'We Will Rock You' at Ophelia's Jump Productions

OC Theatre Guild
Jul 7
4 min read

Updated: Aug 2

In an AI-dominated post-apocalypse, can the Bohemians save the world from the rule of the killer queen?

"We Will Rock You" at Ophelia's Jump Productions. Photo courtesy of Steven Felshundneff

By Anne Reid

This summer, Ophelia’s Jump Productions (OJP) is shaking things up with “We Will Rock You”, a fierce, funny, and futuristic jukebox musical set in a world where live music is outlawed and corporate control reigns. Fueled by Queen’s iconic anthems and a rebellious spirit, the show opens under the stars at Pomona College’s Sontag Greek Theatre, inviting audiences to rock out and reflect on the power of individuality, creativity, and resistance.

“We Will Rock You” takes place 300 years in the future, where humans are banned from creating music. In this standardized, commodified world where only AI-generated music is allowed, a group of Bohemians seeks to break the repressive rule of the Killer Queen and learn to make music again. The story was written by Ben Elton and is packed with unforgettable hits like “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “We Are the Champions,” “Somebody to Love,” and, of course, “We Will Rock You.”

The show tells the story of two outsiders, Galileo and Scaramouche, who dare to defy the regime and rediscover the lost magic of music. Along their journey, they join forces with an underground group known as the Bohemians-- dreamers searching for a way to bring music back to a world silenced by Globalsoft, a mega-corporation led by the ruthless Killer Queen.

For Producing Artistic Director Beatrice Casagran, the decision to mount this explosive musical marked a bold shift from tradition. “We’ve been producing the Midsummer Shakespeare Festival since 2014,” Casagran said. “But this year, attendance trends told us we needed something different-- so we chose a rock musical with a message, one that speaks to the moment.”

Casagran, who co-founded Ophelia’s Jump Productions 14 years ago in Upland, has built a company centered on representation and risk-taking. “We were founded by queer women, and we focus on work by and for women, Latinas, and other marginalized communities,” she said. “We like artists who don’t color inside the lines.”

For Casagran, “We Will Rock You” hits close to home. “It’s about the soul of art and how corporate control-- even AI-- is starting to strip it away,” she explained. “AI-generated art lacks intention and humanity. This musical asks what happens when we lose that. The Bohemians are searching for music again in a world where AI and corporations run everything. That’s not far off from where we’re heading.”

Director and choreographer Michelle Elkin agrees. An L.A.-based creative with credits in television, film, and theater, including choreography for “Georgie and Mandy’s First Marriage” on CBS-- Elkin brings a bold aesthetic and emotional depth to the production. “I want this show to have an edgy steampunk feel,” Elkin said, “but I also want the audience to care deeply about these characters in a truthful way.”

Elkin came on board after a chance social media connection when an actor from a previous project tagged her in Casagran’s post looking for a choreographer. “We did a Zoom, and by the end, we both knew I should direct and choreograph,” she said. “I’d been craving a rock musical, and Queen’s music is unmatched.”

Casting was one of Elkin’s favorite parts of the process. “I’ve worked with some of the best performers in musical theater,” she said. “This cast is diverse, dynamic, and insanely talented. I even chose to gender-flip two roles-- Khashoggi and Buddy-- who will both be played by female-presenting actors. It adds something fresh and powerful.”

As for the experience itself, audiences can expect more than just a show. “It’s a beautiful spot outdoors,” Casagran said of the Greek Theatre. “We open the grounds early so people can picnic on the lawn, there’s food for sale, and a pre-show Shakespeare ‘Green Show’ to enjoy. It’s a full evening of theater under the stars.”

Casagran’s personal journey adds another layer of depth. Born in Cuba, raised in the U.S., and educated as a lawyer, she left law after a family illness and returned to her creative roots-- starting a catering business before going back to school and launching Ophelia’s Jump. “My whole life I’ve wanted to do theater,” she shared. “My parents were artists. My uncle was Cuba’s Minister of Art. It’s in my blood.”

With “We Will Rock You”, Casagran and Elkin are delivering more than a musical-- they’re staging a battle cry for creativity, authenticity, and joy. “My vision is for the audience to feel the rawness of these characters,” Elkin said. “I want people to leave with the sense that love, music, and the next generation really can save the world.”