Seussical the Musical at CPT

I am not a fan of Seussical the Musical but Utah audiences seem to love it so local theatre companies program it a lot. Because I am a subscriber, I saw CPT's production last night and, while the sets, projections, costumes, and performances are outstanding, nothing can compensate for the fact that the story is nonsensical, convoluted, and loses focus in the second act. This musical shoehorns the children's stories of Dr. Seuss, including Horton Hears a Who, Gertrude McFuzz, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, Green Eggs and Ham, Hop on Pop, Yertle the Turtle, Horton Hatches the Egg, I Had Trouble Getting to Solla Sollew, And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, McElligot's Pool, Oh Say Can You Say?, Hunches in Bunches, If I Ran the Circus, Dr. Seuss's ABC, The Butter Battle Book, Oh, the Thinks You Can Think!, Fox in Socks, The Cat in the Hat, The Sneetches and Other Stories, Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are?, and Oh, The Places You'll Go!, into an incomprehensible story about an imaginative boy named Jojo, who sometimes gets in trouble for all of the thinks that he thinks, and the adventures he goes on with The Cat in the Hat. The positive message at the end is that anything is possible and that you can go anywhere you want just by thinking your thinks but it is all just so overstuffed with too many characters and ideas. I even find the music to be very repetitive. There are endless reprises of "Oh, The Things You Can Think" and "How Lucky You Are" and, even though the songs feature lots of different genres, they all blur together. The best thing about this show is the unbelievably talented cast, especially Emily Henwood as Gertrude McFuzz because she is so awkward and endearing, Dan Call as Horton the Elephant because he is incredibly sympathetic (his versions of "Alone in the Universe" and "Solla Sollew" were definitely the highlights for me), Meish Roundy as The Cat in the Hat because he makes for a boisterous and entertaining emcee, and Lelini Iongi as Jojo because he is absolutely adorable. The sets and projections mimic the bold, colorful, and fantastical world of Dr. Seuss's books and the costumes are a lot of fun, especially the fanciful feathered costumes worn by Gertrude, Mayzie (Janae Klumpp Gibb) and the Bird Girls (Katherine Frandsen, Brookelynn Alapa, and Cassie Dibbins) and the leather vests worn by Wickersham Brothers (Dylan Floyd Panter, Joshua David Lee, and Sterling Shane Allen).  The staging and choreography are imaginative and dynamic, particularly in "Here on Who," "It's Possible," "Monkey Around," "Circus McGurkus," "A Message From the Front," and "Havin' a Hunch." I really cannot find anything to fault with this production but I think this show just isn't for me and I have given myself permission to never see it again. Seussical the Musical runs on the Barlow Main Stage at CPT through April 13 and I recommend it because others seem to enjoy it much more than I do (go here for tickets).

Note:  Does anyone want my ticket to HCTO's production in June?

A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder at CPT

Last night I finally had the chance to see A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder at CPT (I had to change my usual ticket with my sisters because of Sundance) and I think it might be my favorite production of this hilarious show! After the death of his mother, Monty Navarro (Christian Johnston) learns that she was a member of the illustrious D'Ysquith family but was disinherited for marrying his father. He is really Montague D'Ysquith Navarro and is in line to inherit an earldom. The catch is that there eight family members in line ahead of him! When his vain and heartless girlfriend Sibela (Claire Glaittli) marries the rich and handsome Lionel Holland, he decides to murder all eight family members ahead of him in the succession to become the Earl of Highhurst and win her back. Standing in his way are the Reverend Lord Ezekiel D'Ysquith (who has an unfortunate fall from the bell tower of his cathedral), Asquith D'Ysquith, Jr. (who has a bizarre ice skating accident), Henry D'Ysquith (who is stung by the bees in his own hive), Lady Hyacinth D'Ysquith (who falls in a volcano on an uninhabited island in the South Pacific and is presumed dead), Major Lord Bartholomew D'Ysquith (who is decapitated while lifting weights), Lady Salome D'Ysquith (who is killed when a prop gun is mistakenly loaded with real bullets during her stage debut), Lord Asquith D'Ysquith, Sr. (who suffers a heart attack from his grief over the deaths in his family), and, finally, Lord Adalbert D'Ysquith, the Earl of Highhurst, (who is mysteriously poisoned). Along the way, Monty marries Phoebe D'Ysquith (Emma Austin) which makes Sibela jealous but, after he becomes the Earl of Highhurst, he is arrested for the murder of Lord Adalbert (the only D'Ysquith death for which he is actually not responsible). The charges are eventually dismissed when Phoebe and Sibela each give proof that the other committed the murder but Monty might not live happily ever after because Chauncey D'Ysquith, the next in line to the earldom, is lurking! I've seen this show many times (it is very popular with Utah audiences) but this is my favorite production because Monty is played by my former student Christian Johnston (my original ticket was for the MWF show and he is in the THS cast so it was exciting to be able to see him) and he gives a fantastic performance showcasing his comedic timing and his amazing voice, especially in the song "Sibela." I also really enjoyed Andrew Bringhurst's performance as every member of the D'Ysquith family. He gives each character a distinct personality with hilarious facial expressions and physicality (and some quick costume changes!). I always anticipate the appearance of every family member but my favorites in this production are the outrageously flamboyant Henry who thinks everything is "Better with a Man" and the over-the-top Lady Hyacinth who just wants to do some good in "Lady Hyacinth Abroad." Glaittli and Austin have beautiful voices, particularly when they harmonize together in "That Horrible Woman," and Brighton Sloan almost steals the show as Countess Eugenia D'Ysquith! The set, featuring an elaborate stage in an old time music hall with footlights and a red velvet curtain, is one of the best I've seen at CPT and I loved all of the projections, especially when Monty and the Reverend Lord Ezekiel climb the tower in the cathedral and when Henry is chased by his bees. The staging of Asquith Jr.'s skating accident is really clever as is the scene where Phoebe visits Monty's flat when he is having an assignation with Sibela. The period costumes are gorgeous and I liked how Monty's suits get more elaborate as the show goes on and I loved all of the gowns worn by Phoebe and Sibela. I enjoyed this production so much (I don't think I stopped laughing the whole time) and I highly recommend it. It runs on the Barlow Main Stage through February 17 and tickets may be purchased here.

White Christmas at CPT

Last night I got to see CPT's delightful production of White Christmas with both of my sisters and it was so much fun! The three of us grew up watching the movie version because it was our mom's favorite so this show is very nostalgic for us. Broadway stars Bob Wallace (David Simon) and Phil Davis (Craig Williams) meet the Haynes sisters, Judy (Danna Facer) and Betty (Bailee DeYoung), and decide to follow them to Vermont where they have a gig over the Christmas holidays at the Columbia Inn. There they meet their former commanding officer from the war, General Waverly (Eric Millward) , who now owns the inn but is having financial difficulties due to the lack of snow. Wallace and Davis decide to bring their show, with a few numbers featuring the Haynes sisters, to the Columbia Inn and invite the soldiers from their company to a performance on Christmas Eve. Add a busybody receptionist (Melody L. Baugh) and a precocious granddaughter (Scarlett Burt) who want to be in show business, an overwrought stage manager (Ian Wellisch) feuding with a taciturn handyman (Nathan Burt), and love gone awry between both couples and you have a thoroughly enjoyable show full of big old fashioned song and dance numbers! The four incredibly talented leads do a really good job with the singing and dancing in "Sisters" (this is my favorite song in the show and my sisters and I are always ready to perform our version if the actresses playing the Haynes sisters are ever unable to go on), "The Best Things Happen When You're Dancing," "Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep," "Love, You Didn't Do Right By Me," and "How Deep Is the Ocean." The ensemble is fantastic and I loved the staging and the high-energy choreography in "Let Yourself Go," "Snow," "Blue Skies," "I Love a Piano" (I was especially impressed with the tap dancing in this number because it is pretty spectacular), and the iconic "White Christmas" (complete with audience participation and snow falling throughout the theatre). However, Burt absolutely steals the show with her adorable version of "Let Me Sing and I'm Happy" and it brought the house down. The costumes (and there are a lot of them) are really fun and the sets are quite elaborate, especially the lobby and the barn decorated for Christmas at the Columbia Inn and the shimmering curtains in the Regency Room. This show has such a heart-warming message and it is sure to give you a big dose of Christmas cheer! It runs on the Barlow main stage through December 21 (go here for tickets).

Jekyll & Hyde at CPT

When my sister Kristine and I took a theatre trip to New York City in the summer of 1997 we were able to see the original cast of Jekyll & Hyde (featuring Linda Eder as Lucy and including the song "Good 'N' Evil" which was my favorite but is no longer in the show). We saw quite a few shows on that trip but Jekyll & Hyde was definitely our favorite so I was really excited to see it again with both my sisters (and my brother-in-law) last night at CPT. The three of us absolutely loved this production (my brother-in-law was definitely not a fan). This musical is loosely based on the novella by Robert Louis Stevenson and tells the story of Dr. Henry Jekyll (Christian Lackman), a passionate man of science who wants to save his ailing father by finding a chemical formula to separate good from evil in mankind, his alter-ego Mr. Edward Hyde, a terrifying madman created when Jekyll's experiments on himself unleash his inner demons, and the two women, his fiancee Emma Carew (Karllen Johnson) and a prostitute named Lucy Harris (Jessica Knowles Andrus), who love him but are unaware of his dark secret. As Jekyll struggles to control the monster within, he becomes a danger to the citizens of London, to Emma and Lucy, and to himself. I love the music in this show and the three leads do a fantastic job with the rock opera score. Johnson has a beautiful voice and I loved her rendition of "Once Upon a Dream" but the highlight for me was when she and Andrus sing "In His Eyes" because their voices blend together so well. Andrus has an incredibly powerful voice and she just about blows the roof off the theatre with "Bring on the Men" and "A New Life" (although I still think "Good 'N' Evil" makes more narrative sense than "Bring on the Men" because this is the turning point that convinces Jekyll to begin experimenting on himself) and her performance of "A Dangerous Game" with Lackman is incredibly passionate. I really enjoyed Lackman's unique interpretations of Jekyll in the song "This is the Moment" and of Hyde in "Alive" and "Streak of Madness" because each character has a distinct persona but "Confrontation," where both characters battle for control, isn't as dramatic as I've seen it done before. I also really enjoyed the ensemble in "Facade" (the use of mirrors as a motif for hiding who you really are, in this scene and throughout the show, is very well done) but the other big musical number, "Murder, Murder," drags a bit. The incredible set is one of the best aspects of this production and it really brings Victorian London to life. There is a dramatic backdrop featuring buildings with windows that light up and a multi-level area downstage used to create many different vignettes. Jekyll's laboratory comes down from the rafters and features bubbling potions and moving cogs and wheels (it's really cool). The lighting design is dark and atmospheric with spotlights on the aforementioned vignettes and the period costumes are very effective in revealing the ways in which the characters are hiding their true natures, particularly in "Facade." I love this show and this production is so good!  It runs on the Barlow Main Stage through October 21 (go here for tickets).

Note:  In case you couldn't tell, I'm sad that the show no longer includes "Good 'N' Evil"  but I did get to hear Linda Eder sing it again during a concert with the Utah Symphony!

Something Rotten at CPT

I love the musical Something Rotten!  Because I am a former high school English teacher and a self-professed theatre junkie I feel like this hilarious spoof of Shakespeare and musical theatre was written just for me! I was so excited when I saw that it was part of the 2023 season at CPT and I couldn't wait for my sisters to experience it (I may or may not have been hyping it up to them for months). Needless to say they now love it as much as I do after seeing a performance last night!  Nick and Nigel Bottom (J.R. Moore and Zach Watts, respectively) are playwrights in London during the Renaissance but, unfortunately, they have not been very successful. Their patron, Lord Clapham (Doug Caldwell), is withdrawing his support, Shylock (Doug Caldwell) wants his loan repaid, Nick's wife Bea (Annie Ferrin) is pregnant, and Nigel has fallen in love with Portia (Grace Liljenquist), the daughter of a Puritan (Dan Call) who wants to shut down the theaters for debauchery. To make matters worse, they are constantly overshadowed by the immensely popular William Shakespeare (Isaac Carillo). In desperation, Nick consults with the soothsayer Nostradamus (Scott W. Butler) to see what will be popular in the future. He suggests writing a play with singing and dancing in one of my favorite numbers in the show, "A Musical." When inspiration fails yet again, Nick asks Nostradamus to look into the future to see what Shakespeare's most popular play will be but, instead of Hamlet, he sees omelette (so close!).  As Nick tries to produce Omelette: The Musical, Shakespeare suffers from writer's block in another one of my favorite numbers, "Hard to Be the Bard," and tries to steal his own play back! Chaos ensues until Nigel teaches Nick an important lesson in "To Thine Own Self." This show is hysterically funny and I honestly don't think I stopped laughing from beginning to end! I had so much fun spotting all of the references to musical theatre (my favorite is RENT in "A Musical") and to Shakespeare's plays (my favorite is Richard III in "Will Power"). The entire cast is outstanding! My sisters really liked Butler because of his fully committed physical performance when predicting the future and I loved Carillo because he is so over the top and plays Shakespeare as if he was a rock star strutting across the stage while posing for his adoring fans (his facial expressions when he hears Nigel's play about a Danish prince had me laughing so hard I couldn't breathe). The ensemble is also incredible, especially with the high energy choreography in "A Musical" and "Make an Omelette." Speaking of which, it is absolutely brilliant because it mimics the instantly recognizable choreography of the musicals being parodied (I loved the homage to "Sisters" in White Christmas as well as all of the Fosse-style Jazz hands and the high-kicking chorus lines).  The elaborate set, featuring half-timbered thatched-roof buildings and a replica of the Globe Theatre, and the Renaissance costumes are a lot of fun (although I missed Shakespeare's giant cod piece from the Broadway touring production). This is an incredibly entertaining show that will have you laughing out loud and I highly recommend it!  It runs on the Barlow Main Stage through September 2 (go here for tickets). My sisters and I want to see it again!

The Lion in Winter at CPT

One of the first shows I saw at the Utah Shakespeare Festival was The Lion in Winter and I loved it so much I learned everything I could about the historical figures depicted (Eleanor of Aquitaine is fascinating). I was, therefore, thrilled when I found out that it would be performed in the Leishman Performance Hall at CPT because not only do I love the play but I also love the intimate black box theatre. I saw it last night and it is a brilliant production!  It is Christmas Eve 1183 and King Henry II of England (Nathan Riddle) has summoned his family to spend the holiday together. This includes his sons Richard (Matthew Dickerson), Geoffrey (Mark Andrus), and John (Alex Beck) as well as his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine (Leslie Barrett), who has spent the past ten years as his prisoner for staging a rebellion against him. Since the newly crowned King Philip of France (Ryan Kinville) is pressuring him to honor his alliance by wedding his sister Alais (Isabella Giordano) to the heir to the throne, Henry uses this opportunity to decide the succession. He advocates for John simply because he knows that Eleanor wants her favorite son, Richard, to be the next king. This pits brother against brother as they scheme, manipulate, plot, and form and break alliances and it is so much fun to watch! However, the real fireworks come in the scenes between Henry and Eleanor as they spar with each other. Riddle and Barrett give amazing over the top performances because everything their characters say is a calculated performance for an audience of one! They have great chemistry together and I was riveted whenever they were on stage together! The princes are the ultimate pawns in their parents' battle and I love that the characters revert to their defined childhood roles within the family (Richard is held to a higher standard, Geoffrey is ignored, and John is babied) when they are home for Christmas, much like any other family. Even though they are almost caricatures, Dickerson, Andrus, and Beck imbue the princes with moments of vulnerability, especially in a scene when Henry discovers they have all betrayed him. The intimate black box theatre lends itself very well to this family drama and I really enjoyed sitting so close to the action because I could see every facial expression. The stage is configured as if for a Shakespeare play with an upper and lower level and minimal props. I especially liked the use of long fabric panels as tapestries for the characters to hide behind. The period costumes are absolutely gorgeous and I loved all of the embellished fabrics and textures (particularly the chain mail). Everything about this production is stellar and I highly recommend getting a ticket (go here) for a performance in the Leishman Performance Hall through July 8. It is better than an episode of Succession!

Note:  Don't forget about the delightful production of 42nd Street also playing at CPT on the Barlow Main Stage through July 11.  Go here for tickets.

42nd Street at CPT

Last night my sisters and I went to see a fun and energetic version of 42nd Street at Centerpoint Theatre. I saw the Broadway touring production several years ago and that was a showy song and dance extravaganza where every number was completely over the top with dazzling choreography and sparkly costumes. I didn't think that a community theatre production could compare to that spectacle but I was really impressed with what CPT did with it! A young dancer named Peggy Sawyer (Kaylee Wheeler) arrives in New York City straight from Allentown, Pennsylvania in order to make her Broadway dreams come true during the Great Depression. She joins the chorus line of a brand new musical produced by Maggie Jones (Amanda Rogers) and Bert Barry (Matt Ford) and directed by Julian Marsh (Brock Harris) called Pretty Lady but when Dorothy Brock (Cynthia Klumpp), the star of the show, has a mishap on stage, she gets the chance of a lifetime! This features lots of well-known Broadway standards, including "You're Getting to Be a Habit With Me," "I Only Have Eyes For You," "We're In the Money," "Sunny Side to Every Situation," "Lullaby of Broadway," "About a Quarter to Nine," "Shuffle Off to Buffalo," and "42nd Street." My sisters were really excited because, even though they weren't familiar with this show, they recognized all of the songs and I suspect fans of Broadway will enjoy hearing them, too! The choreography is a lot of fun and the insanely talented members of the ensemble execute it very well! It is so much fun to watch and I especially enjoyed it when the curtain slowly opened to reveal row upon row of tap-dancing feel at the beginning of the show! Wheeler is absolutely delightful as the ingenue Peggy Sawyer because she has a wide-eyed enthusiasm that really works for the character. She is a great dancer and has a beautiful voice (my sister wished that she had been featured more). Harris is bombastic as the impresario Julian Marsh but he has a few really tender moments with Wheeler and I loved his rendition of "Lullaby of Broadway." Klumpp commands the stage as the quintessential Broadway diva Dorothy Brock but she also shows a lot of vulnerability when a younger and more talented dancer threatens to take her place. The set, featuring the stage, back stage area, and dressing room of an Art Deco theatre, is very impressive and I especially liked the various backdrops for the big production numbers in Pretty Lady.  Finally, costume designer Brianna Taylor is to be commended for the sheer number of elaborate period costumes built for this show (and the cast is to be commended for all of the incredibly quick costume changes, too!). This is a toe-tapping old school musical that will definitely put a smile on your face. It runs on the Barlow Main Stage through July 11 (go here for tickets).

Matilda at CPT

Both of my sisters, my brother-in-law, my nephew, and I went to see Matilda at CPT last night and we had so much fun. This production features some innovative staging and I am always really appreciative when a show that I have seen several times does something to surprise me. Matilda Wormwood (Charlotte Witt) is a precocious five year old with a penchant for reading, telling stories, and being just a little bit naughty. She is ignored by her mother (Jaycee Harris), an amateur Latin ballroom dancer, and father (Caydin Bell), an unscrupulous used car salesman, and is terrorized by Miss Agatha Trunchbull (J.R. Moore), the former champion in hammer throwing who is now the headmistress of her school. With the help of a sympathetic teacher named Miss Honey (Amanda Frisby) and a story about an Escapologist (James Duncan) and an Acrobat (Keely Parry), Matilda triumphs over the neglectful adults in her life. I was incredibly impressed with the elaborate set because it is very different from the ones I have seen before. It features a large multi-level school made of bricks with barbed wire at the top of the walls, loudspeakers on poles, and a large iron gate (it looks like a cross between a medieval castle and a prison). There is a turntable which is used to bring in set pieces for the Wormwood's house and Miss Honey's classroom with other pieces brought on from the wings. As I mentioned, I really liked the staging of many of the numbers in this production, particularly "Miracle," because it includes the addition of a gospel choir backing up the Doctor (Garret Frazier), "School Song," because it features the use of typography with projections on an interactive chalk board, and "When I Grow Up" (my favorite song in the show), because, in addition to the usual swings, the choreography includes a seesaw, a hopscotch, a jump rope, fishing poles, hula hoops, and bubble blowers which give it a very playful feel. I also really enjoyed "The Smell of Rebellion" and "Revolting Children" because the children in the ensemble are absolutely fantastic! Other crowd favorites were "Loud," because Mrs. Wormwood (Harris is my brother-in-law's niece and we all loved her performance because her facial expressions are hilarious) and her dance partner Rudolpho (Caleb Birth) are completely over the top, and "Chokey Chant," because there is a fun effect involving throwing a child into the chokey. Witt does a great job and her renditions of "Naughty" and "Quiet" are wonderful but I sometimes couldn't hear her during "Escapologist Story." Frisby has a beautiful voice and her version of "My House" is very powerful and moving. However, Moore steals the show as Miss Trunchbull because his performance is a cross between Miss Hannigan and an East German Olympic athlete! I laughed and laughed at all of his antics during "The Hammer" and "The Smell of Rebellion," especially all of his facial expressions and gestures. Miss Trunchbull's costume in this show is probably my favorite of those I've seen for the character and I was also impressed by the attention to detail on the school uniforms worn by the children. So many elements of this show stood out to me as new and exciting and I really enjoyed it!  This show runs on the Barlow Main Stage through April 15 (go here for tickets) and I highly recommend it!

She Loves Me at CPT

I love the musical She Loves Me because it is just so charming! I've seen it countless times (including the Broadway revival starring Zachary Levi, Laura Benanti, and Jane Krakowski as well as at HCT and West Valley Arts) but I was still really looking forward to CPT's production. I took a little break from Sundance to see it last night with my sisters and my niece and we all really enjoyed it. The action takes place at Maraczek's Perfumery in Budapest during the 1930s and follows a group of eccentric clerks, including Georg Nowack (Ben Lowell), Ilona Ritter (Jordyn Tracy), Steven Kodaly (Ryan Bruckman), Ladoslav Sipos (Chad Wilkinson), and Arpad Laszlo (Drew Dunshee). When Mr. Maraczek (Darin Stite) hires Amalia Balash (Claire Glaittli) as a new clerk, Georg takes an immediate dislike to her and soon they are both bickering constantly.  However, both Georg and Amalia have unknown correspondents but neither one knows that they are writing to each other! Most of the songs are like every day conversations between co-workers (the clerks even break out into song whenever a customer leaves the shop) and I especially love "Tonight at Eight" and "Will He Like Me" because they each give the male and female perspective about going on a first date. There are a couple of big song and dance numbers, including "A Romantic Atmosphere" and "Twelve Days To Christmas," and the choreography in both is a lot of fun and well executed by the ensemble. Glaittli has an incredibly beautiful voice and she really shines in the song "Vanilla Ice Cream" while Lowell is energetic and endearing in "She Loves Me." The two of them have great comedic timing and wonderful chemistry which really elevates the enemies to lovers trope. I was also really impressed with Tracy because, even though the character is supposed to be a bit fast and loose with her affections, her performance is more playful than overtly sexy. The period costumes and wigs are beautiful and really convey the time and place but my favorite aspect of this production is the amazing set! I was just as impressed with the outside of Maraczek's Perfumery as I was with the inside because of the attention to detail. The shop actually looks like it could be found on a street in Europe with stone masonry, stained glass windows, wooden benches, and pots of flowers. When the shop opens up there are window displays that light up, moving display cases filled with colored bottles of perfume and monogrammed gift boxes, chandeliers, and gold leaf wallpaper. The Cafe Imperial is a simple but effective set piece that rises from the floor and also features lots of fun details such as more gold leaf wallpaper, sconces, and candles flickering on the tables. Everything about this show is delightful and I highly recommend it for a romantic night out. It runs on the Barlow Main Stage through February 18 (go here for tickets).

Note:  There were a lot of empty seats last night and I think the reason might be that not many people (other than theatre nerds like me) are familiar with this show.  Both of my sisters and my niece had never heard of it before. Hopefully people will give it a chance because it really is lovely.

Elf The Musical at CPT

Last night both of my sisters and I saw Elf The Musical at CPT and we all got a big dose of Christmas cheer! This musical is based on the popular movie starring Will Ferrell and it is so much fun! Santa Claus (Dave Hill), the narrator, reads from a book while sitting in an arm chair and he is the source of much amusement with lots of references to popular culture. He tells the story of Buddy (Addison Welch) who has been raised as an elf at the North Pole because he crawled into Santa's bag when he was a baby. After discovering that he is really a human instead of an elf, he decides to find his Dad, Walter Hobbs (Scott W. Butler), and he ends up bringing Christmas cheer to his new family, his girlfriend Jovie (Emily Woods Sparks), and all the people of New York City. I really enjoyed all of the fun choreography in this show, especially in "Happy All The Time" as the elves (played by some adorable children, including McGuire K. Bingham and Bridget Maxwell who got one of the biggest laughs of the night) make the toys for Santa, "Sparklejollytwinklejingley" as Buddy helps the Macy's employees decorate the store for Christmas, "Just Like Him" as Buddy wreaks havoc on Walter's office, "A Christmas Song" as Buddy and Jovie watch the ice skaters at Rockefeller Plaza (every production that I've seen of this show has had really innovative staging for this scene and this show is no exception), "Nobody Cares About Santa" as Buddy and all of the Santas commiserate about the lack of Christmas cheer (I loved the kick line), and "The Story of Buddy" as Buddy comes to Walter's rescue and pitches an idea for a story to his boss. Welch is a fabulous Buddy because not only is he exuberant in all of the musical numbers but he also has great comedic timing and facial expressions that show a wide-eyed wonder! His performance was the highlight of the show for me, especially when he plays the Salvation Army Santa's bells! I also liked John Nelson Wakley, the young actor who plays Michael Hobbs, because he has a great voice in the songs "I'll Believe In You" and "There Is a Santa Claus." The costumes for Santa, Buddy, the elves at the North Pole, and the employees at Macy's are incredibly elaborate and colorful and the set, which looks like a giant snow globe, is impressive. I even liked the use of projections, particularly for Rockefeller Plaza, but I was a bit disappointed that they were used for Santa's sleigh in Central Park because seeing Santa fly away is usually one of the highlights of the show. Other than that, all three of us thought the production was really cute! You would have to be a cotton-headed ninny-muggins to miss this show (go here for tickets) which runs on the Barlow Main Stage through December 17.

Note:  I have been really impressed with the shows at CPT this season.  My favorites have been The Play That Goes Wrong and Bright Star.  I am especially looking forward to Jekyll & Hyde and Something Rotten next season!

Bright Star at CPT

I love the musical Bright Star so I am always happy for any opportunity to see it. Last night I saw a production at CPT and it is absolutely stellar! The story takes place in North Carolina during the 1920s and just after World War II and features incredible bluegrass music by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell. Alice Murphy (Anya Wilson) is a young and rebellious teenager in the small town of Zebulon where she regularly exasperates her mother (Jan Williams Smith) and father (Brent Sloan). She begins a romance with Jimmy Ray Dobbs (Jared Haddock) but his father, the Mayor (John Philpott), conspires to separate them. Twenty-two years later, just after the war, Billy Cane (Alex Young) returns to his hometown of Hayes Creek to visit his father (Chad Wilkinson) and his childhood friend Margo (Abigail Ford). However, he soon decides to try writing for a magazine in Ashville where he meets Alice, now an uptight editor who mentors him. The narrative alternates between both timelines as Alice learns to deal with love, loss, forgiveness, and redemption. Even though I have seen it multiple times (PTC, HCT, and HCTO) and know the big twist, I still find the story to be incredibly powerful and heartwarming. I love all of the songs, especially "If You Knew My Story," "Asheville," "I Can't Wait," "Sun's Gonna Shine,"and "I Had a Vision." Wilson (I saw her in the same role at HCTO) has a beautiful voice that is very well suited to the bluegrass genre and I had tears in my eyes during her emotional rendition of "Please Don't Take Him." I was also very impressed by her physical transformation, which happens right before our eyes, from the uptight editor to the rebellious teenager during "Way Back in the Day." Her wardrobe and hair change but it is her expression and physicality that really distinguishes the younger from the older character. The rest of the cast is really strong, one of the strongest I've seen at CPT, but the standouts for me are Haddock, especially the emotionally charged confrontation with his father in "Heartbreaker," and Ford, because she shows a lot of vulnerability in "Asheville." The set features the bare outline of a rustic cabin (I especially loved the rafters with lanterns hanging from them) with many items, such as barrels, crates, wooden doors, fence posts, chairs, and signs, used in multiple configurations to become a book shop, an office, the Mayor's house, a train, and other locations. The members of the ensemble move these items on and off stage seamlessly and it is extremely clever! The choreography really emphasizes the time and place, especially the square dancing during the town social and the swing dancing in "Another Round," as do the costumes. Finally, I really enjoyed the staging of the pivotal train sequence in the reprise of "A Man's Gotta Do" because it is very dramatic (make sure to look up at the top of the proscenium). My only disappointment is that there wasn't a live bluegrass band on stage because it adds so much to the overall feel of the show. Nevertheless, I was very impressed with this production and it is definitely one of my favorites at CPT!  It runs through October 22 (go here for tickets).

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at CPT

I have seen Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat more times than I can count (it is very popular in Utah) so I have become a bit disenchanted with it and it takes a really great production for me to enjoy it (go here for my favorite production in recent years). I had the chance to see CPT's version last night with both of my sisters and I am happy to report that it is, indeed, great and that I thoroughly enjoyed myself!  The set resembles an interactive museum with three large display cases containing exhibits from history which change for each of the big song and dance numbers (I loved the dinosaur skeleton and the planets hanging from the ceiling at the beginning of the show).  The exhibits feature a Western tableau for "One More Angel in Heaven," a factory for "Potiphar," a 1950s diner complete with a jukebox for "Song of the King," a Parisian cafe with the Eiffel Tower in the background for "Those Canaan Days," and a Caribbean scene complete with steel drums for "Benjamin's Calypso." The Narrator (McKenna Kay Jensen) acts as a docent (she even has a name tag) telling the Biblical story of Joseph (Matt Taylor) to a group of children (Soren Ray, Ross Clemens, Corbin Aaron, Eden Liljenquist, Olivia Larsen, Savannah Caldwell, and Ella Jensen). Joseph appears in a glass case and comes to life when one of the children hands him his coat of many colors. The story continues to unfold as the children interact with the characters and bring them to life. The children even tell their parents what they have learned from their visit during "Joseph Megamix" which is really clever! This concept provides cohesion to the story and I really enjoyed the bigger role performed by the children's choir (they are adorable). I also really enjoyed the costumes because they are fairly simple with just the addition of accessories for the various numbers (my favorite accessory was a pair of blue suede shoes for the Pharoah). I like productions that don't get too kitschy with the sets and costumes! Jensen has a beautiful voice as the Narrator and almost blows the roof off of the theatre several times and Taylor does a great job as Joseph, especially with "Any Dream Will Do" and "Close Every Door." The brothers (Doug Caldwell, Thad Weiland, Jeremy Botelho, Greg Larson, Taylor Smith, Paul Dixon, John Richards, Jacob Plaizier, Chris Kennedy, Landon LeBaron, and Tyler West) and wives (Angela LeBaron, Kirsi Jarvis, Mary Ann West, Amanda Derrick, Christine Smith, Natalie Clemens, and Allison Randall) have a lot of fun with the choreography in "Joseph's Coat," "One More Angel in Heaven," and "Go, Go, Go Joseph" and, of course, Jordon LeBaron steals the show as the Pharoah in "Song of the King." I had a smile on my face the whole time and this is a production that I can wholeheartedly recommend!  It runs on the Barlow Stage through Sept. 3 (go here for tickets).

Note:  This show was my 50th theatre production this year!

A Murder is Announced at CPT

I had never been to Leishman Hall (the black box theatre at CPT) before but I can't resist an Agatha Christie murder mystery so I went to a production of A Murder is Announced last night. I really enjoyed the intimate theatre space but this particular show was a bit disappointing. An advertisement in a newspaper announces that a murder will be committed at a boarding house owned by Letitia "Letty" Blacklock (Marina Maxfield) on October 13 at 6:30 pm. Her guests, including Dora "Bunny" Bunner (Hillary McChesney), Patrick Simmons (Blake London), Julia Simmons (Katie Plott), Phillipa Haymes (Laryn Welch), Mrs. Swettenham (Kiersten Honaker), and Edmund Swettenham (Trevor Elmer), conclude that it must be a joke but her Russian cook Mitzi (Kryslin McBride) believes that she will be the victim for political reasons. At the appointed time the lights go out and a mysterious man ends up dead. Inspector Craddock (James Boley) and Sergeant Mellors (Chad N. Wilburn) investigate and learn that everyone involved is hiding something but, after another murder, it takes Miss Marple (Wanda Copier) to find the killer. Even though I have read the book (I read all of Agatha Christie's books when I was a teenager), I found the story to be really complicated because most of the characters have alternate identities and many pertinent events have already happened and require a lot of exposition. In addition, there are a lot of pacing issues that make it hard to pay as much attention as you need to in order to pick up on all of the clues. The action gets really bogged down, especially during the interrogation of all of the suspects, and even the revelation of the murderer is a bit anticlimactic. The performances are fine but McBride was my favorite because she steals every scene she is in with her dramatic and over the top gestures. I laughed out loud every time she entered the room! I absolutely loved the set featuring heavy Victorian furniture and lots of the fussy details that you would find in an English drawing room and I was very impressed with the sheer number of period costumes (I loved Miss Marple's hats). I usually love seeing stage adaptations of Agatha Christie's books (go here and here) but this felt off to me. I will, however, be back to see another production at Leishman Hall!  This show runs until August 20 (go here for tickets).

Big Fish at CPT

Last night my sister and I went to a production of Big Fish at Centerpoint Theatre. I think this story about a son trying to understand his father and a father trying to make his son proud is very moving and CPT does a great job with a very complicated show. Will Bloom (Doug Wadley) has always been exasperated by all of the outlandish stories that his father Edward (Scott W. Butler) has told him all his life. These include having his fortune told by a witch (Claire Glaittli) in a swamp, learning how to swim from a mermaid (Samantha Millward), going on the road with a giant named Karl (William Maguire), joining a circus owned by a werewolf (Matthew Price), wooing his future wife Sandra (Tara Wardle) with daffodils, and thwarting an assassination by Red Fang (Josh Lee) during the war. As he is about to become a father himself, Will learns that Edward is dying of cancer and returns home to attempt a reconciliation with him. After a Wild West confrontation between the two of them, Will discovers that the truth about his father is more extraordinary than the stories. I really enjoy the songs in this show because they bring all of Edward's fantastical stories to life and the staging of these numbers is very well-done. The choreography is incredibly whimsical, especially in "I Know What You Want" with the witch, "Favorite Son" with the townspeople of Ashton, "Closer to Her" with the circus (I loved the use of the cannon), and "Red White and True" with the USO (I am always impressed when the ensemble tap dances). Both Butler and Wadley are outstanding as Edward and Will Bloom, respectively. Butler portrays Edward's zest for life with an enthusiasm that is palpable while Wadley portrays Will's journey from skepticism to appreciation of his father's stories with heartfelt emotion, particularly in the song "What's Next." The set consists of large moving panels upon which projections are used to denote the riverbank, the swamp, the town of Ashton, the circus, Auburn University, and a field of daffodils. This is very effective at creating an immersive experience for the audience, particularly when Ashton is flooded because it seems as if the entire theater is under water, but some of the projections are a bit blurry (this could be because of the angle of my seat). I was very impressed with the costumes in all of the big musical numbers, most notably the lights on the costumes worn by the creatures in the swamp, the vintage circus costumes, and the Wild West costumes. My favorite production of this show remains the one I saw at HCT several years ago but I thoroughly enjoyed CPT's version and I recommend it (go here for tickets).

Note:  My sister and I are subscribers but the show on our original night was canceled due to Covid.  We rescheduled for last night but we had to sit apart. During intermission several patrons moved seats so we could have moved to be together but we chose to stay where we were!

Rogers & Hammerstein's Cinderella at CPT

Last night my sister Marilyn and I took our Mom to see Cinderella at CenterPoint Theatre and we had so much fun! My Mom has late stage dementia and she also has some mobility issues but she loves the show so much and really wanted to go. Since she had a good day yesterday we called the box office and were able to get ADA accessible seats (the CPT box office is, hands down, the best in the SLC valley). It was a lot of work to get her there but she absolutely loved it so it was worth all of the effort! The Rodgers & Hammerstein version of the story is definitely not my favorite! I don't like the commentary on class structure or the fact that Cinderella is a social reformer who must rescue the prince from the advisors in his court who are deceiving him about the conditions in his kingdom. I also don't like the portrayal of the stepsisters as silly girls, rather than mean ones, who end up as Cinderella's sympathetic co-conspirators. However, I really enjoyed HCT's production a few years ago because it infused the magic back into the more contemporary story. CPT's production is just as magical! The cast is incredibly strong and I especially loved Mailee Halpin as Ella and Cynthia Klumpp as Marie/ Fairy Godmother. The songs require an impressive range and these actresses more than deliver in the songs "In My Own Little Corner," "Impossible," "Glass Slipper/ It's Possible," and "There Is Music In You." Halpin has great chemistry with Doug Wadley, as Prince Topher, and their songs "Ten Minutes Ago" and "Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful" are incredibly romantic. Jaycee Harris (who is my brother-in-law's niece) as the stepsister Charlotte just about steals the show in "Stepsister's Lament" and "A Lovely Night" because her facial expressions are absolutely hysterical. She received more applause and laughter than any one else for good reason. The choreography is so much fun and I really loved how "The Prince Is Giving A Ball" with all of the townspeople in the town square and "The Pursuit" after the ball are staged, especially the transformation of the Fox (Kirsi Jarvis) and the Raccoon (Caleb Hodson) after the stroke of midnight. Speaking of transformations, Cinderella's change into her sparkling ball gown and tiara is absolutely magical and her coach, including horses made of puppets, is spectacular. I loved how the lights around the proscenium blinked in coordination with the Fairy Godmother's wand. Finally the set pieces for Cinderella's cottage, the prince's castle, the woods, and the town square are some of the best I have seen from CPT. I also loved the projection showing the chiming clock at midnight because it is so dramatic! I really feel like CPT has stepped up their game this season because I was also really impressed with the set for The Play That Goes Wrong! My Mom thought the whole show was beautiful (that was what she kept saying on the drive home) and I had such a great time watching her experience it! I would highly recommend Cinderella with the proviso that it is quite different from the Disney version that young children are more familiar with (the little girls in front of me seemed really bored at times but they seemed to enjoy the spectacle). It runs on the Barlow Main Stage through April 9 (go here for tickets).

The Play That Goes Wrong at CPT

I have attended productions of The Play That Goes Wrong at PTC and HCT and, since it is one of the funniest shows I've ever seen, I was really looking forward to Centerpoint Theatre's version last night. I started laughing before the show even began because the sound and lighting technician was searching the audience for a missing dog and I don't think I stopped until the cast had to manually close the curtain at the end. The titular play that goes wrong is the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society's production of The Murder at Haversham Manor by Susie H. K. Bridewell. The cast includes Max (Tyler Clawson) as Cecil Haversham/ Arthur the Gardener, Chris (Michael Gardner) as Inspector Carter, Jonathan (Blake London) as Charles Haversham, Robert (Dylan Padilla) as Thomas Colleymore, Dennis (Mitchell Gibb) as Perkins the Butler, and Sandra (Niki Waite Padilla) as Florence Colleymore. The Director is Chris, the Stage Manager is Annie (Jenni Cooper), and the Sound and Lighting Director is Trevor (Jacob Sommer). The set is slowly falling apart, the props malfunction or go missing, the sound designer accidentally plays Duran Duran instead of the sound cues, the aforementioned missing dog is never found, one actor cannot stay still while playing the murder victim, one actor cannot remember his lines, one actor constantly breaks the fourth wall to milk the audience for applause, and the leading lady is injured halfway through the show and must be replaced first with Annie and then with Trevor (with scripts in hand) but the show must go on! The physical comedy is absolutely hilarious! My favorite scenes were when Cecil and Thomas have to answer a phone call with their hands full, when Sandra and Annie have a long and drawn out fight for the chance to play Florence, when Cecil and Thomas have a sword fight with broken swords, and when Arthur the Gardner and Trevor (who is playing Florence) have an awkward kiss. The cast is one of the best I have seen at CPT and they all have superb comedic timing but I especially enjoyed Gibb because of his facial expressions. The set is also one of the best I have seen at CPT because it falls apart so spectacularly, particularly the second floor study which is the source of much physical comedy. I highly recommend this show because watching this play fall apart is the perfect distraction from a world that seems to be falling apart. It runs on the Barlow Main Stage through February 12 (go here for tickets).

Note:  Since I've seen this play performed by three different theatre companies in as many years, it was really fun for me to notice the subtle differences in the productions. I particularly enjoyed the different ways a fire was staged.

A Christmas Story at CPT

I saw the Broadway touring production of A Christmas Story several years ago and I thought it was delightful so I was excited to see it again last night at CPT. The musical is very much informed by the iconic movie of the same name (a favorite of mine).  It is narrated by radio personality Jean Shepherd (Darin J. Beardall) on Christmas Eve as he tells the story of a memorable Christmas from his youth. Ralphie (Soren Ray) desperately wants an official Red Ryder, carbine action, 200-shot, range model air rifle, with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time for Christmas but his Mother (Jessica Love), the Old Man (Juston LeBaron), his teacher Miss Shields (Bailee DeYoung), and even Santa Claus (Andy Leger) tell him that he'll shoot his eye out. All of the well-known scenes from the movie are brought to life on stage including when Randy (Sam Akerlow) eats like a piggy, when Schwartz (James Leger) triple dog dares Flick (Trevin Hamblin) to stick his tongue to the flag pole, when the Old Man wins a major award, when Ralphie says the F-dash-dash-dash word while helping the Old Man change a tire, when Ralphie gets into a fight with Scut Farkus (Ben Liljenquist), when Ralphie gets a bunny costume from Aunt Clara, and when one of the Bumpus hounds (Phoenix, making his stage debut) eats the turkey forcing the Parkers to eat Christmas dinner at the Chop Suey Palace! The songs are not especially memorable but I really liked how they are staged and the talented cast does a great job, particularly the young actors. I really enjoyed the choreography in "When You're a Wimp," "Ralphie to the Rescue," "A Major Award," and "You'll Shoot Your Eye Out." Ray has a great voice and gives a really endearing performance as Ralphie, especially in "Red Ryder Carbine Action BB Gun," and Akerlow is absolutely hilarious as Randy (he made me laugh out loud several times), but, in my opinion, Phoenix steals the show when he chases the Old Man around to get to the turkey (he got the loudest applause all evening). The period costumes are fantastic and the elaborate sets, which feature Higbee's Department Store, the Parker house, and Warren G. Harding Elementary School, are cleverly placed side by side on stage to mimic an actual street. I had a smile on my face throughout the whole show and it definitely gave me a big dose of Christmas cheer! It runs on the Barlow Main Stage through December 23 (go here for tickets) and I highly recommend it to fans of the movie!

The Scarlet Pimpernel at CPT

I really love the musical The Scarlet Pimpernel because the story is so thrilling (I read the novel by Baroness Orczy at least 812 times when I was a teenager) and the music is incredibly powerful (I have the Original Broadway Cast recording and I listen to it often).  I always try to see it whenever it is playing (I have seen three different productions at HCT) so, as you can imagine, I have been anticipating CPT's version since they announced the 2021 season! I was able to see it last night and I had so much fun. Percy Blakeney (Ben Lowell) disguises himself as the Scarlet Pimpernel and recruits a band of followers (Benjamin Christian Plowman, Thad Weiland, Jared Daley, Ryan Zaugg, John Kenning, and Regan Whimpey) in order to save the people of Paris from Chauvelin (Jacob Omer) and his guillotine during the French Revolution. He keeps his identity a secret from his wife Marguerite St. Just (Anya Young Wilson), a Parisian actress, because he believes that she is helping Chauvelin, her former lover. He is also keeping his identity a secret from the Prince of Wales (Chris Kennedy) by pretending to be a foppish nincompoop. However, he must make his most daring rescue when Marguerite and her brother Armand (Derek Marsden) are arrested. Lowell and Wilson are outstanding as Percy and Marguerite, especially in the songs "You Are My Home" and "When I Look At You" which they sing together. Lowell is very powerful in "Into The Fire," absolutely hilarious in "The Creation of Man," and incredibly moving in "She Was There." I loved all of his interactions with Chauvelin, particularly when he mispronounces his name. Wilson is quite affecting in "I'll Forget You." Omer has an beautiful voice in the songs "Falcon In The Dive" and "Where's The Girl" but his acting is strangely without a lot of affect. I feel like he should be a bit more menacing in his interactions with Marguerite and more exasperated with Percy. I really enjoyed the choreography, especially the intricate "Ouilles Gavotte" where Marguerite questions the men to find out the identity of the Scarlet Pimpernel at the ball and "The Duel" where both Percy and Marguerite engage in a sword fight with Chauvelin. The sets are very elaborate and I really liked the prison and guillotine, Percy's study, the ship used by the Pimpernel and his League to get to Paris, and the rose garden.  The moving of the various set pieces on and off the stage is a complicated process and, at times, it pulls focus from the action still happening on stage but it is very quick. Finally, the costumes are a definite highlight. I loved all of the embroidery on the fabric used for the women's costumes but, unusually, my favorites were those worn by the men.  The Pimpernel and his League take "frou frou" to a whole new level in "The Creation of Man." I am always so impressed by the quality of the productions at CenterPoint and this one is outstanding. I highly recommend it (go here for tickets).

Note: CPT recently announced their 2022 season which includes The Play That Goes Wrong, Cinderella, Big Fish, Bright Star, TBA, and Elf the Musical. I am looking forward to all of them and I've already renewed my subscription!

Sister Act at CPT

Last night I went to see Sister Act, the musical based on the 1992 movie of the same name starring Whoopi Goldberg, at CenterPoint Theatre and I thoroughly enjoyed myself! The story is informed by the movie but the setting has been changed to Philadelphia in the 1970s (which allows for some great period costumes and choreography) and the songs are all original. A nightclub singer named Deloris Van Cartier (McKenna Kay Jensen) accidentally sees her gangster boyfriend Curtis (Dan Frederickson) kill someone so she is placed in the Queen of Angels Convent by a love-struck policeman named Eddie (Craig Williams) to keep her safe until she can testify against him. She wreaks havoc on their orderly way of life until the Mother Superior (Hazel Rowe) puts her in charge of the choir to keep her out of trouble. The new and improved choir's unorthodox performances bring people back to church but all of the attention puts the convent in danger when Curtis and his henchmen see Deloris on TV. This is such a fun and energetic show and I found myself laughing out loud multiple times! Jensen, who has an incredible voice that just about blows the roof off the theater, gives a really flamboyant performance as Deloris and I especially enjoyed her antics while she tries to teach the nuns to dance and all of the sass she gives to the Mother Superior. Frederickson, Christian Lackman (as T.J.), Oran Marc de Baritault (as Joey), and Jeremy Botelho (as Pablo) almost steal the show in the songs "When I Find My Baby" and "Lady in the Long Black Dress" with their hilarious disco moves (and their leisure suits). The same could be said of Williams in his song "I Could Be That Guy," which features back-up singers, who emerge from piles of garbage in shopping carts, and a dead cat! Dan Call, as the Monsignor, made me laugh every time he was on stage, especially when he acts as an emcee (with a bedazzled microphone) during the choir's performances and when he periodically reveals the total amount of money raised for the church improvement fund on a tote board. The choreography is a lot of fun in the songs "Raise Your Voice," "Take Me To Heaven," and "Spread the Love Around," which are sung by the choir, and I especially enjoyed it whenever Sister Mary Theresa (Chris Brown), an older nun, was a step behind everyone else. The costumes are completely over the top. The Monsignor's vestments get more and more elaborate as the show goes on and the purple and gold sequins on the nuns' habits are fabulous, baby! The orange and black plaid jumpsuits worn by Deloris' back-up singers are also quite spectacular. I really enjoyed the sets and the projections, particularly all of the stained glass windows because they are also projected on the ceiling.  I highly recommend this entertaining show for a fun night out. It runs through Sept. 4 on the Barlow Main Stage and tickets may be purchased here.

Newsies at CPT

At one point Newsies was at the top of the list of musicals that I most wanted to see. I was finally able to see it at the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles several years ago and I have seen it multiple times since but it still gives me a thrill so I was really excited to see Centerpoint Theatre's version last night. It is a fantastic production and I really enjoyed it! A group of newspaper delivery boys, or "newsies," led by Jack Kelly (Matt Taylor), decide to go on strike when publisher Joseph Pulitzer (Rick Murdock) raises the price of newspapers. With a little help from a fledgling reporter named Katherine Plumber (Jordan Petersen), the newsies get the attention of Governor Theodore Roosevelt (Rob Severinsen) and score a victory for all of the working children in New York. The cast is really strong and I especially liked Taylor's version of "Santa Fe" because he sings it with such longing and Petersen's version of "Watch What Happens" because she is so determined to succeed but also shows a bit of vulnerability. Soren Ray is absolutely adorable as Les and steals every scene he is in and Brandon Smith, as Crutchie, is incredibly affecting in the song "Letter from the Refuge." I was also impressed with the ensemble because they shine in the big numbers "Carrying the Banner," "The World Will Know" (it is my favorite song in the show and I still get goosebumps every time I hear it), "Seize the Day," "King of New York," and "Once and For All." The choreography in this show is quite challenging, with athletic leaps and spins in unison and intricate footwork (sometimes involving newspapers), but the cast does an outstanding job, particularly Nick Crapo (Davey) who tap dances on top of a table in "King of New York." I think the appreciative audience applauded for every single leap and all of the kids eagerly collected the newspapers thrown into the crowd during "Seize the Day" at intermission! The set, which consists of metal towers with multiple levels that are seamlessly moved in and out and reconfigured multiple times, is simple but effective and I liked the use of large screens on either side of the stage to show the headlines as they are written as well as Jack's drawings. Everything about this production is very well done and I highly recommend getting a ticket (go here). It runs on the Barlow Main Stage through July 19.