Jack Bauer: The Musical stages world premiere

<span style=”font-size: 12pt;font-family: “Bookman Old Style&quot&quot&quot”>Following in the footsteps of Happy Days and other Broadway musicals of TV shows, a stage version of the hit Fox series “24” opens tonight at Atlanta’s Appliance Theatre. The Broadway-bound Jack Bauer: The Musical uses song and dance to add a new dimension to the War on Terror.



Based on our “agents” who have seen preview performances, Jack Bauer: The Musical presents an original story reminiscent of “24’s” second, fourth and sixth seasons, with sinister terrorists plotting to detonate a weapon of mass destruction in Los Angeles. Musical numbers include the big, showy opener “CTU!” about the bustling Counterterrorism Unit office, described as “like something from How to Succeed in Business WIthout Really Trying, only with a big color-coded Terror Alert Level sign.”

Jack Bauer, a role made famous by Kiefer Sutherland, has solos that include the crunchy, rock-operatic number “Goin’ Rogue” and the tender ballad<span style=”font-size: 12pt;font-family: “Bookman Old Style&quot&quot&quot”> &#147;This Hurts Me (More Than It Hurts You)&#148; before he tortures the suspected terrorist who also happens to be his girlfriend. Supposedly Act Two offers a reprise with Bauer on the receiving end of the car battery and jumper cables, and the sinister-accented bad guy croons “This Hurts You (More Than It Hurts Me).” Rumors have yet to be confirmed that Jack Bauer: The Musical features an element of audience participation, in which a lucky ticket holder gets to be tortured on stage



Reportedly the producers chose not to call the show 24: The Musical because, given the TV series’ real-time premise, it would have to be either 24 minutes or 24 hours long, which makes no sense.

<span style=”font-size: 12pt;font-family: “Bookman Old Style&quot&quot&quot”>Jack Bauer: The Musical. April 1-31. Appliance Theatre, 1280 Peachtree Ascent. 404-555-1234.