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Political Theater

The ‘rock and roll poetry’ of Joe Iconis’ Hunter S. Thompson musical

·35 min·3 clips
Joe Iconis spent 15 years creating an unauthorized musical about Hunter S. Thompson's life, now playing at Signature Theater.
The episode begins with host Jason Dick introducing the concept of using musical theater to understand contemporary politics, specifically through Joe Iconis's Hunter S. Thompson musical. Iconis explains that the idea originated around Thompson's death in 2005, when he discovered accounts revealing Thompson as both a wild man and a serious political writer. The musical development took 15 years, with Iconis initially keeping distance from Thompson's family to maintain artistic freedom. Iconis describes the show's world premiere at La Jolla Playhouse and its current run at Signature Theater, which he notes is Stephen Sondheim's favorite theater. He discusses influences from Sondheim, William Finn, and Jonathan Larson, all known for politically charged musicals. The host shares his personal connection to Thompson as a political science student who read Thompson's columns about Phoenix. Iconis recounts his recent visit to Thompson's home in Woody Creek, Colorado, arranged through the Wheeler Opera House in Aspen. He describes singing the musical's final song 'Kaboom' on Thompson's piano with his widow Anita present, calling it a magical experience. The conversation turns to how Thompson's writings about Nixon and 1970s politics resonate today, with Iconis noting lyrics written years ago feel current. They discuss the cyclical nature of history, referencing a George Wallace campaign button with the slogan 'Make America Great Again.' Iconis argues that creating hopeful art is particularly important during dark political times. The host mentions seeing the show with his wife and encourages listeners to attend before it closes on July 13th. Iconis expresses hope to bring the musical to Broadway and eventually tour it nationally and internationally. The episode concludes with the 'Words of the Week' segment defining gonzo journalism, credited to Hunter S. Thompson.

As heard by us

Joe Iconis makes the case for an unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson musical built around complication.

Joe Iconis's untitled, unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson musical gives Political Theater a sturdy way in: politics filtered through the messy business of making a difficult writer theatrical.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

Press play if Hunter S. Thompson's complicated life sounds better refracted through songs, stage lights, and a conversation with Joe Iconis than through a straight biography.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →
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