Doctor, Doctor
Today’s health care system is no laughing matter. Greg LaGana and Barry Levy are two singing doctors concerned about managed care, reduced insurance coverage, hospital mergers and an almost complete disregard for prevention. The two doctors are so concerned, in fact, that they wrote “Damaged Care: The Musical Comedy About Health Care in America,” a 45-minute musical satire in which the two men play, well, doctor. Directed by Michael Schiralli, the musical features original songs by Brad Ross, and parodies of popular tunes such as “I Feel Pretty” and “That’s Entertainment.”
“The driving idea behind the show is the corporatization of health care, and that the change to big business was not beneficial to the general populous,” LaGana said. “Barry plays a power doctor of the new millennium, and I’m a burned-out hippie from the ’60s who is distraught by the changing industry.”
LaGana and Levy were students together at Cornell Medical College in New York during the late 1960s, when they began performing their musical satires about health issues and medical school at holiday parties. After collaborating on a performance for their 25th reunion, in 1996, they decided to take the show on the road. Since then, they’ve performed in 22 states.
“The show takes serious issues that are in many ways tragic and presents them in ways that are humorous, but still gets the message across,” Levy said. “We don’t pretend we have all the answers, but in the last scene we say that we’re all responsible for the mess we’re in, and we can do something together to improve the system.”
“We should all roll our sleeves up,” he added, “and get involved to work toward better health care in the United States.”
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Danny’s Skylight Room, 346 W. 46th St; Feb. 15, 22, 29 & Mar. 7, 2 p.m.; $10, plus $10 food/drink minimum, reservations requested. (212-265-8130, 212-265-8133 or www.damagedcare.com)
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