The Imbible

The Imbible: A Spirited History of Drinking
Official logo of the original Off-Broadway production
Book	Anthony Caporale
Productions	2014 New York International Fringe Festival 2014 Fringe Encore Series 2014 Off-Broadway

The Imbible: A Spirited History of Drinking is an Educational entertainment musical with book and new lyrics by Anthony Caporale, and original musical arrangements by Josh Ehrlich and Anthony Caporale. Best known for creating the Video Podcast Art of the Drink, Caporale selected the music and created new arrangements with Ehrlich, an arranger for Voices of Gotham. The Imbible tells the story of how Western Civilization has been influenced by the introduction of alcohol consumption. Caporale is supported in the lead role by a trio of waiters who also serve as clowns, Greek chorus, and round out the parts of a barbershop quartet called The Backwaiters.

The Imbible was conceived by Anthony Caporale, a noted beverage educator and founder of Broadway Theatre Studio, a new play development workshop based in Manhattan. Development on the show began in 2011, following Caporale's Science of Mixology seminar at the Manhattan Cocktail Classic beverage show. Caporale based the book on the many presentations he developed as the National Brand Ambassador for Drambuie as well as classes he taught as a Culinary Management Instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education. In 2014, Caporale completed the first draft of the show to enter into the New York International Fringe Festival, where it was accepted to run for five performances. Following a critically acclaimed, sold-out run at FringeNYC, the show was selected for an extension in the 2014 Fringe Encore Series at SoHo Playhouse.

After completing a sold-out run at the Fringe Encore Series, the show opened Off-Broadway in November 2014. The Imbible garnered overwhelmingly positive critical response, and continues to play to capacity crowds at the SoHo Playhouse.

The Imbible premiered at the 2014 New York International Fringe Festival at the Celebration of Whimsey theater on August 8, 2014. The production was directed by Nicole DiMattei, with production design by Michael Leslie. The show was originally headlined by Anthony Caporale in the leading role, with The Backwaiters played by DiMattei, Ruthellen Cheney, and Ariel Estrada.