(can’t) Let it go

(Can’t) Let It Go is a comedy set in New York on the eve of the 2016 election. It is the first film to depict the post-election hangover that many New Yorkers had in a humorous way. Simply put, it's a microcosm of all the uncomfortable and sometimes volatile conversations you've been having with friends and family over the last few years.

There are five vignettes featuring zany New York characters and their quirky, Seinfeld-esque interactions: an African American gay man being paid as a Trump stand in, a Hillary Clinton campaign worker moonlighting as a dominatrix, a blue collar independent looking to start a kosher laundromat, a conservative Cuban émigré and his socialist daughter, a top Trump campaign worker and his apolitical model girlfriend, and a left wing, dog hating activist who yearns to play John Wilkes Booth.

Can't Let It Go wrapped production in January of 2023.

SYNOPSIS

(Can’t) Let It Go is a political comedy set in New York on the eve of the 2016 election. There are five interconnected vignettes all revolving around the lead up to and aftermath of Donald Trump’s surprise victory. At its core, (Can’t) Let It Go is about unique New York characters and their zany personal and political interactions: an African American gay man being paid as a Trump stand in, a Hillary Clinton campaign worker who moonlights as a dominatrix, a blue collar independent looking to start a kosher laundromat, a conservative Cuban émigré and his socialist daughter, a top Trump campaign worker and his apolitical model girlfriend, and a left wing, dog hating activist and actor who yearns to play John Wilkes Booth.

Each vignette ends in a surreal, nightmare montage. Each character conjures up their own personal and political demons, pulled from both the film itself and from other iconic political imagery. Although the film is primarily set in 2016, the characters are reprised in a 2020 epilogue.  (Can’t) Let It Go is a unique medley of  New York, dialogue driven scenes in the style of Noah Baumbach and the visual flair of a higher budget film.

ATTACHED CAST

MARIO CANTONE

Mario Cantone gained critical acclaim with his Tony-nominated one-man show Laugh Whore. His feature film work includes Quiz Show, directed by Robert Redford, Sony’s animated film, Surf’s Up, The Aristocrats, and as Anthony Marentino, he was featured in Sex and the City. 

He has had stand-up specials on Comedy Central and has been a regular on ABC’s The View for the last 18 years. Cantone has appeared on the stages of Carnegie Hall and Caesar’s Palace (Las Vegas), where he performed his comedy and music show, Mario Cantone Live!

ELLA LOUDON

Ella is known for her roles in The Vizitant (2020), Trauma is a Time Machine (2018) and Maneater (2017). Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Loudon was largely raised in London and now resides in New York City. Ella will play the part of Paige.

AMY BLACKMAN

Amy Blackman is an actor and producer living in New York City. Amy recently finished playing the title role in The Daughter-in-Law by D.H. Lawrence with The Mint Theater Company. Her TV credits include appearances on HBO’s The Deuce, NBC’s New Amsterdam, and CBS’s Madam Secretary. Stage credits include the Tony Award-winning Broadway revival of Angels in America, as well as leading roles at The Old Globe, Cleveland Playhouse, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Cincinnati Playhouse, Gulfshore Playhouse, and Tantrum Theater.

RICK YOUNGER

Younger got his start in stand-up comedy in the Washington, D.C., area in 1992 while still in college at the University of Maryland. Since starting in the world of stand-up comedy, Younger has performed with many of the top names in comedy and has made television appearances on BET's ComicView and Teen Summit, FOX's 30 Seconds to Fame, Showtime at the Apollo, and NBC's Last Comic Standing. Younger was nominated for the 2008 MAC Award for Stand-Up Comic and won the 2009 MAC Award for Male Stand-Up Comedy.

ALISON FRASER

Alison Fraser is an American actress, voice actress and singer who has appeared on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and in television and film. In concert, she has performed at such venues as Carnegie Hall, The White House, Town Hall, The Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Joe’s Pub, 54 Below, and Symphony Space. Fraser is a two time Tony Award nominee for The Secret Garden and Romance/Romance, a Drama Desk Award nominee for both The Secret Garden and First Daughter Suite and a Carbonell Award winner for Romance/Romance. Fraser is a Callaway Award-winner for Heartbreak House.

DEVIKA BHISE

Devika Bhise is an American actress, best known for her performance in The Man Who Knew Infinity, starring Dev Patel and Jeremy Irons. She was born and raised in Manhattan, New York City, and is of Indian descent. She attended The Brearley School, an all-girl private school in Manhattan, and Johns Hopkins University, where she won the Hodson Trust Scholarship and was a Woodrow Wilson Fellow under the mentorship of John Astin. While at Johns Hopkins University, she acted in Ira Hauptman's play, The Partition, based on the life of Ramanujan, which contributed to her being cast in the film years later.

DAVID FIERRO

David Fierro is an American stage, TV and film actor and director. He is known for the roles of Inspector Jacob Speight on The Knick and roles on Red Oaks and Gotham. His most notable role was Jacob Speight in the Cinemax television series The Knick.

CARME BOIXADERA

Carme Boixadera was born in Catalonia, Spain. She is an actress, known for House of Cards (2013), Luke Cage (2016) and Murphy Brown (1988).

CHERYL STERN

Broadway veteran actress and Jonathan Larson Award-winning writer, Cheryl may be seen as Benjamin’s mom “Ida” on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. She has received critical acclaim for her Off Broadway solo show, Shoes and Baggage, with music by Tom Kochan (www.shoesand baggage.com)  and recently starred in and co-wrote the Off Broadway musical, A Letter To Harvey Milk.

 Cheryl’s Broadway credits include the Tony Award Winning revival of La Cage Aux Folles, starring Kelsey Grammer, The Women with Cynthia Nixon and Jennifer Coolidge, (filmed for PBS) and Laughing Room Only starring the late Jackie Mason.

 TV credits include Unforgettable, Law and Order-Criminal Intent, Sondheim; a Celebration at Carnegie Hall (PBS), Guiding Light, All My Children and As the World Turns. Films include Brooklyn Lobster with Jane Curtin and Danny Aiello, This is Where I Leave You starring Jane Fonda, Tina Fey and Jason Bateman.