The Imbible

The Imbible: A Spirited History of Drinking
Official logo of the original Off-Broadway production
Book	Anthony Caporale
Productions	2014 New York International Fringe Festival 2014 Fringe Encore Series 2014 Off-Broadway

The Imbible: A Spirited History of Drinking is an Educational entertainment musical with book and new lyrics by Anthony Caporale, and original musical arrangements by Josh Ehrlich and Anthony Caporale. Best known for creating the Video Podcast Art of the Drink, Caporale selected the music and created new arrangements with Ehrlich, an arranger for Voices of Gotham. The Imbible tells the story of how Western Civilization has been influenced by the introduction of alcohol consumption. Caporale is supported in the lead role by a trio of waiters who also serve as clowns, Greek chorus, and round out the parts of a barbershop quartet called The Backwaiters.

History

The Imbible was conceived by Anthony Caporale, a noted beverage educator and founder of Broadway Theatre Studio, a new play development workshop based in Manhattan. Development on the show began in 2011, following Caporale's Science of Mixology seminar at the Manhattan Cocktail Classic beverage show. Caporale based the book on the many presentations he developed as the National Brand Ambassador for Drambuie as well as classes he taught as a Culinary Management Instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education. In 2014, Caporale completed the first draft of the show to enter into the New York International Fringe Festival, where it was accepted to run for five performances. Following a critically-acclaimed, sold-out run at FringeNYC, the show was selected for an extension in the 2014 Fringe Encore Series at SoHo Playhouse.

After completing a sold-out run at the Fringe Encore Series, the show opened Off-Broadway in November 2014. The Imbible garnered overwhelmingly positive critical response, and continues to play to capacity crowds at the SoHo Playhouse.

Productions

FringeNYC (2014)

The Imbible premiered at the 2014 New York International Fringe Festival at the Celebration of Whimsey theater on August 8, 2014. The production was directed by Nicole DiMattei, with production design by Michael Leslie. The show was originally headlined by Anthony Caporale in the leading role, with The Backwaiters played by DiMattei, Ruthellen Cheney, and Ariel Estrada.

Fringe Encore Series (2014)

The Fringe Encore Series began on September 5, 2014 at the SoHo Playhouse in SoHo, Manhattan, New York. The show retained its original cast, and was originally booked for five performances through October 3, 2014. After selling out all five nights, it was extended for three additional performances through October 24, 2014.

Off-Broadway (2014–)

Due to its prior successful runs, the show remained at the SoHo Playhouse to open Off-Broadway on November 21, 2014. Caporale, DiMattei, and Cheney remained in the cast, which was expanded to add Alessandra Migliaccio and Kristie Wortman as swings. Ariel Estrada was replaced by alternates Will Allen and Mark Edwards. The show continues to run at SoHo Playhouse.

Characters and cast members

The cast members of all productions of The Imbible.

Character	Voice Part	Original FringeNYC Cast	Fringe Encore Cast	Current Off-Broadway Cast	Current Off-Broadway Cast Swing
The Bartender	Lead	Anthony Caporale	Anthony Caporale	Anthony Caporale	None
Cocktail Waitress	Soprano	Nicole DiMattei	Nicole DiMattei	Nicole DiMattei	Alessandra Migliaccio
Liquor Runner	Alto	Ruthellen Cheney	Ruthellen Cheney	Ruthellen Cheney	Kristie Wortman
Busser	Bass	Ariel Estrada	Ariel Estrada	Will Allen†	Mark Edwards†

† Alternates.

Themes and references

The Imbible loosely follows the structure of Joseph Campbell's monomyth with the hero's role being filled by ethyl alcohol. Taking the form of beer, ethanol is discovered lying in a basket and taken back to an unsuspecting people, where the foundling shows mysterious powers of healing and brings great joy to his people before setting off on an odyssey across the world. Great deeds and new challenges follow in Egypt, Arabia, Belgium, and India, and ethyl alcohol evolves through each; first into spirits, then medicines, and finally cocktails. Once mature, ethanol returns home to do battle with its arch-enemy, Prohibition. The hero is defeated and ultimately killed before being resurrected thirteen years later, when it emerges transformed and with the promise of a new era ahead. Michael Niederman of New York Theatre Review notes, "Caporale takes us on a millennia-long journey into just how much Western civilization has been influenced by the introduction and preservation of alcohol consumption. Basically, it is his thesis that without alcohol, it is very likely that we wouldn’t even have a civilization. In short, the regular consumption of alcoholic beverages made it possible for human beings to, in his words, 'not die'."

Reception

The Imbible received broad critical and audience praise for the plot, musical performances, actors' performances, and novel approach to education. Time Out New York called the show "remarkably compelling" and named it a Critics' Pick. Cocktailians.com said the show was "rollicking, charming, and delivers a ton of information." Lance Evans of StageBuddy reported, "The Imbible is educational and rip-roaring funny, with a talented and generous dose of song and dance."

Awards and nominations

Off-Broadway production

Year	Award	Category	Nominee	Result	Ref
2015	Best Of New York	Best Date Night		Won

See also

• Art of the Drink

External links

• Official website
• Producer's website
• Playwright's website
• Venue website
• "To Binge at the Fringe", The New York Times, August 11, 2014
• "The Imbible - A Spirited History of Drinking", Theatre Is Easy, August 23, 2014
• "The Imbible: A Spirited History of Drinking FringeNYC", NiteLifeExchange.com
• "The Imbible: A Spirited History of Drinking", Front Row Center, August 16, 2014
• "The Imbible: A Spirited History of Drinking ", NYTheater Now, August 10, 2014
• "Fringe NYC Mid-Festival Report", Maxamoo, August 19, 2014