FringeNYC (2014) The Imbible premiered at the 2014
New York International Fringe Festival at the Celebration of Whimsey theater on August 8, 2014. The production was originally headlined by
Caporale in the leading role, with the Backwaiters played by DiMattei, Ruthellen Cheney, and Ariel Estrada. The production retained its original cast, and was originally booked for five performances through October 3, 2014. After selling out all five nights, it was extended for three additional performances through October 24, 2014.
Off-Broadway (2014–2020) Due to its prior successful runs, the show remained at the SoHo Playhouse to open
Off-Broadway on November 21, 2014. Broadway Theatre Studio continued to produce the run under Caporale’s direction, and Caporale, DiMattei, and Cheney remained in the cast, which was expanded to add Alessandra Migliaccio and Kristie Wortman as swings. Estrada was replaced by alternates Will Allen and Mark Edwards. In October 2016 the show moved to “The Green Room” at the
New World Stages complex on 50th Street where it enjoyed an open run until March 2020 when all New York theatre shut down due to the
COVID-19 pandemic.
Rum and Pirates (2015) The series’s second installment,
The Imbible: Rum and Pirates, was commissioned as the entertainment for
Hornblower Cruises Alive After Five New York City cruises beginning in the summer of 2015. The sequel featured the story of rum told by a crew of singing pirates. Supporting cast members from the Off-Broadway production of “A Spirited History of Drinking” swung in and out of the show, with Caporale occasionally making guest appearances as well. Ehrlich provided original musical arrangements for Caporale’s new lyrics to classic sea shanties. The show was booked through October 2015 for its initial engagement. Following the show's initial run with Hornblower Cruises, Caporale worked with longtime writing and production collaborator DiMattei, who co-wrote the book, to expand the property into a full-length production that ran Off-Broadway at The Producer’s Club for two summer seasons in 2018 and 2019.
Christmas Carol Cocktails (2015) In the winter of 2015, Caporale created
Christmas Carol Cocktails as
The Imbible holiday production. The story begins the morning following
Ebenezer Scrooge’s spectral visits, with the reformed miser inspired to host a Christmas party but finding himself with no experience making drinks for his guests. The show tells the history of
Brunch and popular brunch drinks through the story of four friends attending a brunch party. Caporale wrote the book, and Ehrlich composed original music and wrote the lyrics. The production opened Off-Broadway at New World Stages on May 28, 2017, and played over 250 performances before closing in 2020 due to the
COVID-19 pandemic.
Licensed Productions (2024) In 2024,
The Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort licensed a customized version of
A Spirited History of Drinking and Day Drinking to run as an immersive weekend experience. == Characters and cast members ==