Almost Famous

Almost Famous
Bernard B. Jacob Theatre
October 19, 2022 

Photo courtesy of Almost Famous

Cameron Crowe has adapted his movie Almost Famous into an edgy, poignant, and vibrant Broadway musical.  The characters are skillfully crafted, vulnerable, and daring.  The action is driven by Tom Kitt’s music and lyrics.  Sarah O’Gleby’s choreography enhances the action, defines the characters, and grounds the time period.  Director Jeremy Herrin pulls it all together, leaving the audience with a stunning and emotionally fulfilling ending.

Photo curtesy of Almost Famous

The year is 1973.  William Miller (played by Casey Likes) is an intelligent high school senior, being raised by an overprotective, single mother (played by Anika Larsen).  When his sister, Anita (played by Emily Schultheis) moves out, she leaves him a stack of vinyl records.  William gets lost in the music.  He becomes an expert and begins to write articles expressing his point of view.  He lands an assignment to write for a local rock magazine, which causes him to meet the members of the band Stillwater, and more importantly Penny Lane (played by Solea Pfeiffer).  When Rolling Stone Magazine contacts him about writing for them, they think he is an older, experienced journalist.  William jumps at their offer and proposes an in depth story on the rise of Stillwater.  Rolling Stone pays him to join their tour, setting him on a life changing adventure. 

Casey Likes & Solea Pfeiffer
Photo courtesy of Almost Famous

Casey Likes, who is making his Broadway debut, is perfectly cast as William.  His character is naive, brave, and likeable.  We eagerly follow his journey as he dives into the fast-paced world of rock and roll.  Solea Pfeiffer is wild and free as Penny Lane.  She shares a few genuinely tender moments with Mr. Likes that deepen the story and reveal her character’s many layers.  Her chemistry with Chris Wood, who plays Russell Hammond, the lead guitarist of Stillwater, is magnetic.  Mr. Wood is riveting in this dynamic and mysterious role.  These three actors portray multifaceted characters who have a lasting impact on one another.  Their relationships grow as the story progresses, keeping the audience fully involved and emotionally engaged.

There are also strong performances by Anika Larsen, Emily Schultheis, and Drew Gehling.  As William’s mother, Ms. Larsen creates a strong home base that continually calls to her son, reminding him of who he is.  This generates a strong and effective tension throughout the story.  Emily Schultheis’ character of Anita, William’s sister, gives him the inspiration that propels his journey.  She is honest and caring in this role.  Drew Gehling’s portrayal of Jeff, the lead singer of Stillwater, is full of bravado, instigating conflict between the band members.  This causes the darker side of their characters to be revealed. 

The entire cast is strikingly energetic.  They all develop distinct characters that illuminate the time period.  The fast pace is set at the top of the show, and everyone on stage works to keep the story moving forward at lightning speed.  

If you liked the original movie, you will love this show.  Almost Famous is playing at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre.  Go see it!

Domenick Danza

Flying Over Sunset

 Flying Over Sunset
Lincoln Center Theater
Vivian Beaumont Theater
November 28, 2021 

Photo courtesy of Lincoln Center Theater

Flying Over Sunset is a psychological exploration of three true to life characters from the mid-20^th century (Aldous Huxley, Clare Boothe Luce, and Cary Grant).  The events leading up to the story are true, yet the action of the play is fiction.  It is a known fact that Aldous Huxley, Clare Boothe Luce, and Cary Grant experimented with LSD.  Playwright/Director James Lapine springboards this actuality into a journey of profound discovery and deep insight.  Tom Kitt’s music and Michael Korie’s lyrics lure the audience further in by engaging their imaginations and amplifying their emotions.  

We first meet Aldous Huxley (played by Harry Hadden-Paton) when his is shopping at Rexall Drugs with his wife Maria (played by Laura Shoop).  She instructed their close friend Gerald Heard (played by Robert Sella) to let Aldous try LSD.  The drug takes effect while they are shopping, and everything in the store vividly comes to life for Aldous. 

Tony Yazbeck, Harry Hadden-Paton, & Carmen Cusack
Photo courtesy of Lincoln Center Theater

Cary Grant (played by Tony Yazbeck) makes an appointment with his wife’s therapist (played by Nehal Joshi) to request a dose of LSD.  While under the influence of the drug, he sees himself as a child (played by Atticus Ware) performing in vaudeville in England, dressed in girl’s clothing.  Cary faces buried memories from his childhood, including his father’s abuse and his mother’s abandonment.

Gerald visits his dear friend Clare Boothe Luce (played by Carmen Cusack) in the garden of her Connecticut home.  She asks him to gives her LSD.  While under the influence, she sees a vision of her deceased daughter and mother, both of whom died in tragic car accidents.  She is joyous and comforted by this vision. 

During a chance meeting at the Brown Derby in Los Angeles, Aldous Huxley, Clare Boothe Luce, and Cary Grant reveal the serious changes they are all facing.  They joke that the one thing they all have in common is their experimentation with LSD.  They decide to meet and, with Gerald as their guide, share an LSD trip.  This experience takes them in separate directions, yet bonds them in genuine moments of mutual need and earnest understanding. 

Robert Selia, Harry Hadden-Paton,
Carmen Cusack, & Tony Yazbeck
Photo courtesy of Lincoln Center Theater

This is truly an ensemble musical, as each character has a separate and strong story line that comes together in the end.  Carmen Cusack is vibrant as Clare Boothe Luce.  Her character oozes with charm and her singing is magical.  Harry Haddon-Paton has a strong presence as Aldous Huxley.  He does everything as a stiff upper lip Englishman with a high intellect.  Tony Yazbeck is smooth as Cary Grant.  He captures the image perfectly, and fills the character with the truths and challenges the man struggled with his whole life.  Atticus Ware is outstanding as Archie Leach, the young Cary Grant.  He and Mr. Yazbeck complement one another very well.

Robert Sella (as Gerald Heard) is the glue that brings all the characters and events of the story together.  His character is consistently present, and his performance is firmly grounded.  There are also strong performances by Laura Shoop, Nehal Joshi, Kanisha Marie Feliciano, Michelle Ragusa, and Emily Pynenburg.  

Michelle Dorrance’s choreography creates rhythms that give the show a driving pulse.  Her duets create strong relationships and viscerally move the plot forward.  The set, designed by Beowulf Boritt, makes this Lincoln Center Theater production visually stunning. 

Flying Over Sunset explores the hardships that separate us and the opportunities that can bring us together.  It is playing at the Vivian Beaumont Theater through February 6. 

Domenick Danza

Superhero

Superhero

Second Stage Theater

Tony Kiser Theater

March 16, 2019

Photo courtesy of Second Stage Theater

If you need a superhero, who would you conjure or draw?  Would he save the planet, or just you?  Could you be his side-kick, or would you get kicked aside?  These are some of the questions that Simon, the main character of Superhero, now playing at Second Stage Theater, grapples with and tries to answer.  Tom Kitt’s music and lyrics take the audience on an emotionally impactful journey as Simon faces the truth and gains his footing in order to move forward.

Simon (played by Kyle McArthur) draws and writes superhero stories.  His mother, Charlotte (played by Kate Baldwin), is worried about how distant he has become since his father died.  She has been overwhelmed trying to keep her life together.  When Simon witnesses his unassuming neighbor, Jim (played by Bryce Pinkham), perform an act of superhuman strength, he starts believing Jim is a superhero, sent from another galaxy to save the planet.  He convinces his mother to have dinner with Jim to gather details of his personal life.  Once the unresolved thread of their family starts to unwind, it will take a real superhero to help Simon and Charlotte pull their lives back together.

Kate Baldwin & Kyle McArthur
Photo courtesy of Second Stage Theater

Mr. Kitt’s songs superbly develop the characters and relationships.  Kate Baldwin, Kyle McArthur, and Bryce Pinkham make every one of these moments soar.  Their vocal skills are astonishing.  They give every lyric meaning, revealing their characters’ inner need and propelling them forward to connect on a deeper level.

Beowulf Borritt’s scenic design transforms the space into the world of this play.  The transitions from one scene to the next are quick, smooth, and always unexpected.  Every set design of Mr. Borritt creates a specific atmosphere that defines the production and keeps the action moving.  He skillfully delivers that consistent quality in Superhero.  Illusion design by Chris Fisher and projection design by Tal Yarden are imaginative.  They vividly depict the world inside Simon’s head, which is vital to the action of the play. 

Superhero is playing at the Tony Kiser Theater through March 31.

Domenick Danza

Head Over Heels

Head Over Heels

Hudson Theatre

July 9, 2018

Photo courtesy of Head Over Heels

Head Over Heels is fun and smart and wild and sexy!  Combining the music of The Go-Go’s with The Arcadia, a play written at the end of the 16^th century by Sir Philip Sidney, is pure genius.  The design and style for the production is over the top and brilliant.  It is the Renaissance meets Greek tragedy in the 1980s, surging forward to tell a well needed message of acceptance, love, and persistence.  The creative team, led by director Michael Mayer, pulls out all the stops and picks up the pace to entertain, dazzle, and fill the Hudson Theatre with pure joy.

Princess Philoclea (played by Alexandra Socha) is in love with Musidorus, a mere shepherd boy (played by Andrew Durand).  Her older sister, Princess Pamela (played by Bonnie Milligan), has been introduced to numerous suitors over the past five years, and cannot find anyone to her liking.  Their father, Basilius, King of Arcadia (played by Jeremy Kushnier), is not happy with these events, and his wife, Gynecia (played by Rachel York), is not happy with him.  Pythio, the Oracle of Delphi (played by Peppermint) has four predictions for the King.  When they come true, Arcadia will have a new King, “lose their beat,” and fall into turmoil and despair.  King Basilius keeps the oracle a secret and takes his family and court on a journey to Bohemia to avoid the predictions and face his adversary head on.  Truth in the guise of mayhem ensues, proving that you meet your destiny on your journey of denial.

Photo courtesy of Head Over Heels

The cast and ensemble are a skillful, energetic, and cohesive unit.  They are truly amazing in every way.  Their voices are strong.  Their energies are high.  Their timing is crisp.  Andrew Durand and Alexandra Socha are heartwarming and funny.  Jerry Kushnier and Rachel York are bold and commanding.  Bonnie Milligan and Taylor Iman Jones are daring and hilarious.  Peppermint is dazzling and fabulous.  Tom Alan Robbins is the glue that holds them all together during the mayhem. 

Photo courtesy of Head Over Heels

Scenic design by Julian Crouch creates numerous, imaginary locations that transport you into this outlandish story.  They are lush, alive, and colorful through enhancement from lighting designer Kevin Adams and projection designer Andrew Lazarow.  The costumes, by Arianne Phillips, transcends any specific time period.  They encompass a wide array of styles and evoke clear characters with a single glance.  Tom Kitt’s choreography is fierce and thrilling.

Head Over Heels is playing at the Hudson Theatre.  If you see anything this summer, make it this show!

 

Domenick Danza