Saturday, December 31, 2011
PROMO: Bring it On (The Musical)
The whole cheerleading phenomena has changed over the years, becoming one of the most dangerous and highly competitive pursuits available to high school students. What once was an innocent extension of the "pep squad," tasked with boosting school spirit through shaking pom pons and repeatedly chanting simplistic rhymes, now involves complex, acrobatic choreography that has grown from sideline and half-time amusement to highly coveted national championships.
Despite the perverted "jail bait" fantasies of some, and the complete apathy of others who would rather just watch the game, cheerleading has become the ultimate adolescent expression of "girl power," bringing out the best and worst in its adherents. Yes, there are a few boys on hand to do the heavy lifting, but cheerleading will always be about the girls, their beauty and grace, but also their ugly and sometimes destructive rivalries.
The press materials for Bring it On: The Musical, which plays January 10-21 at the Buell Theatre, avoid mentioning the reasonably successful series of films of the same name, and recent television shows devoted to exploring the cheerleading craze.
Bring it On: The Musical promotes a suitably moralistic theme: that winning isn't everything when it means losing something -- or someone -- you really care about, but says it in a "hilarious" way. The music promises to be fresh, and the gravity-defying choreography should indeed be thrilling, since the ensemble features some of the nation's most skilled competitive cheerleaders to add an element of authenticity.
Taken out of its sports-related, spirit-boosting context, it remains to be seen whether Bring it On: The Musical and cheerleading (a sport in itself) can hold its own as meaningful stand-alone entertainment. I'm guessing that the energy, spectacle and choreography, and the most likely lightly-addressed human conflict will carry the show, even if the ultimate purpose of all that jumping and screaming remains an adolescent mystery.
Bring it On: The Musical is part of the Denver Center Attractions 2012 season. Tickets for Bring it On: The Musical can be purchased at www.denvercenter.org or by calling 303-893-4100. Tickets start at just $25. For more information on the show itself, visit the Facebook page at Facebook.com/BringItOnTheMusical.
Despite the perverted "jail bait" fantasies of some, and the complete apathy of others who would rather just watch the game, cheerleading has become the ultimate adolescent expression of "girl power," bringing out the best and worst in its adherents. Yes, there are a few boys on hand to do the heavy lifting, but cheerleading will always be about the girls, their beauty and grace, but also their ugly and sometimes destructive rivalries.
The press materials for Bring it On: The Musical, which plays January 10-21 at the Buell Theatre, avoid mentioning the reasonably successful series of films of the same name, and recent television shows devoted to exploring the cheerleading craze.
Bring it On: The Musical promotes a suitably moralistic theme: that winning isn't everything when it means losing something -- or someone -- you really care about, but says it in a "hilarious" way. The music promises to be fresh, and the gravity-defying choreography should indeed be thrilling, since the ensemble features some of the nation's most skilled competitive cheerleaders to add an element of authenticity.
Taken out of its sports-related, spirit-boosting context, it remains to be seen whether Bring it On: The Musical and cheerleading (a sport in itself) can hold its own as meaningful stand-alone entertainment. I'm guessing that the energy, spectacle and choreography, and the most likely lightly-addressed human conflict will carry the show, even if the ultimate purpose of all that jumping and screaming remains an adolescent mystery.
Bring it On: The Musical is part of the Denver Center Attractions 2012 season. Tickets for Bring it On: The Musical can be purchased at www.denvercenter.org or by calling 303-893-4100. Tickets start at just $25. For more information on the show itself, visit the Facebook page at Facebook.com/BringItOnTheMusical.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Colorado ACTS New Year's Eve fundraiser party
Colorado Actors Company and Theater School Present…
A Fundraiser Gala Dinner
to Benefit Colorado A.C.T.S.
Join us for New Year’s Eve EVE!
When: Friday, December 30th, 7pm-9pm
Where: Two Roads Charter School (7180 Oak St. Arvada, CO 80004)
What: A Night of Food, Entertainment and Fun to Benefit Colorado A.C.T.S.
7pm-9pm: Dinner and Entertainment
9pm-12am: Glow-In-The-Dark Games in the gym for the Students & Board Games for the Parents who want to stay.
Cost: $15 per person for Adults OR $25 per Couple
$10 per person for Students (This price includes Glow-In-The-Dark Games in the gym after Dinner!)
$5 per person for Students who only want to come play Glow-In-The-Dark Games in the gym.
Dress-Up in Your New Year’s Finery!
Dinner will be provided by Santiago Miranda and consist of a Salad, Bread, Ham, Scalloped Potatoes and a Tasty Dessert.
Please RSVP By Thursday, December 29th. Call 303-456-6772 to place your reservation
-All Proceeds from this event go to the Colorado ACTS Moving and Renovation Fund.-
Monday, December 19, 2011
REVIEW: 'Phantom' at BDT
All roads may lead to Rome, but not all worthy musicals come from Broadway or London. The U.S. has numerous vibrant regional theaters that develop and produce original shows. Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera hit the big time through its London and Broadway blockbuster productions, but Arthur Kopit and Maury Yeston's American version of Gaston Leroux's 19th century potboiler melodrama is smarter, and ultimately more satisfying.
Boulder's Dinner Theatre's outstanding current production of the American version of Phantom reveals strengths and weaknesses that prove the show is eminently stage worthy and entertaining, but probably wouldn't have done well in New York anyway.
First of all BDT's production of the Kopit/Yeston version MAKES SENSE. Unlike the Andrew Lloyd Webber spectacle, care has been given to telling a sensible story, developing its characters, and articulating a theme instead of merely creating a series of moments and moods. It should come as no surprise that this literate version effectively translated into a television mini-series, something the Webber version could never have done.
A beautiful young song seller (Maggie Sczekan) is "discovered" by a wealthy count (Brian Jackson), and sent to the Paris Opera House to begin an apprenticeship. But the new owners of the Opera House (Joanie Brosseau and Scott Beyette) have fired the longtime and sympathetic manager (Brian Norber), and the jealous diva puts the prodigy to work making costumes. A mysterious Phantom (Markus Warren) privately polishes her musical gift and pressures the company to let her perform. Conflict arises, pranks take place, but the body count is low, because the Phantom isn't a monster, just a misunderstood outcast.
This is more Gothic romance than horror fiction, so the Phantom turns out to be a tragic hero with serious mommy and abandonment issues. His facial deformity is the least of his worries.
There are no plunging chandeliers, fire balls or other empty and pointless spectacle, although there are some very nice effects. It's great to see a show that has enough depth that it doesn't need to hide behind six or seven-figure production budgets.
On the other hand, the MUSIC of the Kopit/Yeston version is no match for Webber's. There really aren't any hit songs, and some tunes sound deceptively simplistic, like variations on running through scales. Audiences aren't likely to flock to iTunes to download the soundtrack. It's enjoyable, serviceable, and at times emotionally engaging music, but not particularly memorable.
I've never seen a shabby, sloppy or lazy performance at Boulder's Dinner Theatre. These are consummate professionals, at the top of their game, and they give it their all. It's great to see a combination of long-time favorites and new faces in the tightly-knit ensemble.
Phantom is an odd choice for a holiday show, but it definitely works as a mid-winter musical offering. It's dark, deep, brooding and richly rewarding. But come Spring I'm going to be more than ready for a light-hearted, light-headed offering, like the delightfully dipsy The Drowsy Chaperone, which plays at Boulder's Dinner Theatre February 24-May 13, 2012.
Phantom performs at Boulder's Dinner Theatre through February 18. Prices start at just $35, and include both the performance and dinner served by the stars of the show. Call 303-449-6000 or log on to www.bouldersdinnertheatre.com for information and reservations.
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