Open Space Arts, in association with Emmy-winning Chicago producer G. Riley Mills and Kate Garassino (GB Productions), will co-produce the American premiere of GANGSTA BABY. The drama, which premiered at London’s Hope Theatre in January 2024, will again be directed by Rikki Beadle-Blair, who was appointed an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2016 Birthday Honours for his services to drama, and will star its playwright, Cameron Raasdal-Munro. The autobiographical play follows the story of the young gay sex worker “Junior” in the working-class city of Hastings, southeast of London, and his relationship with his homophobic gangster father. A Chicago cast to be named will join Raasdal-Munro for the three-weekend run of GANGSTA BABY, to play September 19 through October 5 in Open Space Arts, 1411 W. Wilson Avenue.
Cameron Raasdal-Munro. Photo by Isabelle Suwan.
GANGSTA BABY explores themes that represent often forgotten communities; the realities of growing up working class, sex work, of having incarcerated family members, the cruelness of internalized homophobia, classism and the truth of addiction. How growing up in a criminal class affects your perception of self, and what it is like to be raised in that environment as someone queer. After an exceptional stage reading at the Kings Head Theatre, GANGSTA BABY had a three-week run at The Hope Theatre in January 2024. It won the London Theatre website Pink Prince Theatre’s “Fringe show of the year,” and “Best male performer of the year” for Cameron’s portrayal of JUNIOR. Pink Prince Theatre rated it a five-star production, calling it “…a hard-hitting whirlwind of a show which doesn’t shy away from brutal honesty… a truly socially important piece of theatre.” The site oughttobeclowns.com praised it for its “kaleidoscopic look at what life on the other side of the tracks can look like, especially for queer kids, and how difficult it can be to chase away the shadow of violence once it has entered your world.”
The Chicago staging in Open Space Arts’ intimate 25-seat theatre will follow the tradition of London Pub Theatre, where GANGSTA BABY began. Co-producer Mills says “Chicago’s stages have long been home to fearless storytelling, making it the ideal home for a narrative that pushes boundaries and challenges societal norms. It’s an honor to share our story in a city that values bravery and creativity as deeply as we do, and we couldn’t imagine a more fitting home for GANGSTA BABY."
Tickets for GANGSTA BABY will be $30.00 general admission and $25.00 for students and seniors. Tickets will be on sale soon at www.openspacearts.org.
LISTING INFORMATION
GANGSTA BABY
US Premiere
By Cameron Raasdal-Munro
Directed by Rikki Beadle-Blair
September 19 – October 5, 2025
Co-produced by Emmy-winning Producer G. Riley Mills.and Kate Garassino (GB Productions)
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Sundays at 3:00 pm
Open Space Arts, 1411 W. Wilson Ave., Chicago
Tickets $30.00 general admission, $25.00 students and seniors. On sale soon at www.openspacearts.org
Junior is a queer sex worker in Hastings suffering from PTSD. His life is plunged into further turmoil during a booking with a new client when his homophobic gangster father “Senior” returns home. Why has his father returned? What does he want from his son? And why now? From writer and performer Cameron Raasdal-Munro, and director Rikki Beadle-Blair MBE, GANGSTA BABY explores themes of class, environmental issues, and how being shunned by a parent for being LGBTQIA+ can develop into internalized homophobia.
BIOS
Rikki Beadle-Blair MBE (Director) is a writer, director, composer, choreographer, designer, producer and performer, working in film, theatre, television and radio. Having written and directed 40 plays over the last 20 years, along with several feature films, shorts and tv series, he has won several awards including the Sony Award, the Los Angeles Outfest Screenwriting and Outstanding Achievement awards. His plays include GUTTED, BASHMENT, SHALOM BABY and the recent groundbreaking SUMMER IN LONDON, written for an all-trans cast of performers. He is also known for his work on several feature films and TV series, including the American feature BLACKBIRD starring Oscar-winning actress, Mo’nique, STONEWALL for the Killer Films New York and BBC Films, METROSEXUALITY For Channel 4, NOAH’S ARC for MTV LOGO as well as FIT, KICK OFF and BASHMENT for his own company Team Angelica.
Cameron Raasdal-Munro (Author, Performer), a native of Hastings, UK, made his playwriting and professional performing debut with GANGSTA BABY. For his portrayal of Junior, he was named “Fringe Performer of the Year” by PinkPrinceTheatre.com.
G. Riley Mills (Co-Producer) Gary is a playwright, screenwriter and producer. He’s won three Emmys for his work with NBC on THE LOST STORY OF EMMETT TILL: TRIAL IN THE DELTA.
Kate Garassino (Co-Producer), previous Executive Director of Bailiwick Chicago and Jeff Award-winning actress, is delighted to join G. Riley Mills, Cameron Munro, and Rikki-Beadle Blair in bringing GANGSTA BABY to Chicago audiences.
David G. Zak (Co-Producer) Zak’s award-winning work of over 40 years as a theater director ranges from the musical, ANIMAL FARM to JERRY SPRINGER THE OPERA to THE CHRISTMAS SCHOONER. He recently directed THE KRAMER PROJECT at Center on Halsted and MR. PARKER, MASSAGE THERAPY and SUNSETS For OSA. David produced Dan Pal's award-winning short film, COUNTING for Pride Films and Plays. Zak has received six Joseph Jefferson Awards for his work as a writer and director and was elected to the City of Chicago's Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame.
OPEN SPACE ARTS, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, is dedicated to combating homophobia and transphobia through the transformative power of creativity and cultural expression. Our mission is to foster inclusivity, promote understanding, and empower marginalized communities by utilizing various artistic mediums to challenge discriminatory beliefs and attitudes. OSA won some of the top honors in the Joseph Jefferson Awards for work produced in 2024, including Production of a Play – Short Run (COCK), Direction of a Play – Short Run (Michael D. Graham - LIGHT SWITCH), Performer in a Principal Role – Short Run (Philip Andrew Monnett – LIGHT SWITCH), and Performer in a Supporting Role – Short Run (Sonya Robinson – COCK) . Additionally, Open Space Arts has produced SUNSETS: TWO ACTS ON A BEACH, ROSENBERG, MASSAGE THERAPY, MERCY KILLING, MR. PARKER, “it’s been ten years since everyone died. a play about final girls” and THE KRAMER PROJECT in live performances. OSA also produces the Queer Expressions Film Fest, a hybrid fest of streaming and in-person events, which runs from November 1 to July 1 annually. Open Space Arts is led by David Zak.