Dear Evan Hansen at CPT

I was especially excited for Dear Evan Hansen at CPT last night because my sister was seeing it for the first time. I love this show so much and I was afraid that I had over-hyped it but she really enjoyed this production (she even had a tear in her eye). Evan Hansen (Josh Call) suffers from anxiety and feels insignificant and alone but his busy single mother, Heidi (Casey Matern), doesn't know how to help him. Jared (Andrew Walker), his only friend, is nice to him so his mom will pay his car insurance and he is too scared to talk to his crush Zoe (Anna Kocherhans). His therapist encourages him to write letters to himself to build his self-confidence but Connor (Ryan Munsey), a deeply troubled young man, intercepts one from the printer because it mentions his sister Zoe. When Connor takes his own life, his devastated parents, Cynthia (Natalie Haddock) and Larry (Thad Weiland), find the letter and, assuming that it is a suicide note left for Evan, they reach out to him. Evan pretends that they were friends in order to comfort Connor's parents and soon he asks Jared to create a history of emails between them to prove the lie. Larry and Zoe struggle to reconcile Evan's version of Connor with the difficult son and brother they knew and Zoe tells Evan that the only nice thing Connor ever said to her was in his suicide note which Evan wrote. Alana (Kenzie Buckway), another lonely girl at school, wants Evan to do more to keep Connor's memory alive so they create The Connor Project and Evan gives a heartfelt speech about loneliness at a memorial assembly that goes viral. He begins a relationship with Zoe and spends all of his time with her family to the exclusion of Jared, Alana, and Heidi.  Eventually the deception spirals out of control and, when the truth is finally revealed, Heidi helps him see that he has never been alone. The casting of this show is exceptional because everyone is very well suited to their role. Munsey is the first actor that I've seen who actually looks the part of a troubled teen and Buckway has the vibe of someone who could be overlooked in a crowd (I was particularly struck by how similar Alana is to both Evan and Connor as a result) but I was most impressed by Call because he is so convincing as a high school student that I was surprised to learn that he is not a teenager.  Call's performance is absolutely brilliant because he has a beautiful voice with an incredible range but he also nails the emotion in the songs "Waving Through a Window," "For Forever," "You Will Be Found," and "Words Fail" (this is especially powerful and it reduced me to tears). He also portrays Evan's social anxiety very well with a rapid-fire delivery and lots of idiosyncratic tics. Kocherhans also has a beautiful voice and I loved her version of "Requiem" and "Only Us" (her voice blends so well with Call's). I also really liked Matern because her anger is palpable in "Good for You" but she is so heart-wrenching in "So Big/ So Small." I really loved some of the choices in the staging, especially when the students circle around Evan during "Waving Through a Window" while looking at their phones and the inclusion of Connor on stage during "Requiem" (it seemed to me that Connor is a lot more involved in this production). This show has an important message about how technology connects people but leaves them feeling even more isolated so the use of social media in an important element. I loved the way that it is integrated into this production! The set features large movable panels which also surround the proscenium and they include three-dimensional geometric forms which give the projections a cracked screen effect. In my opinion, this is an incredibly powerful symbol of how broken teens can become in their online interactions. This absolutely rivals the national tours I have seen and I cannot recommend it enough, especially to teens who might be feeling alone (there were lots of teens in the audience who were very moved by the show). It runs on the Mountain America Main Stage through October 15 (go here for tickets).

To Kill a Mockingbird at Parker Theatre

Last night I went to a powerful production of To Kill a Mockingbird at Parker Theatre (it is the more traditional version rather than Aaron Sorkin's reinterpretation for Broadway). I love the book by Harper Lee and the movie starring Gregory Peck but there is just something so moving about seeing it performed live on stage and I was definitely very moved. Jem (Lincoln Oliphant) and Scout (Lizzie Kintz) are impressed when their father Atticus Finch (Brinton Wilkins) shoots a mad dog terrorizing their street in Maycomb, Alabama, but they learn what true heroism is when he defends a Black man named Tom Robinson (Kiirt Banks) against a false accusation of rape even though he knows he will lose because it is the right thing to do. They also learn not judge people until they have seen things from their perspective through their interactions with the irascible Mrs. Dubose (Kathryn Atwood) and the reclusive Boo Radley (James Duncan). The themes of prejudice, of all kinds, and having the moral courage to stand up to it are especially important right now and I loved the choice to have Atticus deliver his closing argument facing the audience as if we were the jury because it is a message that we all need to hear. Wilkins is brilliant in this scene because his delivery becomes more and more dramatic and I had goosebumps by the end of it. I also loved his interactions with the children because he has such a tender rapport with them (I had tears in my eyes during his final scene with Kintz). The three young actors, including Oliver Miramontes as Dill, do a wonderful job portraying loss of innocence and I was particularly struck by Oliphant's reaction to the verdict because it is almost visceral. I also loved Kintz's guileless delivery in the scene at the jail because it makes her interaction with Dave Bruce, as Mr. Cunningham, so emotional and, therefore, very effective. Banks is absolutely devastating in the courtroom scenes because, even though he is stoic, his fear is palpable and it made me so angry to see him mistreated and to see him become a victim of injustice (every time I see this I always hope that the verdict will somehow be different). The set is simple but effective with porches for the Finch house and the Radley house opposite each other and a raised platform up stage that is used to represent Mrs. Dubose's porch and other scenes in Maycomb. This platform then becomes the gallery and other set pieces for the courtroom are placed in the middle of the stage. I loved the attention to detail, especially the working porch and street lights, the tire swing, and the spittoon in the courthouse. The costumes are muted but do an excellent job of establishing the time period as well as the status of each character. I loved everything about this production and it should definitely not be missed! Tickets may be purchased here for performances on Fridays and Saturdays through October 17.

A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Empress Theatre

Last night I ventured out to the Empress, one of my favorite community theatres, for A Midsummer Night's Dream. I love this play (I taught it for many years) and I thoroughly enjoyed this wonderful production. The young lovers Hermia (Kami McDonough), Lysander (Tanner Larsen), Helena (Jezory Munoz), and Demetrius (Braxton Moore), escape into the forest to avoid a harsh Athenian law and a group of rustic craftsman, including Quince (Emma Porter), Bottom (Biz Sharp), Flute (Colby Nash), Snug (Adrian Young), Snout (Stacy Mayren), and Starveling (Liz Nash), also enter the forest to rehearse a play for the wedding of Theseus (James Hutchings) and Hippolyta (Stacee Hunsaker). They cross paths with Oberon (Torin Scoffield) and Titania (Stacey Hutchings), the king and queen of the fairies, who are fighting and mayhem ensues when Oberon has his mischievous servant, Puck (Koda Smith), use a magic potion to manipulate them. I think this is one of Shakespeare's most accessible plays (which is why I taught it for so many years) and the choice to change the setting to 1930s Appalachia works very well, especially the costumes, the use of original music (I loved hearing the banjo and the washboard), and the choreography (the opening sequence immediately establishes the time and place and each of the characters). The set is beautiful and features an enchanted forest filled with vines, colorful flowers, toadstools, and logs along with a painted backdrop of mountains and dramatic lighting (the effect when Puck uses the potion is magical). I think the staging is very effective, particularly the use of multiple levels accessed by ladders and the quick entrances and exits through a large curtain, because the transitions are smooth and the pacing kept me completely engaged (there is always something happening on stage).  Finally, I really loved this cast. I pretty much have the entire play memorized and the line deliveries by everyone are incredibly natural (I will quote my other favorite Shakespeare play and say that the actors speak their speeches "trippingly on the tongue"). McDonough, Larsen, Munoz, and Moore, especially, have brilliant comedic timing in their scenes together. My favorite is the one in which Lysander and Demetrius nearly come to blows and Hermia and Helena trade insults because their physical performances are hilarious (I particularly loved it when Munoz imitates Moore). I could say the same about the actors portraying the craftsmen and I don't know what made me laugh more: Sharp's over the top death scene in Pyramus and Thisbe, Young's tears whenever Snug must act the role of the Lion, Porter's exasperation when Bottom takes over the rehearsal and when Flute mispronounces Ninus, or Nash's facial expressions when he appears as Thisbe (Nash probably wins because I laughed so hard I think I disrupted the action!). I have to give a huge thank you to the Empress for graciously providing me with a ticket because I truly had so much fun watching this show! I highly recommend that everyone, especially all of my former students who studied this play with me, get a ticket (go here) to one of the three remaining performances next weekend.

Note: I loved teaching Hamlet to my seniors and A Midsummer Night's Dream to my sophomores so it is really special that I got to see both of them on back-to-back weekends!

Newsies at West Valley Arts

Last night I went to see Newsies at the West Valley Performing Arts Center. I love this show so much and this production is fantastic! It tells the story of how Jack Kelly (Jerdyn Akeripa), along with his fellow "newsies" and a determined young reporter named Katherine (Ashtyn Roskelley), stand up to Joseph Pulitzer (Taylor Smith) by going on strike after he raises the cost of the papers. I love the songs because they are incredibly stirring and the choreography because it is exhilarating. The talented cast (which, I was happy to see, includes several girls as newsies) does an amazing job with the big production numbers "Carrying the Banner," "The World Will Know" (this is my favorite song in the show and it gave me goosebumps), "Seize the Day," "King of New York" (the tap dancing is incredible), and "Once and for All." These scenes feature the signature athletic leaps, jumps, and spins that this show is known for but they also incorporate lots of innovative and acrobatic steps which keep it fresh and vibrant. Both Akeripa and Roman Curiel, who plays Davey, are very charismatic and I enjoyed their interactions as their characters spar back and forth. The former delivers a rousing rendition of "Santa Fe" and that definitely got the crowd cheering. Roskelley is also very impressive and I loved her spirited performance of "Watch What Happens." Smith's Pulitzer is more ruthless than I have seen before (but I loved his voice in "The Bottom Line"), Nnuka Barcelona's Medda is a force to be reckoned with in "That's Rich," and Sebastian Long's Les is adorably precocious. The set is very minimal (much more so than any other production of this show that I have seen) but it is surprisingly effective. The platforms above the wings are used for Jack's fire escape, Katherine's desk, and Pulitzer's office and one of the wings features an iron gate as the entrance to the New York World building and a wooden platform where the newspapers are distributed to the newsies (it is very clever how the headlines are displayed). A simple wooden stage and an old-fashioned printing press are brought out by the ensemble for "That's Rich" and "Once and for All," respectively, and neighborhood signs are distributed throughout the audience for "Brooklyn's Here" (this is so fun). The costumes are very much informed by the Broadway production (there are lots of the famous newsie caps) but I especially liked Medda's velvet gown and the costumes worn by the Bowery Beauties. I had so much fun at this high-energy show and I cannot recommend it enough! There are only three more opportunities to see it next weekend (tickets may be purchased here) so act quickly.

Note: This was once at the top of my list of shows I most wanted to see. I wanted to see it so badly I chaperoned the HHS performing arts trip to Disneyland (my least favorite place on Earth) just so I could see the Broadway touring production at the Pantages Theatre with the group! It was worth it!

West Side Story at Draper Historic Theatre

Last night I went to see West Side Story at Draper Historic Theatre and, since this is a favorite show that I have seen many times, I really appreciated some of the bold choices made by the production team. The story revolves around the forbidden relationship between Tony (Tanner Perkins) and Maria (Michelle Pichardo) and the animosity it stirs up between the Jets and the Sharks, two rival street gangs who are vying for territory. I really enjoyed both of the leads because they have beautiful voices and tremendous chemistry with each other. Perkins has an irrepressible energy in "Something's Coming" and a wide-eyed wonder in "Maria" but it is his affecting performance of "Tonight" that gave me goosebumps. Pichardo is incredibly appealing in "I Feel Pretty," impossibly romantic in her rendition of "One Hand, One Heart" with Perkins, and so devastating in her performance of "I Have a Love" that I was reduced to tears! However, my favorites in the cast were Ashley Murillo Coombs as Anita and Zaden Gates as Riff. Coombs has a lot of sass and I loved all of her facial expressions during her interactions with Bernardo (Warren Tharp) and during her exuberant performance of "America" and I definitely felt her rage during "A Boy Like That" and her terror when the Jets attack her. My favorite numbers in this show have always been "Jet Song" and "Cool" and Gates certainly delivered with both his singing and dancing in these scenes (as did the ensemble). The choreography is absolutely exhilarating and, in addition to the two aforementioned numbers, I also loved the "Prologue" because the hostility between the Jets and the Sharks is immediately established through movement rather than dialogue, "The Dance at the Gym" because the moment that Tony and Maria first see each other is so dramatic, and "Gee, Officer Krupke" because it is incredibly dynamic and the use of a scarf is very clever. As I mentioned, I was especially struck by the choice to have Maria sing some of the verses of "I Feel Pretty" in Spanish because this makes her seem even more guileless, the choice to have Anybodys (Sarah Bobby Hinckley) sing "Somewhere" while bringing the two groups together because this character more than any other truly struggles to find their place and it is incredibly powerful, and the choice to have Anita sing "A Boy Like That" in Spanish while Maria sings "I Have a Love" in English because it shows the difference between them very emphatically. Finally, the minimal set, featuring brick walls, chain link fences, and fire escapes, is very effective as is the lighting design, which features warm reds for the Sharks and cool blues for the Jets and mimics the costumes. This is a compelling production of a story that is still incredibly relevant today and I highly recommend it (go here for tickets). Performances run on Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays through September 12.

Anything Goes at Hopebox Theatre

I was really excited to see Anything Goes at the Hopebox Theatre last night and I had so much fun with this delightful, delicious, and de-lovely production! A group of eccentric characters board the S.S. Jacobson for a voyage from New York to London, including Reno Sweeney (Samantha Wursten), a popular nightclub singer, her friend Billy Crocker (Daylen Bills), a Wall Street broker who stows away to stop the wedding of the woman he loves while eluding his boss Elisha J. Whitney, Hope Harcourt (Kayleigh Eagle), the object of Billy's affection who is engaged to the wealthy but hapless Sir Evelyn Oakleigh (Ethan Hoffmann) to please her mother Evangeline Harcourt (Amelia Tilley), "Moonface" Martin (Stefan Kurzius), a gangster who his proud of his status as Public Enemy #13, his moll Erma Latour (Kenna Ford), and Spit (Isaac Nelson) and Dippy (Eli Packer), two wayward boys who con most of the passengers. Hijinks, and many big song and dance numbers featuring the music of Cole Porter, ensue when Reno and Moonface try to break Hope's engagement so she can marry Billy. The story is silly and chaotic with a lot of subplots involving disguises, mistaken identities, and unlikely romances and the songs sometimes feel shoehorned in ("Blow, Gabriel, Blow" is included because Reno Sweeney is a former evangelist!) but the show is so much fun and it is perfect as a form of escapist entertainment. The musical numbers are absolutely phenomenal and I especially loved the energetic tap dancing, the clever use of props, and the way one of the biggest casts I've seen at this theatre is integrated into a small space. The lead performances are excellent, starting with Wursten who plays Reno Sweeney with a bit of sass that is really fun to watch. I particularly loved her comedic physicality and facial expressions in "I Get a Kick Out of You" and "You're the Top" and her powerful vocals and tap dancing blew me away in "Anything Goes" and "Blow, Gabriel, Blow." Eagle, who has a beautiful voice, is perfect as the romantic ingenue Hope and she has tremendous chemistry with Bills, who is very charming as Billy, in "Easy to Love" and "It’s De-Lovely." Kurzius and Hoffmann have smaller roles but they steal every scene they are in, especially during the songs "Be Like the Bluebird" and "The Gypsy in Me," respectively (the latter made me laugh out loud). This features some gorgeous period costumes with lots of sailor suits, tuxedos, and sparkly gowns. My favorites are the blue taffeta tea length dresses worn by the female ensemble in "It's De-Lovely" and "All Through the Night." Finally, I think this is one of the best sets I've seen at Hopebox because it is quite elaborate and includes the prow of a ship (complete with railings at the edge of the stage) and multiple doors upstage leading to cabins (there are a lot of hilarious comings and goings through these doors). As with every production at the Hopebox Theatre, the proceeds will go to someone battling cancer in the community (go here to meet the recipient for this show, Kirsten Jacobson). I loved this production and highly recommend getting a ticket (go here) because, not only will you be entertained, you will also be supporting a very worthwhile cause. It runs on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays through September 5.

The Pirates of Penzance at Murray Park Amphitheater

When I got home from my camping trip, I had just enough time to dump all of my gear in the garage and get cleaned up before I went to see The Pirates of Penzance at Murray Park Amphitheater with my sister Marilyn last night.  We brought a picnic to eat in the park before the show and then we both really enjoyed this delightful production of Gilbert and Sullivan's comedic operetta.  When Frederic (AJ Klomp) reaches his 21st birthday, he decides to leave the band of pirates to whom he has been mistakenly apprenticed and soon meets Major-General Stanley (Aaron S. Williams) and his daughters, falls in love with his youngest daughter Mabel (Meg Steele), and enlists the Sergeant of Police (James Jenkins) and his men to arrest the pirates.  Chaos ensues when the Pirate King (Tyler Oliphant) and Ruth (Brandi Washburn), Frederic's former nursemaid, tell him that he was born during a leap year and, since he has only had five birthdays, he must continue to serve his apprenticeship.  It takes Queen Victoria to save the day and reunite Frederic and Mabel!  The staging is so much fun because it involves a lot of physical comedy and I frequently laughed out loud.  I especially loved the scene in which the Pirate King and Frederic argue about what to do with Ruth because a group of pirates roll her back and forth between them and the scene in which the pirates and the police try to escape from the Major-General in the courtyard because they hide in plain sight!  There are also some really fun interactions with the audience because the daughters approach the secluded beach where Frederic is hiding and the pirates advance on the Major-General's courtyard by walking through the crowd.  The choreography is also a highlight, particularly the tap dancing by the policemen in "When a felon's not engaged in his employment" and their other songs (I don't think I've ever seen the policemen tap before and it is such a great fit for the characters).  I loved all of the performances.  Klomp, Steele, and Oliphant (I've seen him in this role before) have beautiful voices but Williams is absolutely hilarious in "I am the very model of a modern Major-General" (he got singing so fast that he lost his way but he covered it up brilliantly) and Jenkins is completely over the top (I especially loved all of his high kicks).  The set features a rocky coastline along the sea and includes multiple levels that provide for some highly amusing moments (my favorite is when the pirates climb down from behind the rocks) and the colorful Victorian-era costumes are surprising but effective (the caped greatcoats worn by the policemen are very dramatic and I loved the use of light green for the Major-General's military uniform).  I love seeing outdoor performances in the summer and last night was perfect because it was cool without being too cold and the show is so much fun!  I highly recommend it but it is closing tonight so act quickly (go here for tickets).

Cyrano de Bergerac at Parker Theatre

I love Edmond Rostand's play Cyrano de Bergerac but it is not performed very often (I've only been able to see productions at PTC and the Utah Shakespeare Festival with Patrick Page and Brian Vaughn, respectively, in the title roles) so I have been anticipating a new adaptation at Parker Theatre ever since the 2026 season was announced. I was able to see it last night and I had goosebumps all night! Cyrano de Bergerac (Roger Dunbar) is a brilliant poet and swordsman who often makes enemies with his razor sharp wit. He is hopelessly in love with his cousin Roxane (Kristi Curtis) but he is afraid to tell her because he has an unusually large nose and doesn't think she could love someone who looks like him. She confesses to Cyrano that she loves a handsome soldier in his regiment named Baron Christian de Neuvillette (Russ Maxfield) and asks him to protect him in battle. Because he wants Roxane to be happy, he helps the simple Christian woo her by writing eloquent letters for him to give her. Roxane and Christian eventually marry but he is soon sent to war and Cyrano continues writing letters to her on Christian's behalf. She is so overcome by these letters that she comes to the battlefield to tell Christian that she fell in love with him because of his looks but now loves him for his soul. Christian wants her to love him for himself rather than for Cyrano's words but he is killed before he can confess the truth. Roxane is so brokenhearted that Cyrano writes her a farewell letter from Christian. She retires to a convent to grieve and Cyrano visits her every week for the next fifteen years to give her news of the world. One day he arrives late for his visit because he has been mortally wounded by one of his many enemies and asks Roxane if he can read Christian's final letter to her. As he reads aloud before succumbing to his wound, she realizes that he is the one who wrote it and that he has loved her all of these years. One of the things I really love about the Parker Theatre is how well they adapt classic pieces of literature to make them more accessible to modern audiences (if I was still teaching I would definitely try to arrange field trips for my students) and I loved what they did with this play. Audiences are sure to love it because there are scenes filled with adventure (Cyrano singlehandedly fights one hundred swordsmen), wit (Cyrano composes a poem about his nose while dueling with a rival who insulted its size), humor (Christian repeats Cyrano's words to Roxane in a hilariously stilted way) romance (Cyrano finally opens his heart to Roxane underneath her balcony because she cannot see him and it is incredibly swoonworthy), and tragedy (Roxane is heartbroken when she realizes that she loves Cyrano too late). The performances, in these scenes particularly, are brilliant and show the tremendous range of the actors. I also loved the dynamic fight choreography, the detailed set design (it reminded me of the sets used in the Englestad Theatre at the Utah Shakespeare Festival with its wooden balconies, arches, and doors), the gorgeous period costumes, and the makeup design for Cyrano's nose (it is truly spectacular). Finally, this is performed in five acts and I enjoyed the projections on the curtain during the set changes and I also liked the title descriptions projected on a scrim at the beginning of each act. This production is incredibly well-done and I highly recommend it. Tickets may be purchased here for performances on Fridays and Saturdays through August 29.

Pickleville Playhouse

One of the main reasons for our weekend trip to Bear Lake was to see Trent's niece Jaycee in two different productions at the Pickleville Playhouse.  Some of my friends have raved about this theatre for years so I have wanted to see a show there for quite a while now.  Having Jaycee in the cast was the perfect excuse to finally make the effort.  I was so impressed with the theatre (it reminded me of the Playmill Theatre in West Yellowstone) and with both shows!  Friday night we went to a cookout which is held each night before the evening show (it tasted wonderful) and then we saw The Ballad of Butch and Sundance, an original melodrama that is partially improvised.  Much of what we know about Butch Cassidy (Slater Ashenhurst) and the Sundance Kid (Nathan Kremin) is based on legend rather than fact so this portrays them as performers who become accidental outlaws on their way to Broadway.  Etta Earp (Jaycee Harris) convinces them to kidnap her when they attempt to rob a bank because she wants something exciting to happen to her and this gets the attention of her father Wyatt Earp (Oscar Erickson) who chases after them with his associates Joshua (Atticus Adair) and Jerusha (Mary Davis).  When Wyatt Earp tracks them down in Bolivia, Butch and Sundance convince him to stage their deaths so they can all use the story for a show on Broadway.  This features stock characters, songs modeled on musical theatre standards, and exaggerated acting but I particularly enjoyed the improvisational breaks.  The funniest of these is when Butch and Sundance act out possible causes of death, which have been suggested by the audience, for Wyatt to guess like charades.  Ours included falling into quick sand, being poisoned by a snail, and being bucked off a bronco into a cotton candy machine and it was hilarious because Wyatt could not guess what they were doing (Etta had to tell him that the horse might be from Denver and this made me laugh so hard).  Other funny interludes involved the use of jazz hands, writing a song about Dumbledore, and pretending to be dinosaurs (I loved the physicality of of both Ashenhurst and Kremin).  On Saturday we went to see the matinee of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.  The story is a bit problematic but I love it for the singing and dancing (apparently I am not alone because it received 90% of the votes in a survey sent to patrons) and I was definitely not disappointed by this production!  Adam Pontipee (Brayton Wilds) travels from his mountain home to the nearest town to get a wife and finds the perfect candidate in Milly (Reilly Jane Grace).  She agrees to the marriage but is dismayed to learn that she will also have to cook and clean for his six brothers (Oscar Erickson, Atticus Adair, Joey Thompson, Evan Alois, Hayden Stewart, and Will Haley).  Her solution is to get them married off and she teaches them how to go courting but Adam thinks they are becoming too soft and suggests they simply go get the women (Julianne Ferreira da Silva, Jaycee Harris, Emma Kate Leishman, Melissa Alotta, Mary Davis, and Morgan Horsburgh) they want to marry.  Chaos ensues!  The two leads, Wilds and Grace, are absolutely incredible and I loved their performances of "Bless Your Beautiful Hide" and "Wonderful, Wonderful Day," respectively.  Another highlight is the high-energy choreography, especially in "The Challenge Dance," because the small space is utilized very effectively.  Finally, the costumes are amazing and it was really fun to see the quilts used by the brothers become dresses worn by the brides later in the show.  My family and I thoroughly enjoyed both of these shows (we loved seeing Jaycee perform because she is amazing and appears to be having so much fun on stage) and highly recommend getting tickets (we will definitely be coming back for the fall production).  Go here for information about the theatre as well as tickets to all of the shows and the cookout.

Note:  Teresa and I were singing "Bless Your Beautiful Hide" for the rest of the trip!

The Lightning Thief at Empress Theatre

I have been obsessed with Greek mythology all my life for obvious reasons (google my first name) so I was really excited when the Empress Theatre announced The Lightning Thief as part of their 2026 season. I was so excited I got a ticket for opening night and I had the best time watching this energetic show with a large and boisterous crowd! Perseus "Percy" Jackson (Elias Silva) is expelled from his fifth school in as many years after he kills a Fury masquerading as a substitute math teacher named Mrs. Dodds (Cheryl Cripps) on a field trip. His mother Sally (Monique Derr) takes him to the beach to explain why he has powers that he cannot control but, before she can reveal anything, they are attacked by a Minotaur who kills her before Percy can kill it. Soon after, his Latin teacher Mr. Brunner reveals that he is really Chiron (Konnor Hafen), a centaur, and that his best friend Grover Underwood (Parker Skeen) is really a satyr, a goat-like creature, before taking him to Camp Half-Blood, a refuge for the children of humans and gods. The camp counselor Dionysius (Josh Starr) introduces him to Luke Castellan (Beck Bassett), the son of Hermes, Annabeth Chase (Eloise Derr), the daughter of Athena, Silena Beauregard (M. Francis Le), the daughter of Aphrodite, Kate Gardner (Fiona Derr), the daughter of Demeter, and Clarisse LaRue (Lucy Bawden), the daughter of Ares. He also eventually discovers that he is the son of Poseidon (Josh Starr). However, he is accused of of stealing Zeus's lightning bolt and must go on a quest to retrieve it from the real thief, Hades (Konnor Hafen), to prevent a war between the gods. On the journey to the Underworld, Percy, Grover, and Annabeth encounter three Furies, Medusa, and the Chimera but, when they finally arrive, Hades informs them that they have been manipulated by Ares. This culminates in an epic battle in which Percy is helped by Poseidon. They return to Camp Half-Blood heroes but learn that they must face an even bigger threat. I really love this show because, while it is an amusing and clever take on Greek mythology that will make you laugh, it is also a poignant story about the struggle to fit in and feel good enough and seeing this young and talented cast embody this struggle so well is incredibly moving. Silva is an enthusiastic and charismatic Percy who is very entertaining to watch but I was most impressed by his touching performance of "Good Kid." I had a similar reaction to "My Grand Plan" by Derr and "The Tree on the Hill" by Bassett because the emotion is palpable and they gave me goosebumps. The ensemble cast, most of whom play multiple parts, is also outstanding but my favorites are Hafen because he is absolutely hilarious as both Chiron and Hades and Cheryl Cripps because she brings the house down as Charon in the song "D.O.A." The minimal set, which features three large columns made of fabric and plaques representing all of the gods, and the contemporary costumes (I especially loved the Camp Half-Blood t-shirts) are very effective and I really enjoyed the energetic choreography. Finally, one of the reasons I love seeing shows at small community theaters is because they have to be really clever when it comes to special effects (they usually don't have the technical wizardry or the budget for elaborate spectacles) and this production does a brilliant job of portraying the monsters with just colored lights, shadows, and projections. This is so much fun and it has an important message about belonging so I highly recommend getting a ticket (go here). It runs on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays through August 8.

Once at CPT

I went back to CPT last night to see Once on the Mountain America Main Stage with both of my sisters. I love this show so much and, because the people sitting around me didn't know anything about it, I was really hyping it up! Luckily they all enjoyed this production as much as I did! A Guy (Nathan Bowser) is busking on a Dublin street when a Girl (Lindsea Garside) strikes up a conversation with him because she likes his music. He reluctantly tells her that he wants to give up on music because all of his songs are about a girl who left him to move to New York. The Girl encourages him to play more of his music for her and eventually helps him record a demo. He begins to have feelings for her and reveals that he may have written the songs for another girl but now he is singing them for her. She knows that she needs to reconcile with her estranged husband for the sake of her daughter and that he needs to go to New York and play his music for his former girlfriend so, even though she loves him, she tearfully convinces him to go. The ending is bittersweet (I always get tears in my eyes) but I think the theme is universal because most of us have had people enter our lives for a brief moment and have a profound impact on us. I absolutely loved the staging of this production (every version I have seen has been slightly different) because the set features a Dublin street and the exteriors of a repair shop, a music store, the Girl's house, and a pub. Minimal set pieces for the interiors of these locations are brought on by the ensemble through a large garage door on the street and the lights inside each building are illuminated to denote where the scene is taking place (I think this is really clever). Every member of the ensemble, including Brandon Garside, Theresa Chatelain, Faith Driggs, Isaac Carrillo, Ryan Boam, Kristen Alley, Jacob Draper, David Johnson, Alec Halpin, and Katie Lewis Higbee, plays multiple instruments live on stage and the way they are integrated into the narrative is brilliant (they are all unbelievably talented). The folk music is beautiful and hearing my favorite songs, "Falling Slowly" (even if you are not familiar with this show you might recognize this), "If You Want Me," and "Gold," gave me goosebumps! Bowser and Garside are outstanding as the leads and they give incredibly passionate performances (Garside's rendition of "The Hill" is especially powerful). Finally, the original Broadway production features a lot of profanity but this version, much like the one at HCTO, omits it so it is suitable for everyone. This show is grand and it definitely deserves to be seen by more people so I highly recommend getting a ticket (go here). It runs on the Mountain America Main Stage at CPT through August 18.

Tarzan at CPT

Last night I went to see Tarzan on the Second Stage at CPT. I was really excited for this show because I had heard rave reviews for the production and I was definitely not disappointed! This musical is based on the popular story by Edgar Rice Burroughs and features fantastic music by Phil Collins. Kerchak (Ben Fonoimoana Tutor), the leader of a tribe of gorillas, is unhappy when his wife Kala (Janzell Luika Kim Tutor) adopts a baby whose parents have been killed because he doesn't think a human belongs with their family. Young Tarzan (Levi W. Johnson) struggles to keep up with the rest of the tribe until he is befriended by Terk (Braden Hull) who shows him how to be a gorilla but when he teaches Terk to make a spear for picking fruit, Kerchak is afraid that he will hurt the other gorillas so he forces him into exile. Tarzan is distraught and wonders where he belongs so Kala decides to stay with him. Years later, Tarzan (Levi Larsen) is welcomed back into the tribe after he kills a leopard that has been terrorizing them. However, when Professor Porter (Nathan Jones) and his daughter Jane (Summer Sloan Alvey) bring an expedition to the jungle, Kerchak worries that Taran's interactions with the humans, especially Jane, will bring harm to the tribe. When Clayton (Hayden Henderson), a member of the expedition, threatens the gorillas, Tarzan must decide whether he belongs with Jane and the humans or with his adopted family. What makes this production so dazzling is the incredibly immersive set with dynamic projections on the LED screens that surround the stage and the audience (I loved watching the subtle movements of the leaves) and hanging vines from the rafters because these elements, along with the sound design, make you feel like you are actually in the middle of the jungle. I especially loved the staging of the shipwreck at the beginning of the show because it features the sound of waves and a projection of a ship on a scrim in the middle of the stage. It is incredibly realistic! The set also features a large tree that opens up to become Professor Porter's camp and a balcony that is transformed into the tree house built by Tarzan's parents. This stage is so intimate that Tarzan actually flies through the audience when he swings on the vines (he was literally a few inches from me)! Larsen is an incredibly athletic Tarzan who is really fun to watch (the three young girls sitting next to me were very enamored with him). I loved his performance of "Strangers Like Me," my favorite song in the show, but his version of "Everything That I Am" gave me goosebumps. Alvey has a wide-eyed wonder in the songs "Waiting For This Moment" and "For The First Time" (for both the flora and fauna and for Tarzan) and I loved all of her interactions with Larsen because she tries to hide the fact that she finds him attractive. Other standouts are Hull because he has a boisterous energy that is palpable and Johnson because he is adorable and his rendition of "I Need to Know" is so affecting. The choreography is thrilling and I especially enjoyed the rambunctious leaps and jumps in "Trashin' The Camp" and the aerialists in "Waiting For This Moment." The costumes are very vibrant and I also loved the puppets (the elephant made me giggle out loud). This production is outstanding and I highly recommend it for the whole family (all of the kids in the audience seemed to be having a lot of fun). It runs on the Second Stage through August 8 and tickets may be purchased here.

Note:  As I mentioned, the three girls sitting next to me were very vocal in their appreciation for Tarzan so Larsen high-fived them during the bows. I think it was the highlight of their lives!

Urinetown The Musical at Hopebox Theatre

I went to the national tour of Urinetown The Musical when it came through SLC in 2004 but I haven't seen it since so I was very excited for a production at the Hopebox Theatre last night. I loved it and I think it is my new favorite show at this theatre. In a dystopian future in which a 20-year drought has caused a severe water shortage, consumption is controlled by a ban on private toilets. The Urine Good Company, under the control of the megalomaniac Caldwell B. Cladwell (Jim Dale), owns all public toilets and charges an exorbitant fee to use them. Anyone who breaks the law by peeing for free is sent by Officer Lockstock (Dylan Watson) and Officer Barrel (Kaltin Kirby) to the mysterious "Urinetown" from which no one ever returns. After Cladwell bribes Senator Fipp (Jen Morgan) to vote for an increase in fees, Bobby Strong (Sean Bishop), the assistant custodian of Amenity #9 in the poorest part of town, decides to take control from the warden Penelope Pennywise (Elizabeth Rossander) and eventually stages a rebellion. Bobby takes Cladwell's daughter Hope (Allison Hogge) hostage and, when this results in tragedy, she leads the people to victory and sends her father to "Urinetown" with unexpected consequences. This is a hilariously self-aware spoof of musical theatre and I especially loved it every time Officer Lockstock and Little Sally (Morgan Richards) break the fourth wall to describe all of the tropes that are being used in the show. My favorites were the use of stock characters (the omniscient narrator, the innocent ingenue, the plucky hero, the melodramatic villain, etc.) as well as the amusing names (I laughed out loud every time I heard lock, stock, and barrel). However, in addition to the humor, this show is also uncomfortably thought-provoking with themes of diminishing resources, corporate greed, late stage capitalism, corruption, and social inequality. These themes are particularly compelling in a state facing a severe drought with leaders who seem to be more concerned with their own greed than the public good. As uneasy as the message made me feel about the current state of the world, I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of this production. The cast is one of the best I have seen at this theatre. The leads, Bishop and Hogge, have beautiful voices and give lovely performances that balance the satire but I think Watson steals the show with his over-the-top facial expressions and campy delivery. The ensemble is also very strong and the standout for me was Jack Dwyer because of his exaggerated physicality. The choreography is incredibly dynamic (my favorite numbers were "Too Much Exposition," "Cop Song," "Why Did I Listen to That Man," and "We're Not Sorry" because they feature the entire cast and utilize the small space very well), the minimal sets evoke a bleak and dystopian world, and the costumes do a great job in differentiating the economic classes. As with every production at the Hopebox Theatre, the proceeds are going to help someone in the community battling cancer and the recipient for this show is Carla Avis (go here to learn about her). I highly recommend getting a ticket because, not only is this show outstanding, it is for a good cause (go here for tickets). Act quickly because there are only three performances left!

Xanadu at West Valley Arts

I love the movie Xanadu! It is really cheesy when I watch it now but back in the day it was one of my favorites and I have seen it too many times to count (I'm sure it is an embarrassingly large number). I had no idea that a musical adaptation existed but, as soon as I found out that West Valley Arts was performing it, I got a ticket immediately! I went to see it last night and it was way too much fun! Sonny Malone (Zac Freeman) is a struggling artist dissatisfied with the chalk mural he is creating of the Nine Muses on a sidewalk in Venice Beach. When he wants to give up, the Muses come to life and Clio (Ariana Bagley) decides to give him some inspiration. She introduces herself as Kira and disguises herself with roller skates, leg warmers, and an Australian accent (it is a hilariously self-aware parody of the movie). Kira inspires Sonny to create a roller disco that incorporates all of the arts and they find an abandoned theater called Xanadu owned by Danny Maguire (Ricky Parkinson). He is planning to demolish the theater but changes his mind when he sees Kira and remembers Kitty, the woman who inspired him to build Xanadu in the 1940s (Kitty was Clio in disguise). Danny and Sonny form a partnership to restore Xanadu but mayhem ensues when two of Clio's sisters, Melpomene (McKenna Kay Jensen) and Calliope (Janessa Zech), become jealous of her success with Sonny and curse her to fall in love with him which is forbidden by Zeus. I love all of the music in this show (the music by ELO is why I love the movie so much) and I had to try really hard not to sing along with every song (my apologies to everyone sitting around me because I'm not sure that I was entirely successful). I especially loved the performances of "I'm Alive," "Magic," "Suddenly," "All Over the World," "The Fall," and, of course, "Xanadu." However, my favorite was "Evil Woman" (an ELO song that is not in the movie) as Melpomene and Calliope plot against Clio because Jensen and Zech not only have incredible voices but they also have perfect comedic timing. They are so entertaining to watch! My favorite scene in the movie is when Danny, who sees a big band with a trio of female vocalists, and Sonny, who envisions a rock band with synthesizers, describe what Xanadu could be and then their ideas merge to create something epic in the song "Dancin'." The staging of this is fantastic and I think I was giggling the whole time! I also liked the staging for "Whenever You're Away from Me" as Danny reminisces about his time with Kitty because she dances with a younger and older version of Danny. All of the choreography featuring roller skating is absolutely amazing, especially when everyone skates during "Xanadu," and I was so impressed with the entire cast. Freeman and Bagley give incredibly campy performances that had the audience laughing and cheering (I loved it whenever Bagley exaggerated the Australian accent) and the 1980s aesthetic used in the set and costumes (so much neon) is a lot of fun. I had the best time watching this show but, unfortunately, last night was the final performance. Go here for the rest of the season at West Valley Arts (I'm especially excited for Newsies).

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at Draper Historic Theatre

I was really looking forward to seeing Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at Draper Historic Theatre last night because this show always makes me laugh. Their hilarious production definitely did not disappoint! Lawrence Jameson (Nathan Metcalf), a suave and sophisticated international con man, and Freddy Benson (Ethan Cecil), a two-bit American hustler, both find themselves on the French Riviera. They end up collaborating when Jameson gets in an awkward situation with Jolene Oakes (Madison Twede), an heiress from Oklahoma, but they both take credit when their plan is a success and eventually decide that Beaumont-sur-Mer is not big enough for both of them. They agree that the first one who cons Christine Colgate (Sophie Manzanares), the American Soap Queen, out of $50,000 can stay and the other will leave town. Hilarity ensues when Benson pretends to be a soldier suffering from hysterical paralysis, when Jameson impersonates the famous Viennese psychiatrist Christine hires to cure him, and when Muriel Eubanks (Beth Bollinger), one of Jameson's previous marks, returns to town but who is conning whom? What I enjoy most about this show is all of the physical comedy and this cast does a great job with it. Cecil, especially, is a lot of fun to watch in "Great Big Stuff," "All About Ruprecht," "Ruffhousin' Mit Shuffhausen," and "Love Is My Legs" because he is so over the top and has really funny facial expressions. I also loved Twede's energetic rendition of "Oklahoma" and Bollinger's overly dramatic performance of "What Was a Woman To Do." The ensemble in this show is another highlight and I was very impressed with how well they perform the dynamic choreography in "Give Them What They Want," "Great Big Stuff," "Oklahoma," and "The More We Dance." The costumes are a lot of fun (the ensemble have so many of them) and my favorites are the cowboy and cowgirl outfits in "Oklahoma" and the couture gowns in "Give Them What They Want." Finally, I loved the stage, which is configured as a luxurious resort with marble floors and staircases, chandeliers, and balconies covered with bougainvillea, the set pieces brought on and off stage by members of the ensemble costumed as maids and porters, and all of the projections used to denote various locations. I had so much fun watching this entertaining show ("It was a blast! It was a ball! It was a gas! I loved it all!") and I highly recommend getting a ticket (go here). It runs at the Draper Historic Theatre on Mondays, Fridays, Saturdays through June 20.

No Time for Sergeants at Parker Theatre

Last night I went to Parker Theatre's production of No Time for Sergeants and I was very excited because it had been a really long time since I had seen it (I think it was at HCT many years ago). Will Stockdale (Truman Schipper) is a simple and guileless country bumpkin from rural Georgia who is drafted into the Air Force. He immediately runs afoul of all the other recruits in his barracks except for Ben Whitledge (Zach Harvey) who is desperate for a transfer to the infantry. Will soon starts asking for a transfer, too, and his exasperated commanding officer Sergeant King (Stu Mitchell) punishes him by giving him permanent latrine duty. Will thinks it is a promotion and cleans the latrine so well that King's commanding officer notices him and learns of his excessive punishment. King must now help Will get through the classification exams or face disciplinary measures himself but Will's naivete leads to a series of misadventures. This results in King's demotion to private and his assignment to gunnery school with Will and Ben. Chaos ensues when Will and Ben are mistakenly declared dead by King after their plane gets lost during their first flight. General Bush (Tyler Oliphant) awards them a posthumous medal but, when they suddenly appear at the ceremony, Will and Ben get the transfer to the infantry that they wanted all along so Bush can avoid public humiliation and, in an ironic twist of fate, King is given a promotion to be their commanding officer. This play is so funny (the audience was laughing out loud the entire show which was a lot of fun) and the action is non-stop. The entire cast does a brilliant job with the physical comedy and I especially loved a scene involving a drunken barroom brawl and another chaotic scene aboard a plane being flown by an incompetent crew (I laughed out loud every time the characters screamed in fear). Schipper is incredibly charming as Will (he is basically the straight man in the midst of all of the mayhem) and Harvey is hilariously overwrought as Ben but Oliphant steals the show as the superficial Bush (I loved hearing him practice the same line from his speech over and over). I was very impressed with all of the elaborate stagecraft, including the lighting design, sound design, and projections, used for the plane crash and I especially loved seeing Will and Ben hanging from a parachute. The set is very clever because it consists of riveted metal panels (meant to mimic 1950s military airplanes) that move to reveal the barracks, a latrine, and various offices and the costumes include authentic-looking military uniforms. This was a great show to see Memorial Day weekend and I thoroughly enjoyed the slapstick humor from a simpler time. I highly recommend getting a ticket (go here) for one of the performances on Fridays and Saturdays through June 27.

Fiddler on the Roof at CPT

I went with both of my sisters to see Fiddler on the Roof at CPT last night and we really enjoyed this production. In my opinion, seeing this classic musical is a guaranteed fun night out and I noticed that everyone around me (the theatre was packed) had big smiles on their faces during all of the well-known song and dance numbers. I definitely had to stop myself from singing along with the cast during "Tradition," "Matchmaker," "If I Were a Rich Man," "Sabbath Prayer," "To Life," and "Sunrise, Sunset." I loved the choreography and staging because there are obvious influences from the original Broadway production and the 1971 movie but also some fun new details that keep things fresh, particularly when the women and girls circle around the praying men and boys in "Tradition," when Yente is shown alone in "Sabbath Prayer," when the townspeople come on stage to reprise "Tradition" after Tevye rejects Chava at the end of "Chavaleh," and when the Constable and soldiers escort the townspeople out of Anatevka. As always, my favorite numbers were "To Life" because the Russian dance is very high-energy and exuberant, "The Wedding" because the bottle dance is thrilling, and "Tevye's Dream" because I always eagerly anticipate seeing how Fruma-Sarah will make her entrance (when I played her I came up from Tevye and Golde's bed) and it did not disappoint because she flies and it is pretty spectacular! The set is really beautiful with an elaborate thatched-roof house made of wood that opens up to reveal the interior and other large wooden set pieces that come down from the rafters and in from the wings to become the village inn, Motel's tailor shop, and the railway station. I loved the attention to detail, especially the smoke that periodically comes from the chimney, the barrels inside the inn, and the weathered trees all around the proscenium. The costumes are also very striking and I liked the pops of green and yellow used in the women's dresses and the white tattered gown worn by Fruma-Sarah. The large puppets that feature in "Tevye's Dream" are scary but incredibly cool. Finally, the cast is outstanding! Danny Inkley is a boisterous Tevye who emphasizes the humor in "If I Were a Rich Man" and "To Life" but he is also quite vulnerable in "Do You Love Me?" (Golde is played by his wife Wendy Inkley and their interactions feel very authentic) and absolutely heartbreaking in "Chavaleh" (the crack in his voice brought a tear to my eye). I was also impressed with Jordyn Tracy, Chloe Warnas, and Maren Messerly as Tzeitel, Hodel, and Chava, respectively, because they harmonize beautifully in "Matchmaker." This production is a crowd-pleaser that the whole family will enjoy and I highly recommend getting a ticket (go here). It runs on the Mountain America Main Stage through June 18.

Note:  I find it amusing that the 2026 season at CPT includes both See How They Run and Fiddler on the Roof because my two biggest acting roles to date are Miss Skillon and Fruma-Sarah (I was also in the chorus of Damn Yankees but I haven't seen that performed since my high school did it in 1985).

Disney's Descendants at the Empress Theatre

I remember watching the Disney Channel Original Movie Descendants with my nephew (I thought it was extremely clever and he loved it) so I was really intrigued when I learned that the Empress Theatre would be performing the stage adaptation this season. I was even more intrigued when I learned that the entire cast would include actors who are all over the age of 45! I had the chance to see it last night with my sister and it was incredibly heartwarming to watch a cast perform with so much obvious joy and exuberance! Prince Ben (Scott Sorensen), the son of Belle (Chalese Craig) and the Beast (Carri Baddley), wants to give the children of Auradon's most notorious villains, who are now imprisoned on the Isle of the Lost, the opportunity to attend Auradon Prep so Mal (Diana Sorensen), the daughter of Maleficent (Crystal Ahlemann), Evie (Amy Hallett), the daughter of the Evil Queen (Carri Baddley), Jay (Brad Goodman), the son of Jafar (Brian Sorensen), and Carlos (James Hutchings), the son of Cruella de Vil (Wendy Sorensen), arrive with instructions from their parents to steal the wand belonging to the Fairy Godmother (Stacy Mayren) so they can use it to break the spell keeping them in captivity. Chaos ensues when the four of them have a difficult time interacting with the sons and daughters of their parents' sworn enemies, especially Audrey (Stacy Childs Hutchings), the daughter of Sleeping Beauty, and Chad (Joel Clark), the son of Cinderella and Prince Charming, but their loyalty to their parents is soon tested and Ben eventually shows them that they can choose their own path. The high-energy songs and choreography are so much fun to watch (my favorite numbers are "Rotten to the Core," "Evil Like Me," "Goal," "Ways to Be Wicked," and "Chillin' Like a Villain") and this is mostly due to the fact that everyone in the cast is having the time of their lives channeling their inner teenagers! Their enthusiasm is infectious and the crowd last night definitely responded with gusto which made the entire experience an absolute blast. I especially enjoyed Sorenson as Ben because he has so much boyish charm (he was the most believable teenager), Hutchings as Audrey because she has the perfect mean girl attitude, Goodman as Jay because he has a lot of swagger, and Clark as the dim-witted Chad because he has some hilarious facial expressions and line deliveries.  However, no one is having more fun than Ahlemann because she absolutely revels in the villainy and I laughed out loud practically every time Maleficent appeared on stage. I really enjoyed her rendition of "Evil Like Me" but her maniacal cackling at the end of the second reprise was the highlight of the show for me! I loved the minimal set, with the brightly colored fairy-tale prep school at one end and the dark and dreary graffiti-covered Isle of the Lost at the other end, as well as the costumes, which feature a matching aesthetic (I was impressed by the attention to detail with the Auradon Prep crest on the sweater vests and cardigans and the black feathers on Maleficent's cape). If this show doesn't put a smile on your face I don't know what will! It runs on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays through May 23 and I definitely recommend getting a ticket (go here).

Note:  A huge thank you to the Empress for graciously providing me with tickets to this fun and entertaining show!

School of Rock at the SCERA Center for the Performing Arts

I always enjoy seeing a production of School of Rock because it is such a fun and exuberant show with a powerful message about finding your voice despite the pressure to conform. I saw SCERA's version last night and was incredibly impressed by the incredibly talented kids (and adults) on stage! Dewey Finn (Jacob Thompson) is a slacker who is kicked out of his band No Vacancy right before the Battle of the Bands and is fired from his job at a record store. When his best friend Ned Schneebly (Felipe Larrocha), with whom he has been living for several years, is pressured by his girlfriend Patty DiMarco (Sierra Palmer) to make him pay rent, he takes a substitute teaching job at Horace Green Prep School meant for Ned in desperation. He realizes that his students are being suffocated by the expectations of parents who don't understand them so he decides that they need a little rock and roll in their lives. He forms a band with Zack (Noah Huber) on lead guitar, Katie (Afton Largey) on bass, Lawrence (Miles Tanner) on keyboard, Freddie (Simon Maxfield) on drums, and Shonelle (Lillian Walker) and Marcy (Reese Davidson) on backing vocals. He recruits Billy (Watson Lane) to be the band's stylist, James Porter McCormick) as security, Mason (James "Jeb" Buffington) on tech, and Summer (Juniper Martin), the class know-it-all, as the band's manager. He also convinces Tomika (Tessa Jensen), a shy and insecure transfer student, to sing lead vocals with him. The students eventually become more confident so he decides to enter them in the Battle of the Bands but, first, he needs to convince the uptight principal Rosalie Mullins (Camilla Curtis) to let him take them on a field trip. The parents are angry when Dewey's deception is discovered, but the kids ultimately win them over when they hear them play. Thompson gives a fun and energetic performance and he has a great rapport with the kids. I loved all of the young actors, especially Huber, Largey, Tanner, and Maxfield because they play their instruments live on stage and they sound great. They all do a fantastic job singing and dancing in "You're in the Band," "Stick It to the Man," and "School of Rock" and they also have impressive comedic timing, particularly Martin who made me laugh out loud several times (I loved her rendition of "Time to Play"). Curtis also made me laugh in a hilarious scene when she drunkenly sings "Edge of Seventeen" (I always laugh at this because I love the song). The set is one of my favorites for this show. There is a multi-level stage with a giant guitar that lights up as a backdrop and several DJ lighting towers in front. Panels that rotate to become Ned's apartment, a classroom at Horace Green, and the Roadside bar are brought on stage and placed between the towers and several arches descend from the rafters to become a hall at Horace Green (these are used to great effect when the students sneak out of school for the audition). The school uniforms worn by kids are also a lot of fun (I loved the pop of yellow). I had a really great time at this feel-good show and highly recommend getting a ticket (go here). It runs at the SCERA Center for the Performing Arts on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays through May 2.

The Drowsy Chaperone at Draper Historic Theatre

Last year I saw The Addams Family and Elf The Musical at Draper Historic Theatre. One of these productions was outstanding and the other one was not so, clearly, I had to see something else as a tie breaker and I chose The Drowsy Chaperone last night. I love this show so much because it is a love letter to musical theatre and its power to transport you to a place where happy endings are possible for a few hours. Man in Chair (Christopher Stockstager) decides to listen to his cast recording of The Drowsy Chaperone, a popular musical from 1928, because he is feeling a little blue. The show comes to life in the middle of his apartment as he listens but he frequently interrupts to provide commentary and occasionally participates in the big production numbers. Mrs. Tottendale (Pam Winrow) and her Underling (Kian Byington) are hosting the wedding between the oil tycoon Robert Martin (Wes Seiler) and Broadway star Janet Van De Graaf (Kellie Seiler), who is giving up her glamorous career for love. Robert is leaving all of the wedding details to his friend and best man George (Gabe Velez) while Janet is relying on her Chaperone (Keri Hughes), who gets drowsy when she drinks, to keep her and the groom apart to avoid bad luck. Broadway producer Feldzieg (Josh Rayburn) wants to prevent his biggest star from leaving his show so he hires a Latin lover named Aldolpho (Matthew Davids) to seduce her in order to stop the wedding, an investor in the Feldzieg Follies is also worried and hires two gangsters (Spencer Bushman and Isaac King), disguised as pastry chefs, to disrupt the proceedings, but a ditzy chorus girl named Kitty (Makayla Porter) takes every opportunity to prove to them that she can take Janet's place. Mayhem ensues until Trix the Aviatrix (Haley Oliphant) provides the happy ending by agreeing to marry four couples on her plane while flying to Rio. I loved the entire cast but the standouts for me were Hughes because she is the ultimate diva in "As We Stumble Along" (I loved how the veteran performer tries to outshine the ingenue in this number), Davids because he is completely over-the-top in "I Am Aldolpho" (I laughed out loud at all of his antics with a cane), Velez because he is hysterically overwrought in "Wedding Bells 1" and "Wedding Bells 2" (this was his same characterization for Buddy the Elf but it is more appropriate in this show), and Stockstager because his facial expressions and mannerisms make him the perfect Man in Chair (especially during his poignant monologue in response to "Love is Always Lovely in the End"). The choreography is fantastic, particularly in "Cold Feets" (I always love to see tap dancing), "Show Off" (it was clever to have Janet rise up from a trap door in the encore), "Toledo Surprise," "Bride's Lament," and "I Do, I Do in the Sky." It is hilarious every time the actors freeze (in some very elaborate poses) when Man in Chair stops the record and when they repeat the choreography over and over again when it has a scratch. The set of the apartment is ingenious and the cast utilizes the furniture very well for their entrances and exits (my favorites are when George emerges from one of the lower cabinets and when the Chaperone appears in a Murphy bed). The costumes are great because they include some fun details, such as the two cardigan sweaters worn by Man in Chair, the plaid plus fours with argyle socks and sweater vests worn by the gangsters, and the spats worn by the Underling. I loved everything about this production so you never know what you are going to get with community theatre! The show runs Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays through May 16 and I highly recommend getting a ticket (go here).

Note: I loved Stockstager but my favorite Man in Chair is Jonathan Crombie (better known as Gilbert Blythe in Anne of Green Gables) when he appeared in the Broadway touring production. Sigh!