Under the Influence

Book/Music/Lyrics By: Ernie Lijoi

Additional Music by: Lawrence Rush and Kevin Laursen

Under the Influence, a comedic, musical sendup of our cultural obsession with vices and the capitalism that markets them to us, follows one night in the adventures of a multitude of Anitas - Anita Smoke, Anita Drink, Anita Shot - as she navigates an array of vices and influences - coffee, alcohol, nicotine, chocolate, religion - that stalk her in the personification of a cabaret Emcee as she attempts to find her way back home and wake up from this vice-driven nightmare. In the end her "waking up" means much more than just returning home from an extended dream.

Originally produced in 2015 by Fuse Theater Ensemble as part of their Outwrite Festival, it was nominated for four local awards and won for Best Original Score and Best Male Lead in a Musical.

A new production, with new songs and a new arc for the main character opened in September of 2017 at the Funhouse Lounge in Portland, OR directed by Rusty Tennant. This production was billed as Under the Influence - All Trumped Up, and edits were made specificially to lambaste our Orange Dictator.

"In a word, it's Stupendous! It's bound for Broadway, or should be, as it's deserving, in story, music, lyrics, dialogue and cast of bigger horizons to follow, all in the capable hands of Ernie Lijoi, who conceived the whole experience." - Dennis Sparks

Read the entire review here

Ernie Lijoi

Ernie produced three albums as a young recording artist in the early 2000's. His last CD "Better Days" was awarded "Best Unsigned Artist - Album of the Year" by Billboard magazine. He was also a member of the prestigious BMI Lehman Engel Musical theater workshop, where he took his songwriting to a more theatrical level. His songs have been recorded and performed by cabaret, choruses and jazz artists internationally

In 2015, he had two songs in the Broadway musical "It Shoulda Been you" directed by David Hyde Pierce starring Tyne Daly with a book by Brian Hargrove and music by Barbara Anselmi.

His own musical "Under the Influence" for which he wrote book, music and lyrics was produced in Portland that same year and won a local Drammy award for "Best Original Score". A rewrite and a revival were produced in 2017 to great critical acclaim.

Ernie is now a board member for Fuse Theatre Ensemble which produces the Outwrite theater festival, an annual to showcase new works from the LGBT community.

Photos by: Greg Parkinson

Jessica Tidd and Ernie Lijoi - "How to Order Coffee"

Jessica Tidd - "Colombian Village"

Ithica Tell - "Under the Influence"

Sara Elizabeth and Ithica Tell - "I Wanna Be Barbie"

Jessica Tidd - "Barbie"

Sara Elizabeth - "Chocolate"

Ithica Tell - "Everyone and Everyone Else"

Sara Elizabeth and Ernie Lijoi - "Have a Beer"

Sara Elizabeth and Jessica Tidd - "Have a Beer"

Ithica Tell - "Here at the Ruby Slipper..."

Sara Elizabeth and Jessica Tidd - "White Christian Americans

Jessica Tidd - "White Christian Americans"

Sara Elizabeth, Ernie Lijoi and Jessica Tidd - "White Christian Americans"

Ithica Tell - "You're a Nation"

Ithica Tell and Sarah Elizabeth - "Max the Magic Moose Man"

Ernie Lijoi, Sara Elizabeth and Jessica Tidd - "Crackers"

Ernie Lijoi, Sara Elizabeth and Jessica Tidd - "Barbie Trio"

Ithica Tell - "The Great Juan Valdez!"

Cast - "On your back that mean little monkey..."

Show Info

This show is, by design, simple to produce. There are 4 actors and a pianist. It can be done simply, with one set, and everything else being props and costume changes.

CAST

ANITA - An everywoman. Not a typical ingenue. Any age. Any size. She plays simultaneously, a multitude of Anitas who are all fundamentally the same person.

EMCEE - Non binary gender. Controlling with a hint of danger. Talks directly to the audience and is in cohoots with the pianist. Pronouns 'they and 'theirs'. They control the entire evening.... until the end.

WOMAN - Minion of the EMCEE. Any age. Plays a multitude of characters. Must be a great singer and comedien.

MAN - Minion of the EMCEE. Any age. Plays a multitude of characters. Must be a great singer and comedien.

PIANIST - Has a few lines. Can be on the stage or off. I like them on.

Licensing

Just use the contact page to request a script or any other info about the show

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