Big Fish at the SCERA Center for the Performing Arts

I have seen the musical Big Fish many times (it is very popular in Utah) but my favorite production just might be the one I saw last night at the SCERA Center for Performing Arts because it is so heartwarming! Now that Will Bloom (Bryson Smellie) is about to become a father he laments the fact that he doesn't know his own father Edward (Mark Gordon) because of all the outlandish stories he has always told him about his life. These include having his fortune told by a witch (Adrienne Hansen) in a swamp, learning how to swim from a mermaid (Shelby Horton), going on the road with a giant named Karl (Rob Crockett), joining a circus owned by a werewolf named Amos (Samuel Benson), wooing his future wife Sandra (Christie Gardiner) with daffodils, and thwarting an assassination of a general (Drew Christensen) during the war. When Will learns that Edward is dying of cancer he returns home to attempt a reconciliation with him and, after a Wild West confrontation between the two of them, he discovers that the truth about his father is more extraordinary than the stories. Gordon is the best Edward that I have ever seen because he portrays his zest for life with an exuberance that is palpable but he is also incredibly affecting in his scenes with Smellie as a father who desperately wants his son to be proud of him and in his scenes as a dying old man hoping that he is leaving a lasting legacy behind. He made me laugh and cry and think about all of the stories my own dad used to tell. Smellie is also outstanding because he plays Will's journey from exasperation with his father to understanding him with so much emotion, especially in the scene with Jenny Hill (Anya Young Wilson) and in the song "What's Next." Gardiner has a beautiful voice and her renditions of "Two Men In My Life" and "I Don't Need a Roof" were also highlights for me. I really love the songs that bring Edward's imaginative stories to life and the costumes and choreography in this production are so fun and whimsical, particularly in "I Know What You Want" with the witch, "Favorite Son" with the townspeople of Ashton, "Closer to Her" with the circus (I laughed out loud at the elephant and the firing of the cannon is so fun), and "Red, White, and True" with the USO (the tap dancing by the ensemble is impressive). The set is very simple with various pieces used to create vignettes (Will's bedroom, Edward's bedroom, hospital rooms, the front porch, etc.) brought on and off the stage by the ensemble but the backdrop used for "Daffodils" is a show-stopper (literally). The use of projections is very effective, especially the different images introducing all of the characters in "Be The Hero" and recapping them in "What's Next." This production reignited my love for this show (which was starting to wane after seeing it so many times) and I would definitely recommend getting a ticket (go here). It runs at the SCERA Center for the Performing Arts on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays through May 4.

Shrek the Musical at the SCERA Center for the Performing Arts

Last night I went to see a production of Shrek the Musical at the SCERA Center for the Performing Arts featuring an incredibly talented group of high school students belonging to the award-winning acting troupe called Acting Up! I figured that, if they could produce an enjoyable version of a show that I dislike, they would definitely do a phenomenal job with a show I actually do like and I was right! It was so much fun! Shrek (Finn Parks) is an ogre just minding his own business when his swamp is invaded after Lord Farquaad (Mark Triplett) banishes all of the Fairytale Creatures from Duloc. After some encouragement from Pinocchio (Al Sorensen), he decides to visit Farquaad himself to get his swamp back and, along the way, he saves Donkey (Noah Hinckley) from Farquaad's guards and they end up traveling to Duloc together. Farquaad, who wants to be King, agrees to give Shrek back his swamp if he rescues Princess Fiona (Tanya Cespedes) from a tower guarded by a fire-breathing Dragon (Kaisa Judd) so he can marry her. Donkey distracts Dragon so Shrek can rescue Fiona but chaos ensues on the way back to Duloc when Shrek develops feelings for her. Parks is great in the title role because he shows a vulnerability behind the gruff exterior and he displays a lot of charisma in his performance (but I sometimes couldn't hear him during his songs, especially in "Who I'd Be" and "When Words Fail"). Hinckley is a lot of fun because he is fast-talking and frenetic in his physical performance and I loved his version of "Forever" with Judd. Cespedes has a beautiful voice, particularly in the song "I Know It's Today" with Claire Moreira as Young Fiona and Rachel Paz as Teen Fiona (they harmonize so well), but I also enjoyed her physicality, especially in "I Think I Got You Beat" with Parks (the children in the audience absolutely loved the *ahem* sound effects in this number). However, it is Triplett who steals the show! As is often the case in this musical, he portrays Farquaad's short stature by appearing on his knees with tiny fake legs dangling in front of him and a large cape hiding his real legs, but Triplett adds another layer of hilarity with lots of big gestures with his arms and exaggerated facial expressions. I laughed non-stop whenever he was on stage and his songs "What's Up Duloc" and "Ballad of Farquaad" were highlights for me! I was also very impressed by Judd because she gives a fantastic performance while effortlessly manipulating an amazing dragon puppet (with the help of another puppeteer). The outstanding ensemble provided some more of my favorite moments, including "The Story of My Life" and "Freak Flag," with colorful costumes and dazzling choreography. Honorable mentions go to Sorensen as Pinocchio, Sabrina Barker as the Fairy Godmother, Alyssa Abildskov as the Wicked Witch, and Macey South as Gingy. The fabulous stage features a series of steps configured to look like a forest with fun set pieces for Shrek's swamp, Farquaad's castle, the Dragon's keep, and Fiona's tower. I was so impressed with these young actors and I cannot recommend this production enough! Definitely let your freak flag fly and get a ticket (go here) for one of the remaining performances through March 30.

A Christmas Story at the SCERA Center for the Performing Arts 2023

I loved SCERA's production of A Christmas Story so much last year I decided to see it again last night (it might become a new tradition for me because I don't have enough of them). It was just as much fun as I remember! Radio personality Jean Shepherd (Ed Eyestone) narrates a Christmas story from his youth about Ralphie Parker (Mitt Harris) and his quest for an official Red Ryder, carbine action, 200-shot, range model air rifle with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time. First Ralphie tries to convince his Mother (Emily Hawkes) and the Old Man (Mark Buffington), then he hopes to get Miss Shields (Marisol Peterson) on his side by writing the best theme, and he even turns to Santa Claus (Chad Taylor) as a last resort but they all tell him that he'll shoot his eye out! I am a huge fan of the movie and all of my favorite scenes are brought to life on stage including when Randy (Jackson Seaver) eats like a piggy, when Schwartz (Ty Poulson) triple dog dares Flick (Elijah Colledge) 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 bully Scut Farkus (Elias Kahler), when Ralphie is forced to wear the bunny costume given to him by Aunt Clara, and when the Bumpus hounds eat the turkey forcing the Parkers to have Christmas dinner at the Chop Suey Palace. The large cast (several of whom are reprising their roles from last year) does a great job and I was especially impressed with all of the children and their singing and dancing in "It All Comes Down to Christmas," "When You're a Wimp," "Ralphie to the Rescue," and "Somewhere Hovering Over Indiana." Harris is incredibly endearing as Ralphie (he was Schwartz last year) and I loved his singing in "Ralphie to the Rescue" and his tap dancing in "You'll Shoot Your Eye Out." I always think that the roles for the adults are not as compelling as those for the children (a flaw with the show not the performances) but I enjoyed having Eyestone as part of the action (while wearing the same costume as Ralphie) and Buffington's rendition of "A Major Award" is absolutely hilarious (the kick line with the leg lamps is a showstopper). This year's production makes clever use of projections but it also features some impressive sets including the two-story Parker house (I loved the smoke that comes out of a vent when the furnace acts up), the Santa display at Higbee's department store complete with a slide, and a working Oldsmobile (the best in any production I've seen of this show including the Broadway touring version)! I had a huge smile on my face from beginning to end and I highly recommend it (especially for families). There are four more performances at the SCERA Center for Performing Arts through December 16 (go here for tickets).

Into the Woods at the SCERA Center for the Performing Arts

I sometimes get a little bit exasperated because all of the theatre companies near me seem to cycle through the same popular shows (Clue is the current darling) but one show that I don't think I will ever get tired of seeing no matter how often it is performed is Into the Woods. I love it so much because the story is clever, the music is beautiful, and the messages are both incredibly thought-provoking and poignant. I was able to see a production at the SCERA Center for the Performing Arts last night and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Several fairy tale characters must go into the woods to make their wishes come true: a Witch (Samantha Frisby) wishes to reverse a curse, a Baker (Marshall Lamm) and his Wife (Rian Gordon) wish to have a child, Cinderella (Lauren Pope) wishes to attend the festival and meet a prince, Jack (Cole Hixson) wishes to save his cow Milky White (Shannon Follette) from being sold at market, and Little Red Riding Hood (Eliza Johnson) wishes to visit her Grandmother (Shannon Follette). However, having a wish come true does not always result in a happily ever after and actions can have unintended consequences. The entire cast is outstanding, especially for a community theatre, and I was so impressed with the execution of every musical number! My favorite was, as always, "Agony" because Cameron Ward, as Cinderella's Prince, and Isaac Moss, as Rapunzel's Prince, are hilariously overwrought with facial expressions and gestures that are completely over the top! I also enjoyed "It Takes Two" because it is an important turning point for the Baker and his Wife and Lamm and Gordon, who have great chemistry, give very spirited performances, "The Last Midnight" because Frisby sings it so powerfully, and "No One Is Alone" because it is such a beautiful moment and Lamm, Pope, Hixson, and Johnson gave me goosebumps with their moving rendition. The staging is really innovative with lots of fun special effects and I particularly liked the use of books to represent the birds that help Cinderella and the flowers that lure Little Red Riding Hood from the path as well as a beanstalk that actually grows. The set is fantastic and looks like an abandoned house that has been overtaken by a forest (an interesting interpretation that I have never seen before) with ivy covered bookcases in the midst of the trees. The lighting design is dramatic, especially the lanterns, and the costumes are straight out of a fairy tale (my favorites were those worn by the Witch both before and after her transformation). I will always love seeing this show and this production put a smile on my face! It runs through October 7 on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays and I definitely recommend it (go here for tickets).

Jeremy Jordan at the SCERA Shell Outdoor Theatre

As a huge theatre nerd I actually squealed out loud when I found out that Broadway star Jeremy Jordan was coming to the SCERA Shell Outdoor Theatre and I have been looking forward to the show all summer! The concert was last night and to say that it was amazing would be a understatement! He was accompanied by the Utah Valley Symphony under the baton of Blanka Bednarz and the program, much to my delight, consisted mainly of songs from the Great White Way! He began with "Something's Coming" from West Side Story and then continued with "Broadway Here I Come" from the TV show Smash (in which Jordan stars as Jimmy Collins, a composer who writes the Broadway musical Hit List). Next came a really cool arrangement of "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'" from Oklahoma and one of the best renditions of "Soliloquy" from Carousel that I have ever heard. After this Jordan took the first of two breaks while the orchestra played a beautiful medley from Les Miserables. My first introduction to Jordan was in the movie The Last Five Years (which I love) so I was absolutely thrilled that he sang "Moving Too Fast" when he came back to the stage.  One of my favorite moments of the concert came next when he sang "She Used to Be Mine" from Waitress (he played Jim on Broadway but he said Jenna had all of the best songs so he wanted to sing one of hers).  I love this song so much and I've heard Jessie Mueller, who originated the role of Jenna on Broadway, and Sara Bareilles, who wrote the musical, sing it but I have to say that Jordan's rendition gave me goosebumps! He told the crowd that he was required to include a Disney song so he gave a stirring performance of "Out There" from The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Next came a medley of songs originally arranged by Oscar-winning composer Johnny Mandel for Andy Williams which included "Love is a Many-Splendored Thing," "Mona Lisa," "On the Atchison, Topeka, and the Santa Fe," "All the Way," and "Moon River." He told the crowd that he included this medley because he wanted to take advantage of having an orchestra backing him and it was incredibly lush and romantic. Jordan took another short break while the orchestra performed a medley from The Phantom of the Opera and when he returned he brought me to tears with "Bring Him Home" from Les Miserables and "Why God, Why?" from Miss Saigon. When I first found out about this concert, I really hoped that he would sing "Santa Fe" from Newsies. He originated the role of Jack Kelly on Broadway and I listen to the soundtrack all of the time so I was incredibly excited to hear a live version of this song and he did not disappoint! He ended his main set with an amazing version, another favorite moment of the concert, that brought the crowd to their feet! For the encore, he performed "Being Alive" from Company which, once again, received an enthusiastic standing ovation! Not only does Jordan have a beautiful voice, he is so charismatic and he had lots of funny and spontaneous interactions with the crowd. His setlist was everything I could have ever wanted as a Broadway fan and I loved every minute! It was definitely worth waiting all summer for!

Singin' in the Rain at the SCERA Shell Outdoor Theatre

Last night I had a great time at the SCERA Shell Outdoor Theatre watching a really fun production of Singin' in the Rain (my second one of the summer).  It tells the well-known story of how a silent film star of the 1920s dubs the voice of his obnoxious partner with that of an aspiring actress with whom he is in love after the studio transitions to talking movies. What I love most about this show is all of the big song and dance numbers and they are absolutely spectacular in SCERA's version.  I especially enjoyed the choreography in "Moses Supposes" and "Broadway Melody" because they feature fantastic tapping and that always impresses me. "Make 'Em Laugh" and "Good Mornin'" are also a lot of fun because they integrate set pieces and props into the dancing and I was enchanted by "You Were Meant for Me" because it is so romantic with some cool lighting and special effects. However, the highlight of the show is, of course, the iconic number "Singin' in the Rain" because it actually rains on stage! It was thrilling to watch all of the exuberant high energy dancing and splashing in the puddles! Both TJ Thomas, as Don Lockwood, and Heidi Hughes, as Kathy Seldon, are great singers and dancers and have tremendous chemistry, particularly in "You Were Meant for Me" and "You Are My Lucky Star."  Tia Trimble, as Lina Lamont, is an absolute hoot and I laughed out loud during her rendition of "What's Wrong With Me?"  I also really enjoyed Tanner Frederickson's brilliant comedic timing and physicality as Don's sidekick Cosmo Brown. The set is amazing (one of the major highlights of the show) with the logo for Monumental Pictures above a red curtain, that opens and closes to reveal a giant screen, and stairs that light up.  This becomes a sound stage where the movies are filmed and a theater where they are viewed (the movie footage is incredibly well done) with the addition of a few props (which are cleverly brought on and off stage by members of the ensemble acting as the crew for a large film production). On one side of the stage there is an elaborate entrance to the theater and on the other is a street corner including the famous lamp post! Finally, the 1920s period costumes are impressive with lots of sequined flapper dresses and argyle sweaters! This is the perfect show to see outside on a summer evening and I highly recommend it (go here for tickets). It runs through August 22 with performances every night but Wednesday and Sunday.

The Play That Goes Wrong at the SCERA Center for the Performing Arts

I have seen several different productions of The Play That Goes Wrong (PTC, HCT, and CPT) and it has become one of my favorite shows because it is absolutely hilarious! I had the chance to see SCERA's version last night and I don't think I stopped laughing from the first missed cue to the crash of the chandelier at the end! The play-within-a-play is the Cornley University Drama Society's production of The Murder at Haversham Manor by Susie H. K. Bridewell. The cast includes Max (Scott Hendrickson) as Cecil Haversham/ Arthur the Gardener, Chris (Dylan Burningham) as Inspector Carter, Jonathan (David Peterson) as Charles Haversham, Robert (Bryson Smellie) as Thomas Colleymore, Dennis (Samuel Wright) as Perkins the Butler, and Sandra (Eden Bostrom) as Florence Colleymore. The show is directed by Chris with Annie (Shannon Follette) as the Stage Manager and Trevor (Ethan Devey) as the Sound and Lighting Director. Everything that can go wrong does go wrong with this show, including a set that is slowly falling apart, props that either malfunction or go missing, a sound designer who accidentally plays Harry Styles instead of the sound cues, an actor who cannot stay still while playing the murder victim, an actor who cannot remember his lines, an actor who uses flamboyant gestures and then breaks the fourth wall to milk the audience for applause every time he does it, and a leading lady who is injured halfway through the show and must be replaced with two different understudies (with scripts in hand), but the show must go on with hysterical results. The physical comedy in this show is brilliant and my favorite moments were when Thomas must repeatedly drink paint thinner when whiskey cannot be found, when Cecil and Florence have an incredibly awkward kiss, when Cecil and Thomas have to answer the phone while holding the set together, when Cecil and Thomas break the swords they are using during a duel and then pretend to use light sabers (complete with sound effects), when Perkins must finish the show handcuffed to the chaise longue because the prop keys are misplaced, and when Sandra and Annie have a long and drawn out fight over who gets to play Florence. The entire cast is fantastic but the standouts for me are Smellie because he is so completely overwrought and Hendrickson because everything he does made me laugh (particularly whenever he would flash his megawatt smile at the audience). The set is simply amazing because not only does it fall apart spectacularly but it does so on cue (the technical aspects of this show are also quite impressive). The collapse of the second floor study is ingenious! I cannot recommend this show enough because it is so much fun (I was definitely not the only one laughing out loud). It runs through May 6 and tickets may be purchased here.

Seussical The Musical at the SCERA Center for the Performing Arts

It is no secret that I am not a big fan of Seussical the Musical (when I saw the Broadway touring production a few years ago I wanted to leave at intermission) but I have to admit that the more I see it the more it grows on me. I still think it is convoluted and loses steam in the second act but the production I saw last night at the SCERA Center for the Performing Arts featuring an insanely talented group of high school students known as Acting Up! just might be the best one I've seen yet because I think the fantastical story is served really well by a young and exuberant cast. JoJo (Casey Garner) is an imaginative boy who sometimes gets in trouble for the thinks that he thinks so the Cat in the Hat (Luke Elison), acting as a Master of Ceremonies with the help of Thing 1 (Al Sorenson) and Thing 2 (Averie Bartholomew), takes him on a magical adventure where he meets Horton the Elephant (Max Wright), Gertrude McFuzz (Juniper Gray), the Amayzing Mayzie (Elena Dutton) and her Bird Girls (Eloise Brown, Lily Martin, Racel Paz, Sophia Rush, Tanya Cespedes, and Vashti Coray), the Sour Kangaroo (Hannah Mildenstein), the Wickersham Brothers (Cairo McGee, Cyrus Beaumont, Dean Salvesen, and Eli Palmer), the Mayor of Who-Ville (Max Warren) and his wife (Gabriella Droubay), and General Genhis Khan Schmitz (Thayne Larson).  JoJo ultimately learns that anything is possible and that he can go anywhere he wants just by thinking his thinks. I was really impressed with the choreography and special effects used in all of the musical numbers, especially "Horton Hears a Who" (something drew my eye everywhere I looked), "It's Possible" (the fish puppets are very whimsical), "Monkey Around" (the acrobatics are quite impressive), "The Military" (the giant knives used as swords are a lot of fun), "The Circus McGurkus" (I loved the tap dancing), and "Havin' A Hunch" (the use of blacklight is dazzling). As I mentioned, the entire cast is unbelievably talented but I particularly enjoyed Elison because he oozes charisma, Wright because he is so enduring and sympathetic (his renditions of "Alone in the Universe" and "Solla Sollew" almost brought me to tears), and Mildenstein because she has an amazing voice! The costumes are bold, colorful, and fun and I especially loved the fanciful feathered dresses worn by Mayzie and the Bird Girls.  The pastel multi-level set comes straight from a Dr. Seuss book and I loved all of the little nooks and crannies from which cast members suddenly appear and the poles used to slide from the top level to the bottom one. Thing 1 and Thing 2 are cleverly used to move smaller set pieces and props on and off stage seamlessly. I know that many of you who have heard me complain about how nonsensical this show is will be surprised but I really enjoyed this version! It will never be my favorite but I had a smile on my face during the whole show because I was so impressed by these young actors! It runs at SCERA through February 11 (tickets may be purchased here) and I highly recommend it.

A Christmas Story at the SCERA Center for the Performing Arts

Last week I saw three different productions of A Christmas Carol and this weekend I have two different versions of A Christmas Story planned. I started with the one at the SCERA Center for the Performing Arts last night and it was so much fun! This musical is a pretty faithful adaptation of the movie of the same name (one of my favorite Christmas movies) and it is narrated by radio personality Jean Shepherd (Ed Eyestone) as he recounts a memorable Christmas from his youth. Ralphie Parker (Tate McBeth) 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 (Celeste Harris), the Old Man (Mark Buffington), his teacher Miss Shields (Caitlyn Galvez), and even Santa Claus (Garrett Smit) 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 (Porter McCormick) eats like a piggy, when Schwartz (Mitt Harris) triple dog dares Flick (Isaac Hael) 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 (Elias Kahler), when Ralphie gets a bunny costume from Aunt Clara, and when one of the Bumpus hounds eats the turkey forcing the Parkers to eat Christmas dinner at the Chop Suey Palace. I don't think that the songs in this musical are particularly memorable but I really enjoyed the staging, especially the numbers featuring the children such as "It All Comes Down to Christmas," "When You're a Wimp," "Ralphie to the Rescue," "Up on Santa's Lap," and "Somewhere Hovering Over Indiana."  The choreography in these songs is a lot of fun and McBeth and the children in the ensemble (over 20 of them) execute it very well. With the exception of "A Major Award" with Buffington and "You'll Shoot Your Eye Out" with Galvez, I think the songs featuring the adults, namely "The Genius on Cleveland Street," "What a Mother Does," and "Just Like That," are less compelling because they take the focus away from Ralphie. This is not a criticism of Harris or Buffington, who do an outstanding job, or this production but, rather, it is a weakness in the show itself. The humor works best when we see Ralphie's parents as he does not as they are. I loved McBeth's performance because not only is he incredibly endearing but he is also an excellent dancer, particularly in "Ralphie to the Rescue" and his dance off with Galvez in "You'll Shoot Your Eye Out." McCormick made me laugh quite a few times with all of his antics and I enjoyed it when Eyestone, as the narrator, gets involved in the action. I was really impressed with the elaborate sets, including the two-storey Parker house (I loved the smoke coming from a vent when the furnace acts up) and the impressive Santa display at Higbee's department store complete with a slide. This production also has the best Oldsmobile (with working lights) I've seen! I thoroughly enjoyed this show (it is on par with the Broadway touring production I saw several years ago) and I would highly recommend it but, unfortunately, there is only one more performance and it is completely sold out (with good reason). This seems to be a yearly tradition for SCERA so put it on your list for next year.

The Addams Family at the SCERA Center for the Performing Arts

Last night I had the chance to see The Addams Family at the SCERA Center for the Performing Arts. This is such a fun show and I thoroughly enjoyed this production! The Addams family is not like other families because they are all obsessed with the macabre and rely on their dead ancestors, including a conquistador (Daniel Cespedes), a saloon girl (Emily Thompson), a caveman (Kooper Throckmorton), a 1950s girl (Olivia Hymas), a Civil War soldier (Brennan Salazar), a flight attendant (Tiffany Gibbons), a Puritan (Austin Simcox), a flapper (Emma Rollins),a pirate (Scott Welty), a nurse (Samantha Osmond), an aristocrat (Brenner Finch), and a ballerina (Savannah Ogden), to help them through life. Things start to go wrong when Wednesday (Sydney Swalberg) falls in love with a normal Midwestern boy named Lucas Beineke (Danny Kenny). She wants to introduce his uptight parents, Mal (Joel Griffiths) and Alice (Lauren Slagowski), to her family which includes her father Gomez (Garrett Smit), her mother Morticia (Lauren Billings), her brother Pugsley (Iuli Peters), her uncle Fester (Samuel Benson), her Grandma (Alyssa Perez), and their undead butler Lurch (Merick Masters). She arranges a dinner party and begs her family for just one normal night.  Chaos ensues when a mishap happens involving one of Grandma's poisonous potions and a game of full disclosure goes awry! It is up to Uncle Fester, with the help of the ancestors, to convince everyone that love is the answer! My favorite part of this production is the choreography and I especially enjoyed all of the big song and dance numbers involving the ancestors, such as "When You're An Addams," "But Love," "Secrets," "The Moon and Me," and "Move Toward the Darkness." The entire cast is outstanding but Smit and Billings are absolutely perfect as Gomez and Morticia! I laughed out loud at just about everything they said and did! Smit is quite the Latin lover in "Trapped" and "Not Today," Billings is an absolute hoot in "Just Around the Corner," especially her interactions with the Grim Reaper and the fantastic kick-line with the ancestors, and the two of them are incredibly sultry together in "Tango De Amor." The costumes are a lot of fun, especially Morticia's slinky gown, Gomez's pinstripe suit, and Wednesday's black and purple houndstooth dress.  The costumes for all of the ancestors are quite elaborate with lots of quirky details to enhance the characterization for each of them (every production that I have seen of this show has had its own distinctive group of ancestors).  The set of the Addams home is fantastic with a central staircase, a fireplace, patterned wallpaper in greens and golds, portraits of the ancestors, and a panel that opens up to reveal a Medieval torture chamber. There is also a backdrop featuring a cemetery with gravestones and a wrought iron gate and this, along with the use of fog, creates a very spooky atmosphere. This is a perfect show for Halloween (my favorite holiday) and is particularly appropriate for the whole family because of the message about the importance of families!  It runs through Oct. 8 and tickets may be purchased here.

The Sound of Music at the SCERA Shell Outdoor Theatre

I had never been to the SCERA Shell Outdoor Theatre before so I was really excited to see The Sound of Music last night (even though it was my third production of this musical this year). I ended up enjoying the show, and the venue, immensely! The story about an aspiring nun named Maria (Anya Wilson) who is sent to care for the children of Captain von Trapp (James Duncan) is one that I can see over and over again but I loved the addition of so many fun details in this particular version. Maria comes to the stage from the middle aisle during "The Sound of Music" (which is absolutely perfect because the audience is sitting on a hill). Sister Berthe (Tricia Christensen) and Sister Margaretta (Hannah Thomas) physically argue with each other during "Maria." Maria and the Mother Abbess (Sarah Neipp) are very playful in "My Favorite Things." The von Trapp children, Liesl (Savannah Carrasco), Friedrich (Cole Hixson), Louisa (Addie Armstrong), Kurt (Koen Greene), Brigitta (Hannah White), Marta (Gemma Sanders), and Gretl (Naomi Sharette), have a great rapport with Maria in "Do-Re-Mi" and "The Lonely Goatherd," especially when they imitate Maria's gestures. The choreography between Liesl and Rolf (Charles Price) is a lot of fun in "Sixteen Going on Seventeen" and involves interactions with a bench, a gazebo, and a fountain. Maria and Captain von Trapp have great chemistry while dancing at the party and during "Something Good" which is important because I sometimes think the romance between the two of them is rushed in the stage version. A word is changed in the reprise of "Sixteen Going on Seventeen" which makes the song so much more palatable for a contemporary audience (at least in my opinion because that song has always really bothered me).  Having Nazi guards patrolling the aisles during the festival and then searching the audience with flashlights when the von Trapps do not appear at the end of the concert is incredibly effective at portraying the terror felt by the family (this was also done during a production I saw at Tuacahn and several people in the audience screamed). The von Trapps start their journey to Switzerland by climbing up the hill through the middle aisle and it is so dramatic! Wilson, Neipp, and Emily Duncan (as Baroness Schraeder) have beautiful voices, the young actors playing the von Trapp children are very charismatic (especially White who really plays up Brigitta's sass), and Daniel Bradley (as Max Detweiller) oozes charm! The set is absolutely beautiful, and quite elaborate, with moving panels showing the mountains through arched windows at Nonnberg Abbey and a view of Salzburg (which is very realistic because I compared it to a photo I took on a trip there when I got home) at the von Trapp Villa. Large set pieces for the von Trapp Villa could be turned to show the interior for scenes inside (I loved the fire in the fireplace but I wish that the staircase had been more prominent) and the exterior for scenes on the terrace. The costumes are wonderful, especially the uniforms and the play clothes (made out of curtains!) for the children and Maria's wedding dress, but I felt that the costumes for the Baroness are a bit too contemporary. As I mentioned, this was my first visit to the SCERA Shell Outdoor Theatre (I've seen The Drowsy Chaperone and Catch Me If You Can at the indoor theatre) and I loved this venue! There are reserved seats and separate sections on the grass for people who bring their own chairs and for those who bring blankets. There are bathrooms and concessions available but you can bring your own snacks, as well. Every usher that I came in contact with was incredibly friendly and helpful (which is not always the case). I highly recommend both this show and this venue (I will be back next summer). The Sound of Music runs through August 13 (go here for tickets).

Note: I have enjoyed all three productions of this musical (including those at the Empress and the Utah Shakespeare Festival) for different reasons. I don't think I could pick a favorite!

Catch Me If You Can at the SCERA Center for the Performing Arts

The musical Catch Me If You Can, based on the movie of the same name starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks, is a lot of fun so I went to see a new production at the SCERA Center for the Performing Arts last night. It is fantastic! The show begins when Frank Abagnale, Jr. (A. J. Nielsen) is arrested by FBI Agent Carl Hanratty (Mark Gordon) at the Miami Airport. Then Frank breaks the fourth wall and begins telling the audience his story as if he were part of a 1960s television variety show (complete with go-go dancers) in the big production number "Live in Living Color." When his parents, Frank Abagnale, Sr. (Nathaniel Noyes) and Paula Abagnale (Samantha Frisby), get divorced, sixteen year old Frank decides to run away to New York and he starts forging checks in order to get by (almost two million dollar's worth by the time he is caught). This gets the attention of the FBI, especially Hanratty who is relentless in his pursuit as Frank impersonates a Pan Am pilot, a doctor, and a lawyer (he even passes the bar exam). Frank is always one step ahead of Hanratty until he falls in love with Brenda Strong (Shannon Follette). The two leads are so much fun to watch and I particularly enjoyed their interactions together! Nielsen is charm personified as the fast-talking confidence man (especially in the songs "Jet Set" and "Doctor's Orders") but he is equally adept at portraying the vulnerable teenager who ran away from home. Gordon is absolutely hilarious as the straight-laced FBI agent who has no life away from the job and his number, "Don't Break the Rules," is a definite crowd pleaser! The scene where Frank manages to elude Hanratty in a motel room is really funny but there is also a poignant moment between them when Frank calls Hanratty on Christmas Eve and they both realize that they don't have anyone to talk to but each other. I was also very impressed with Follette and her rendition of "Fly, Fly Away" is my favorite out of all the productions of this show that I've seen because she can definitely sing the blues! The choreography is a pastiche of the variety shows of the 1960s (such as Laugh-In and Hullabaloo) and the big song and dance numbers are incredibly entertaining. The set, which looks like it could be from a television awards show, has multiple levels which are used very effectively as various locations with the addition of just a few set pieces. Finally, the costumes are quite impressive (especially for the female ensemble who appear as go-go dancers, Pan Am stewardesses, FBI agents, nurses, and southern belles among other characters). I had a great time last night and, if you need a fun night out, look no further than Catch Me If You Can which runs at the SCERA Center for the Performing Arts through May 7 (go here for tickets).

The Drowsy Chaperone at the SCERA Center for the Performing Arts

The SCERA Center for the Performing Arts is another venue that I had never been to before, again because it is about a 45 minute drive from my house, but I learned that The Drowsy Chaperone was being performed there and, since it is one of the funniest shows that I have ever seen, I just had to get a ticket. I saw it last night and I was really impressed with the venue and the production! The Drowsy Chaperone is such a fun show because it is a hilarious parody of the genre with every musical theatre trope you can think of but it is also a poignant ode to the power of theatre to transport you away from the real world and all of your problems to a place where happy endings are possible for a few hours. Man in Chair (JD Ramey) is feeling a little bit blue so he decides to listen to the cast recording of The Drowsy Chaperone, a popular musical from 1928. As he listens to the record, the actors appear in his apartment and bring the show to life with frequent pauses for his wry explanations and commentaries. Mrs. Tottendale (Katie Warne) and her Underling (Dane Allred) are hosting the wedding of oil tycoon Robert Martin (Bryan Johnson) to a Broadway star named Janet Van De Graaff (Samantha Frisby), who is giving up her glamorous career for love. Robert is leaving the wedding details to George (Jared Wilkinson), his best friend and best man, while Janet's Chaperone (Tannah O'Banion), who gets drowsy when she drinks champagne, is charged with keeping the couple apart to avoid bad luck. Broadway producer Feldzieg (Robert Holcombe) is unhappy about losing his biggest star and sets out stop the wedding by hiring a Latin lover named Aldolpho (Devin Glenn) to seduce the bride. An investor in the Feldzieg Follies is also worried about losing its biggest star and hires two gangsters (Jarom Swanson and Erik Rytting), disguised as pastry chefs, to stop the wedding but a ditzy chorus girl named Kitty (Abby Bradshaw) is hoping to take Janet's place. Mayhem ensues but the happy ending comes eventually when Trix the Aviatrix (Abigail Crist) is enlisted to marry four couples on her plane while flying to Rio. This production is simply delightful and I especially enjoyed the choreography in the big song-and-dance numbers "Cold Feets," "Show Off," "Toledo Surprise," "Bride's Lament," "Love is Always Lovely in the End," and "I Do, I Do in the Sky." I particularly liked how the choreography incorporates the furniture and other items in the apartment. The use of the bookcase in "Show Off" is ingenious! It is absolutely hilarious when the actors freeze every time the Man in Chair stops the record and when they perform the same notes over and over when the record has a scratch. I also loved it when the Man in Chair puts the wrong record on at the beginning of Act 2 and the cast, as different characters, performs "Message From a Nightingale" from a different musical until he realizes his mistake. So funny! The entire cast is incredibly strong but I was really impressed with O'Banion because she is the ultimate diva in her rendition of "As We Stumble Along," Glenn because he is completely over-the-top in "I Am Aldolpho," and Ramey because he shows a lot of vulnerability as he compares the musical to his life. I laughed and laughed at the antics on stage (I was not alone) and I think this is a show that most everyone would enjoy.  It runs at the SCERA Center for the Performing Arts through October 9 (go here for tickets).

Note: The first time I saw The Drowsy Chaperone it was the Broadway touring production starring Jonathan Crombie (better known as Gilbert Blythe) as Man in Chair! Sigh!