearing in Broadway’s Chicago and Wicked on tour, Angel Reda played a blonde named Queenie in her college production of The Wild Party at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music. Watch her wail the hell out of Queenie’s first big number in the show.


“Look at Me Now”
Alex Zeto, Texas State (2011)
First of all, can we talk about this amazing set? We want to steal that gorgeous ‘20s-inspired backdrop for our office. Next, Alex Zeto is seriously giving original star Idina Menzel a run for her money in her impressive rendition of “Look at Me Now.” (There’s also video of her belting “Life of the Party”...you’re welcome!)


“A Wild, Wild Party”
Ball State University (2007)
If there’s one thing we know from The Wild Party, it’s that the best time for a Bible lesson about the Garden of Eden is when you’re totally wasted. Check out the awesome ensemble cast of the Ball State University production in Muncie, IN, totally nail the energetic number. We’re converts!


“Make Me Happy”
Corey Mach, Baldwin-Wallace College (2009)
Spoiler alert: If you haven’t seen The Wild Party and you want to keep the ending a surprise, don’t watch this clip. You’ve been warned. OK, now let’s talk about this clip—wow! Corey Mach, who is about to begin performances in Waitress at A.R.T., channels some seriously frightening Joker vibes as creepy clown Burrs alongside Rod Lawrence Ingram as Black and Chelsea Gidden as Queenie.


“Life of the Party”
Idina Menzel, Manhattan Theatre Club (2000)
We scoured the web for great covers of “Life of the Party,” and while there are tons, there's no one like the show’s original star Idina Menzel. Listen to her belt her heart out as wild child Kate in the original off-Broadway production. OK, we're now officially ready for the new Encores! revival to begin!