Dreamgirls at the Grand Theatre

I was so excited for Dreamgirls at the Grand Theatre last night because I had never seen it before (not even the movie).  This production is thoroughly entertaining with an incredibly talented cast and I loved it! The Dreamettes, a girl group from Chicago consisting of Effie White (Quesley Soto), Deena Jones (Kandyce Marie), and Lorrell Robinson (Darby Mest), enter a talent competition at the Apollo Theatre in New York singing a song written by Effie's brother C.C. White (Asher Head).  The contest is rigged against them by a used car salesman named Curtis Taylor (Steven Taylor) because he wants to manage them.  He arranges for them to sing back up for James "Thunder" Early (Kiirt Banks) on tour but he soon has the girl group, renamed The Dreams, perform on their own.  He wants Deena to replace Effie as the lead singer because, even though Effie is a better singer, he thinks Deena is prettier.  Effie is eventually replaced by the singer Michelle Morris (Kimberly Teitter) and, several years later, Deena Jones and the Dreams are incredibly successful while Effie is a struggling singer in a club.  C.C. is unhappy with how Curtis wants to record his latest song so he offers it to Effie and her version becomes a hit.  Deena, Lorrell, and Michelle become disillusioned with performing, and with Curtis, so they give a farewell concert and sing one final number with Effie.  The show is basically a series of performances by James "Thunder" Early, The Dreams, and Effie at various locations interspersed with a narrative about how the pressures of the music industry impact their friendship with each other and their romantic relationships but these performances are amazing!  My favorite numbers were "Move (You're Steppin' On My Heart)" during the talent competition, "Steppin' to the Bad Side" which becomes the group's first hit single with Early, "(And I Am Telling You) I'm Not Going" after Effie is replaced, "I Miss You, Old Friend" when C.C. and Effie reconcile, "One Night Only" as Effie makes a comeback, and "Dreamgirls" during the final number with Effie.  The set consists of a multi-tiered stage (a fantastic live band sits on the top tier) with multiple backdrops to denote different locations (I loved the red velvet curtains of the Apollo Theatre) and smaller set pieces are brought on and off in front of the stage by the ensemble for the more intimate scenes.  The girl group costumes from the 1960s and 1970s are as fabulous as you would expect (with as many sequins as you would expect) and the lighting is very dramatic.  Finally, the entire cast is insanely talented but Soto blows the roof off of the theatre!  I had a lot of fun at this show (audience participation is highly encouraged) and I definitely recommend it!  There are performances on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays (go here for tickets) through June 14.

Twelve Angry Men at HCT

Last night I was back at Hale Theatre to see Twelve Angry Men and I think it is not only one of the best productions I have seen at HCT but it is one of the best productions I have seen anywhere! It is a sweltering afternoon in New York City in the summer of 1957 when the jurors (Bradley Moss, Bradley Mackay, Jake Ben Suazo, Neal C. Johnson, Garret Woolley, Dustin Bolt, Bryan Dayley, Dylan Hamilton Wright, David Nieman, Brian Neal Clark, Mark Fotheringham, and Derrick Dean) begin deliberating a first degree murder case involving a sixteen-year-old boy who is accused of stabbing his father to death. Eleven of the jurors are convinced that he is guilty but, because a guilty verdict carries an automatic sentence of death, one lone juror insists that they examine the case against him in detail (much to the chagrin of everyone else). As they slowly work their way through the witnesses and the evidence, tempers are frayed, recriminations are leveled, and prejudices and biases are revealed but they eventually reach a unanimous verdict. Despite the fact that this takes place in one location (the set is minimal but highly effective) in real time with lots of dialogue and very little action, it is absolutely riveting and there were moments when everyone in the audience was holding their breath (I heard a collective sigh of relief followed by nervous laughter after a particularly charged scene at the end of the first act). I was on the edge of my seat waiting in anticipation to see what would eventually change each juror's mind and I was especially struck by the scene where one of the jurors realizes that he has been projecting his troubled relationship with his son on to the defendant (this is an amazing moment). The message of this play is incredibly powerful (and timely) because it is so important to stand up for what you believe even if you are the only one standing. Finally, every member of the cast is giving a master class in acting and they all have moments of absolute brilliance but I was beyond impressed with Clark because his monologue near the end of act two is a literal show stopper (this was another moment when the audience was holding its breath). Believe me when I say that you definitely do not want to miss this thought-provoking show (tickets may be purchased here). It runs on the Sorenson Legacy Jewel Box Stage through July 26.

Tuck Everlasting at CPT

Last night I went to CPT with both of my sisters to see Tuck Everlasting, a delightful musical adaptation of the book by Natalie Babbitt (you probably read it in elementary school). All three of us really enjoyed this charming production. Winnie Foster (Penny Hodson) feels trapped in a house where her mother Betsy (Amanda Rogers) and her Nana (Meredith Carlson) are in mourning for her dead father and she longs for adventure. One day she sneaks into the woods and meets Jesse Tuck (Maxwell Sperry). He stops her from taking a drink from a stream and inadvertently reveals that the water has made his family immortal. Jesse is happy to have made a friend but the rest of the Tuck family, including Mae (Brooke Liljenquist), Angus (Andy Leger), and Miles (Cameron Ropp), worry that their secret will be revealed. However, the Man in the Yellow Suit (Tyler Hanson) has overheard Jesse and has nefarious plans for the water. Eventually, Jesse asks Winnie to drink the water when she turns seventeen but his family warns that being immortal is not as enchanting as it appears. Hodson is really endearing as Winnie and I was very impressed by her stage presence because she very ably provides the heart of the show. I love that she still has the voice of a child and that she displays a wide-eyed wonder at everything she sees. Her interactions with Sperry, especially, are really sweet and their renditions of "Top of the World" and "Seventeen" are highlights. I was also very touched by Liljenquist's performance of "My Most Beautiful Day" (I also really liked the choreography in this number) and Ropp's emotional performance of "Time." My favorite number in the show is "The Wheel" where Angus tells Winnie that she doesn't need to live forever she just needs to live (this message is so lovely) and both Leger and Hodson sing it beautifully (it is also staged very well). The staging of the scenes at the fair is simple with a minimal cast but it is very effective and I enjoyed the choreography in "Join the Parade" and its reprise as well as in "Partner in Crime." I also liked that the characterization for the Man in the Yellow Suit is more menacing (Hanson actually provides a bit of comic relief) than evil which I've seen in some productions. One of my favorite aspects of this show is how the members of the ensemble seem to shadow Winnie and the revelation of who they are in "The Story of Winnie Foster" is incredibly poignant in this production. Finally, the set is quite spectacular and includes a lush backdrop of trees with sets for Winnie's front porch and garden (I loved the white picket fence covered by flowers), the Tuck's cabin, and Jesse's tree and the stream on a rotating turntable. This is a wonderful show for the whole family and I recommend getting a ticket (go here). It runs on the Mountain America Main Stage through June 17.

Note:  I saw this show on Broadway and then it closed two days later!

Finding Neverland at HCT

I don't think I have ever had a more emotional response to a show than than the one I had when I saw Finding Neverland on Broadway (I was crying my eyes out by the end) so I was beyond excited when it was announced as part of the 2025 season at HCT and I have been eagerly awaiting my chance to see it ever since (I've also been recommending it to all of my theatre friends). I went to a matinee yesterday afternoon and, while I thoroughly enjoyed it, I feel like it is missing some of the magic of the Broadway production. J.M. Barrie (Keith McKay Evans) is a playwright suffering from writers' block, much to the chagrin of his snobby society wife Mary (Jordyn Aspyn Durfey) and his exasperated theatre director Charles Frohman (Alex King), when he meets the Llewelyn Davies brothers, George (Lucas Huizingh), Jack (Andrew Laudie), Peter (Flynn Mitchell), and Michael (Link Evans), and their mother Sylvia (Amy Shreeve Keeler), in Kensington Gardens. The Llewelyn Davies family, especially Sylvia and Peter, help him find his imagination again and inspire him to write the play Peter Pan while Barrie helps Sylvia, who is sick, and Peter, who is still mourning the loss of his father, learn that you shouldn't take life too seriously. I really love all of the music in this show but I was especially impressed by Evans' passionate rendition of "My Imagination" and Keeler's powerful performance of "All That Matters" (they both have beautiful voices) and their chemistry is palpable in "Neverland" and "What You Mean to Me."  I loved the innovative staging of "Believe," when the brothers fly around Kensington Gardens in a giant paper boat, "Circus of Your Mind," when ticking clocks (which represent the people who disapprove of Barrie) are transformed into a giant crocodile, "Stronger," when Barrie's alter ego Captain Hook (Alex King) takes him to a pirate ship to encourage him to be bolder, and "What You Mean to Me," as Barrie and Sylvia dance with their shadows (performed by aerialists Lance Nielson and Samantha Nielson). I also enjoyed seeing Peter Pan (Tyson Russell) fly around Barrie in certain scenes because he represents Barrie. The stage is brilliantly configured as a series of giant books with projections of text all around the theatre and many of the set pieces, which come in from the wings, up from the pit, and down from the rafters, look like line drawings (I especially liked the duvets on the beds in the nursery). The period costumes are gorgeous, especially all of Sylvia's gowns and Captain Cook's elaborate frock coat. However, with the exception of Shelby Maughan, who plays Mr. Henshaw, and Colton James Kraus, who plays Mr. Cromer, I found the acting troupe to be very bland (they are completely over-the-top in the Broadway production) so the songs "The World Is Upside Down," "Something About This Night," and "Neverland (Reprise)" are a bit underwhelming. To be fair, I attended a matinee with many empty seats (my whole row was empty) so that may have affected the energy. Finally, I waited with great anticipation for the penultimate scene with Sylvia because, in the Broadway production, it is one of the most magical bits of stage craft that I have ever seen and, honestly, I was disappointed with this version because I found it a bit pedestrian (I expected more from Dave Tinney and the state-of-the-art stage). There is actually a lot to love about HCT's version and my comparison to the Broadway production is probably unfair so I definitely think it is worth seeing. It runs on the Young Living Centre Stage through June 14 (go here for tickets) but act quickly because many shows are sold out.

Note:  A huge shout-out to Indy, who is making her acting debut as the Barries' dog Porthos, because she is adorable and she does such a great job!

Juliet & Romeo

My sister and I are not the biggest fans of Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet but, as soon as we saw the trailer for a new adaptation, we knew immediately that we wanted to see it because it is a musical!  We had the chance to see it yesterday and both of our inner thirteen year old selves loved it.  Prince Escalus (Rupert Graves) is fighting to keep control of Verona and he must ally himself with either House Montague or House Capulet to get the support he needs and this escalates the ongoing feud between them.  Lord Montague (Jason Isaacs) looks to his adopted son Mercutio (Nicholas Podany) to advance their cause because his own son Romeo (Jamie Ward) has started to rebel while Lord and Lady Capulet (Rupert Everett and Rebel Wilson, respectively) bring their unsuspecting daughter Juliet (Clara Rugaard) home from school to form an alliance with Lord Paris (Dennis Andres) in exchange for his army.  Romeo spots Juliet across a crowded square and they bond over their appreciation of Dante Alighieri.  They eventually fall in love and, when they realize that they represent opposing houses, they turn to the Friar (Derek Jacobi) who sees their union as a way to achieve peace and he marries them.  However, when violence erupts on the streets leading to the deaths of Mercutio and Tybalt (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo), Romeo is banished and he must resort to a bold plan involving the Apothecary (Dan Fogler) in order to be with Juliet.  This takes quite a few liberties with the source material, including a really wild ending, and this would normally bother me but the changes work within the context of a story about choosing your own destiny.  The runtime starts to feel long during the third act when Juliet takes the potion and Romeo misses the message from the Friar but I always find this section of the play tedious when it is performed on stage so I can't fault the movie for it.  The songs eventually all blend together and they definitely have a Disney Channel Original Movie sound but I really enjoyed them (see the aforementioned comment about my inner thirteen year old self) and I suspect that teens everywhere (the target audience) will love them.  My favorites are "Beat the Same," "I Should Write This Down," "The Mask I Wear," and "Streets On Fire."  Ward and Rugaard are very appealing and have great chemistry as the titular characters and I also liked Jacobi as the Friar because he acts as a sort of narrator.  The visuals are gorgeous, with production design by Dante Ferreti and costume design by Luciano Capozzi (I loved the masquerade ball), and the cinematography is dazzling (especially the overhead shots of the fight between Mercutio and Tybalt on the bridge).  I know that everyone is going to hate this but, to me, it was a bit of escapist fun and my sister and I had a blast watching it.