Donald Trump is set to be parodied in a new musical that will see his ex-wives, current wife, and daughter take the spotlight—as well as Stormy Daniels, the former adult film actress at the center of his hush-money trial.
Five: The Parody Musical is set to debut off-Broadway on Monday, and will focus on that number of women in the former president and GOP frontrunner's life. The musical is a take on Six, the production about Henry VIII's wives.
"Ivana · Marla · Melania · Stormy · Ivanka," reads a tagline for the show, which will debut at Theater 555. "Divorced. Her-larious. Uncensored."
Newsweek has contacted representatives of Trump and Five via email for comment.
Trump was married to the late Ivana Trump between 1977 and 1990. Together they had three children, including Ivanka Trump, who is portrayed in the musical. Donald Trump was married to Marla Maples between 1993 and 1999. He tied the knot with his current wife, Melania Trump, in 2005.
However, the portrayal of Daniels in the musical is sure to raise eyebrows. Daniels has alleged that she had an affair with Donald Trump back in 2006, a year after he married Melania Trump. The allegations have led to much fallout for the onetime real estate mogul.
Donald Trump has been accused of arranging for his former attorney Michael Cohen to give Daniels $130,000 as hush money during his 2016 presidential campaign. The Republican denies any wrongdoing and has said the trial is part of a political witch hunt aimed at derailing his White House bid.
Cohen served as the master of ceremonies at a press preview for Five: The Parody Musical last week, and told The New York Times that he found the script "clever and funny." He explained that the show's publicity team had contacted him and asked him to read the script, "and if I liked it, if I would be willing to host the press conference."
Five is written by Shimmy Braun and Moshiel Newman Daphna, with music and lyrics by Billy Recc. Jen Wineman oversees direction and choreography. Cast members include Anyae Anasia, Gabriella Joy Rodriguez, Jaime Lyn Beatty, Gabi Garcia and Hannah Bonnett. Drag performer Jasmine Rice LaBeija features as Hillary Clinton, who Donald Trump defeated in 2016's presidential election.
Braun and Daphna said in a press release for the show that the musical "at least gives these women their moment in the limelight... and a chance to 'grab back.'"
Cohen also told the Times it was "interesting" that the press preview of Five was scheduled for Thursday—the same day as Donald Trump's hearing before Judge Juan Manuel Merchan. However, Cohen quipped, "anyone would be hard pressed to find a day to have a press conference that he's not being confronted with a legal issue."
On Thursday, New York Judge Merchan ruled that Donald Trump's trial will go ahead as scheduled on March 25. Merchan rejected Trump's calls for delays and a dismissal. Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony charges in the case; Daniels said in January that she is "set to testify" in the trial.
Former Trump ally Cohen served a three-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to charges including lying to Congress, tax crimes and campaign finance violations relating to the hush-money payments. His relationship with Donald Trump deteriorated following his sentence, and he has become a staunch critic of the former star of The Apprentice.
Cohen told the Times: "In all seriousness, it's easy for us all to sit here to make jokes about Trump or Trump's legal troubles, but there are real consequences at stake here, not just for our individual liberties but the future of democracy.
"With that being said, let's hope that justice is served. And not just with a well-done steak and ketchup on the side, but with some real repercussions, so we can all agree that no one is above the law."
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Ryan Smith is a Newsweek Senior Pop Culture and Entertainment Reporter based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on ... Read more
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