Review: Utah Repertory Theater Company - "Bare"

"I've never been this bare.  I've never felt such honesty."  To be honest and open can at times be terrifying but it is eventually liberating.  I was drawn to "Bare" when I first heard the cast recording several years ago mostly because the story is similar to mine.  Coming out of the closet is difficult regardless of where a person lives, but it can be even more confusing when shame and guilt are placed on us based on attractions and emotions.  I am pleased to see this show being produced in Utah where it is as pertinent as ever.  Utah Repertory Theater Company has put forth incredible effort to share this message and story in a way that is touching and fulfilling.

Set against the backdrop of a Catholic private school where the students are participating in a production of Romeo and Juliet, the parallels run deep as does the tragedy.  The "star-crossed lovers" of this story are Jason and Peter, who are at odds with their religious beliefs and their love for each other.  Jason is the star jock of the school and feels immense pressure and expectation from everyone around him, while Peter longs to be himself and love Jason openly.

Brock Dalgleish is incredibly charming and attractive with just the right balance of swagger and heart as Jason.  He portrays confidence while at the same time showing the pain that such lofty expectations cause. In the role of Peter, John Patrick McKenna soars while showcasing his incredible vocals and acting abilities.  I could absolutely FEEL what Peter was feeling and I found myself wishing I could console him.  McKenna's voice is incredibly strong but with a subtlety that brought me to tears multiple times throughout the show.  Every moment and duet between Jason and Peter felt so real and raw that their love, and pain, was palpable.  During the touching but heartbreaking "Role of a Lifetime", Peter wonders what will become of his secret love and if they will forever have to live a lie.  During "Best-Kept Secret" Peter pleads with Jason to live openly while Jason insists that the secret must remain.  Toward the end, the gorgeous duet "Bare" is an anthem about the freedom that honesty brings, with no shame.  This song encompasses the theme of the show and allows Jason and Peter to finally be "bare" and authentic.

The female leads are equally strong including Katie Evans as Nadia, Jason's sister who slays "Plane Jane Fat Ass" among other songs.  She adds much-needed humor to the proceedings with her wit and attitude.  Emilie Starr is also brilliant as Ivy, Nadia's roommate who eventually falls in love with Jason which brings about difficult consequences.  She has an opportunity to showcase her powerful vocals with the song, "All Grown Up" where she bares her soul and breaks the hearts of the audience members at the same time.

Other themes and conflicts are explored such as bullying, teen pregnancy, drugs, depression, and suicide.  There are necessary lessons in this show that have universal value.  This is a show about growing up, the consequences of our actions, and ultimately the desire for to be heard and seen.  I am sure that everyone can relate to the idea of wanting to be heard and seen authentically.

The show is not without flaws, of course.  Some of the writing drags a bit, and there are moments that feel unfinished.  I found myself wondering what changes the writers made when they recently revived and revised the show in New York City, and if those changes may have helped.  Additionally there were some lighting and sound issues during the performance, but nothing unforgivable.  Overall Director Johnny Hebda has created a space where the audience is fully engrossed in the story and is able to immediately feel connected.  The show is heart wrenching all throughout and difficult to watch at times, but this is such an important story to tell.  Thank you Mr. Hebda and Utah Repertory Theater for having the courage to bring this essential story and lesson to Utah.

"Bare" is playing through January 31 at the Sugar Space Warehouse Theater in Salt Lake City.    For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.utahrep.org.

A portion of the proceeds benefit OUTReach Resource Centers, which provide assistance and resources to LGBT youth: www.outreachresourcecenters.org.

No One Mourns The "Wicked"

People are not always familiar or up to speed on Broadway musicals-I often get blank stares when I bring up musicals that I think are well known but turn out to be more obscure than I realized.  I suppose it is somewhat rare for a Broadway musical to become a part of popular culture and a part of mainstream media, but a few certainly do on occasion such as Les Misérables or Phantom.  This status is reserved for shows that are able to explode onto the scene such as The Lion King with enough gusto and commercial appeal to keep them going for years and years as tourist attractions and hot ticket items for even those who are not fans of the theatre.  Another juggernaut of a musical that has managed to create this kind of momentum in the past decade is a little show called Wicked.

Wicked is nothing short of a phenomenon, running for 10 years solid and with no signs of slowing down any time soon, and with good reason.  This is a show that touches the heart, is relevant to just about everyone, and is large, loud, colorful, and sparkly.  What makes a musical so relatable and so popular?  It is a simple recipe: begin with a foundation based on a bestselling novel (which in turn is based on the beloved story of The Wizard of Oz), reinvent a once villainous character to promote a theme of acceptance that is relatable to everyone, pile on an exquisite score by the talented Stephen Schwartz, pepper in some incredible divas who can belt these incredible songs beautifully, and top if off with some clever comedic and dramatic moments.  I suppose that's the convention for any musical really, but it certainly works!  What really works in Wicked, is that the show simply has heart.  This is a show that is family-friendly, fun to watch, and that people of all ages enjoy thoroughly and despite the whimsical elements and "wow factor", it is also very human.

The driving force behind the story of Wicked is summed up by this one line in the show: "Are people really born wicked?  Or do they have wickedness thrust upon them?"  There is something to consider.  Is someone truly born bad, or is there a chain of events in their lives that drives them towards villainy? In the case of the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba (a clever play on the name of the original Oz author, L. Frank Baum), it stems from many obstacles she must overcome including bullying, pressure, magical powers she must learn to control, and rumors that are started by others about her wickedness in the first place.  Elphaba's journey is one of heartbreak and despair, but also of empowerment and love.

The "Emerald City" tour of Wicked is in Salt Lake City right now, with a few more weeks left of the seven week run.  This is a show that Utahns LOVE and it has returned for another sold out run.  I recently attended a performance again at Capitol Theatre and even though I have seen the show (ahem) six times now, it is so fresh and still so powerful that I enjoyed every minute of it.  Actually I enjoyed it so much that I am seeing it again on August 17th before the run ends!

Nick Adams as Fiyero

The performance on this run was brilliant and as breathtaking as the first time I saw the show in 2007 in Florida.  As the orchestra began to play the opening music, I looked up to see the giant steel dragon atop the proscenium breathing smoke with eyes glowing red and I remembered why I love this show.  The music is lush and gorgeous, the emotions run deep, and the message is powerful and relevant.  The cast is as strong as ever on this tour-the main standout being Nick Adams as Fiyero.  Not only is Adams GORGEOUS, but his voice is simply beautiful and he brings such passion and honest love to the role.  I also really enjoyed Gina Beck as Glinda-I actually think she is the best Glinda I have seen.  She just played the role in such a way that she was genuine.  She didn't have to play up the laughs or the attitude, she simply WAS Glinda and it was very sweet to watch her progression.  Beck has since left this tour, so it will be interesting to see a new Glinda when I attend the show again.



I was looking forward to seeing Emma Hunton play Elphaba as I had seen her in Next to Normal in Los Angeles and thoroughly enjoyed her performance.  I was disappointed at first to see that her standby, Emmy Raver-Lampman, was playing Elphaba that night-but then I was proven SO wrong very quickly.  The minute she began to sing "The Wizard and I", I simply melted into my seat.  I perked up and realized I was in for a treat through the rest of her performance.  Her powerful voice is only part of her strength; she was so emotionally raw and made Elphaba immediately relatable.

Gina Beck as Glinda and Emmy Raver-Lampman as Elphaba

The scenes with these incredible actors working together only added to their strength and the chemistry was palpable.  Raver-Lampman and Beck made the two leads really feel like sisters and friends and yet you could feel the tension between them as well.  Also I have never seen a Fiyero and Elphaba so on FIRE during "As Long As You're Mine".  The passion was so intense I even saw a mother (jokingly) cover her young son's eyes in the row in front of me.  Joking aside, this moment was incredibly touching.


The technical aspects of this show are nothing short of magical as well, and they hold up fabulously 10 years later. The costumes are bizarre and brilliant, particularly the Emerald City citizens who wear outfits that seem to have been dreamed up by Lady Gaga (although this predates Gaga).  The sets are a brilliant compilation of cogs and gears that hearken to the novel's infamous time dragon clock although it is not explained at length in the musical.  There are a few such treats for fans of the book as well as fans of the original Wizard of Oz.  The flying effect during "Defying Gravity" is still a breathtaking showstopper, and the giant mechanical head the Wizard uses to intimidate and impress the citizens is...well...intimidating and impressive.  The lighting design is also flawless and realistically transports you throughout the various lands of Oz.  Simply put, this is a tech-heavy show that is worth seeing if only for the spectacle.  It is no surprise that Wicked took home the Tony Awards for Costume Design and Scenic Design (in addition to a Best Actress Tony for Idina Menzel as Elphaba).

The score of the show is breathtaking, and the songs are only strengthened by the incredible performers in this current cast.  The book does suffer from some unfortunate plot holes and I have a problem with the ending.  I have always had a problem with it, but I will not explain here in the interest of avoiding spoilers.  Suffice it to say that you are not likely to notice these minor issues because the show itself is pure magic.

What really makes Wicked work is the appeal of these characters who are absolutely human despite the fact they live in a magical world.  Elphaba is bullied and harassed due to the color of her skin which can really be a metaphor for any kind of discrimination.  I think we have all felt left out or discriminated at some time or another.  Glinda through the course of the show finds that there is more to life than popularity and the idea that everyone should look a certain way.  Elphaba and Glinda both learn a valuable lesson that it is not what is on the outside that truly matters.  One of my favorite moments in the show is this exchange between Fiyero and Elphaba:

Elphaba: I wish I could be beautiful... for you.
Fiyero: Elphaba...
Elphaba: Don't tell me that I am, you don't need to lie to me.
Fiyero: It's not lying! It's... uh... it's looking at things another way.

For reasons I won't explain (due to spoilers again), Elphaba has an opportunity to repeat this line toward the end of the show.  This is what Wicked is all about-perspective.  Elphaba's wickedness is a result of misunderstandings, tragedy, fear, rumors, and many other factors.  Is she really wicked?  Probably not.  Maybe we would all benefit from taking a step back in our lives and trying to look at things another way. The real lesson here is taking the perspective of compassion throughout our lives.

Wicked continues the run at Capitol Theatre until August 24 and is absolutely worth seeing for those who have the opportunity.  If you want to get tickets this late in the game, your best bet is to go on a Sunday when tickets are less in demand (Arttix). You can also try your hand at lottery tickets on the day of the performance (Broadway in Utah Facebook Page).

Stage to Studio - The Bridges of Madison County

Jason Robert Brown has done it again.  He has restored my faith in musicals and he has restored my faith in love.  Okay, maybe that's a tad dramatic but I am a sucker for a great love song and Brown's latest masterpiece is chock full of them.   The Bridges of Madison County may have closed on Broadway too soon, but this cast recording is my only glimpse of the show.  I am mostly unfamiliar with the story as I have not read the novel nor have I seen the film with Meryl Streep.  Despite my ignorance of the storyline somehow I immediately connected with the characters from the moment I began listening to the Original Broadway Cast Recording.

Mr. Brown certainly knows how to tug at the heart with strings, piano, and voices that soar and bring emotions to life.  This is exhibited in his previous musicals such as Parade, Songs for a New World, and The Last 5 Years.   The Last 5 Years is how I first discovered this incredible composer.  I stumbled on the cast recording one day and never looked back.  I could write a book about this incredible show, the nuances in the music as well as the gorgeous lyrics.  The film (which stars Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan) will hopefully be out soon and I will surely write more about that later.

Back to Bridges, the latest work from this incredible contemporary composer.  The complexity of this score is apparent right from the first track, "To Build a Home".  The deep cello introduction at the beginning set the tone for what I imagined would be a dark ballad.  The exceptional Kelli O'Hara begins singing as Francesca and the tone gradually becomes lighter.  The song continues to transform as she sings of her life as a lonely housewife.  Eventually it turns into an upbeat waltz that shows exactly the myriad of emotions that will soon be experienced in listening to this lush musical. O'Hara's voice is flawless and I literally could NOT stop listening from the first minute.

The score continues with impeccable interpretations by Hunter Foster and other cast members as we become acquainted with the remaining characters of the show.  We then meet Robert, played by the handsome and talented Steven Pasquale who is also blessed with incredible vocal talent.  In "Temporarily Lost" we really begin to understand what we are in for by listening to this recording and it creates and instant hunger for the duets that will inevitably follow.  His deep, sweet voice exhibits a loneliness and a sense of longing.

Throughout the score the beauty continues with songs such as "Look at Me" in which the lovers are beginning to have feelings for each other.  The solos are backed by an elegant choir which adds to the romance and passionate intensity. Another excellent highlight is "Falling Into You" which literally swept me away with the music.  Even without seeing the performance I could just feel the palpable romance-now THAT is a love song.  Some of the songs feel a little heavy and then the tone alternates to a more lighthearted love with songs such as "Who We Are and Who We Want to Be" and then back to the inevitable heartbreak with "Almost Real" which can only be described in one word-powerful.  Kelli O'Hara's voice is a dream.

And do not even get me started on the incredible song "One Second and a Million Miles".  Steven Pasquale somehow manages to begin the song a cappella with a sound that is reverent and heartbreaking at the same time that it is gorgeous and sweet.  Then as he sings the line "I am asking you, Francesca, come with me!" the orchestra joins in and O'Hara joins in singing the most lush duet in the entire score.  This song commands that you FEEL and allows you to be a part of the lovers' journey.  I wanted to post the clip of them singing this on "The View" here, but you have to hear the a cappella intro to really feel the impact.

Overall it does seem the story is a bit shallow and some may find it to be overly sentimental, but as I have not seen the show I cannot fully judge. However the music is so rich that I find myself not caring one bit.  The entire score leaves me drifting off to another world and thoughts of the meaning of love and lust.  It is such a shame that the show has closed on Broadway but I do hope that I can see when the tour launches in 2015.  Jason Robert Brown remains one of the ultimate, ingenious Broadway composers and this fantastic score proves it.

I have included a few clips, but I highly recommend that you (pay for!) and download the entire score on iTunes and listen all the way through.  It is well worth it.

The Must List:
Best Ballad - "Falling Into You"
Best Showstopper - "One Second and a Million Miles"
Best Audition Piece (Male) - "The World Inside a Frame or One Second" or "A Million Miles"
Best Audition Piece (Female) - "Almost Real" or "To Build a Home"

Flashback Friday - Sideshow

Emily Skinner and Alice Ripley as Daisy and Violet Hilton

One of my favorite recordings that I have been listening to for years is the Original Broadway Cast Recording of Sideshow.  Composer Henry Krieger (of Dreamgirls fame) and lyricist Bill Russell concocted this beautiful, haunting, and poignant musical which premiered in 1997.  Sadly the show was short-lived and only ran for three months or so, but it received four Tony Award nominations including a co-nomination for Best Actress in a Musical for Alice Ripley and Emily Skinner.  Ripley and Skinner portrayed Violet and Daisy Hilton in the true story of conjoined twins who became famous touring in sideshows and Vaudeville for many years.

This is another show that I first heard about by watching The Rosie O'Donnell Show and there was always so much in this story that really struck a chord with me.  I definitely understood the feeling of being an outcast and being perceived as a "freak".  Only a few years after I first heard Sideshow, I came out of the closet while I was in high school.  I would listen to songs such as "Like Everyone Else" and "Who Will Love Me As I Am?" over and over on my Sony Discman and I could absolutely relate.  I knew how it felt to be ostracized all too well and it really hit close to home to hear these girls begging for love and acceptance and just wanting to be "like everyone else".  This is a theme that is just as important today as it was at the time this show premiered and I think would resonate with modern audiences as well. 

As you listen to and watch Skinner and Ripley sing "Who Will Love Me As I Am?", you can tell these two are emotionally invested in these characters.  This was the first time that I saw the power of Alice Ripley's acting.  She has the ability to vividly convey the pain a character feels with her facial expressions while simultaneously expressing it with her voice.  I was so fortunate to see the talented Ms. Ripley (see what I did there?) in her Tony Award winning role in Next to Normal at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles and I was floored.  I was so obsessed with her performance that I saw her in the show again only a week later and I still think about that performance often. 

Anyway, back to Sideshow, here is another fantastic performance from the Tony Awards with Skinner and Ripley performing "I Will Never Leave You".  This heart-wrenching duet is the final scene in the show where the twins realize that although they were not successful in romantic love, the two of them will never be alone and will always have each other.  Beautiful song, beautiful message.  

Last year Sideshow returned in a revised version that premiered at La Jolla playhouse.  I was unable to see this production at the time, but I do hope and pray that it will return to Broadway in the near future and that I may have an opportunity to see it.  This is one of those shows that I have entirely mapped out in my mind and I desperately want to see it fully produced.  On my list of my top favorite shows, there are several that I have only listened to and imagined, and this is at the top. 

Flashback Friday - AIDA

I have to say how grateful I am for YouTube, first of all.  YouTube is amazing because whether I have seen a show or not, I can look up at least parts of the show and be able to have a glimpse of what the experience was or might have been.  There are so many great clips and even some full shows.  Sometimes the quality is less than stellar, but I always say something is better than nothing.

With that said, my first Flashback Friday focuses on Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida-and more specifically the video that was initially the reason I fell in love with this show, from The Rosie O'Donnell Show.  I miss Rosie's talk show so much.  As a young musical theatre kid in Utah I could not see many of the shows I wanted to, and certainly not until they toured here several years later.  I could only listen to cast recordings and dream and imagine what might be occurring on stage.  Rosie brought me scenes and performances that I would never have seen otherwise and I at least got a taste of these incredible Broadway and Off-Broadway shows.

This show was and still is a BIG deal for me.  I finally had the opportunity to see this show a few years later when it came to Salt Lake City on tour.  Aida encompasses all of the reasons that I love musical theatre.  There is so much emotion in this show that just would not exist without the incredible Elton John score and the actors singing their faces off.  The story is incredible, and with Disney Theatricals at the helm, the sets, costumes, and cast were nothing short of incredible.

This song proves what musical theatre can do and how much emotion can come from even just one actor standing live on stage, vocally projecting their heart and soul into the audience.  I live for performances like this.  You simply cannot deny the power, the heartbreak, the raw emotion.  Heather Headley LIVES this song. Upon seeing this clip, I immediately went out and purchased the cast recording and just fell in love with Headley over and over and over again.  Although I never had a chance to see her perform live, she still completely IS Aida in my mind. 

If you want another taste of Headley's amazingness, check out this clip from when she originated the role of Nala in a little show called The Lion King.  I never get tired of listening to that song either.  I am just going to finish this post so that I can continue to relish in her performances.  YouTube is chock full of them-so take a gander and enjoy!

Have a great Friday my fellow musical theatre lovers! 

A Trip to the Theatre...WAIT...is that GWEN STEFANI!?!?

I had planned on writing a post about seeing The Book of Mormon at the Pantages in Hollywood on my latest trip to California.  Then something much bigger happened that night. 

I suppose I should explain for those who may not understand the gravity of this event in my life.  Anyone who knows me well is aware that I am a HUGE No Doubt fan and I have always wanted to meet Gwen Stefani.  I have been a fan since the Tragic Kingdom I was in seventh grade (a few...ahem...years ago) and my love for them has not waned to this day.  I love their new music, and I even enjoyed Gwen’s solo stints although I prefer the sound of the band as a whole.  I have seen No Doubt in concert six times (total of eight if you include Gwen’s solo tours) and I still intend to see them many more times in the future.  They are the most incredible band and really must be seen live in concert to appreciate their talent (if you doubt me, check out this live acoustic version of Running from the Rock Steady Live Tour).  I have a tendency to force my friends to watch the DVDs of the live shows and I also have a No Doubt shelf in my room and a couple of autographed posters thanks to my good friend Jonathan who has some connections.  All of that said, an opportunity had not presented itself (despite a near-miss in Salt Lake many years ago that I don't want to talk about) for me to meet Gwen-until now.

Album Cover from No Doubt

This story actually begins two weeks before my vacation to Southern California for my birthday in January.  As a birthday gift to myself, I decided to finally get the tattoo I have wanted for many years.  I knew I wanted a tattoo on my right ankle and I have debated what to get but for a long time I thought something No Doubt-related would suit me.  Then it dawned on me that I could really just keep it simple.  I referred to the original No Doubt logo on their first album, which was self-titled and I realized that is what I wanted and was exactly the shade of blue I wanted as well (my favorite color).  I asked my niece Kalli to draw up what it would look like if we took away some of the other colors and just left it blue and black and it was PERFECT!  NO DOUBT!

My Tattoo after healing

Two weeks later I went to Los Angeles, excited to wear shorts in the warm sun and show off my tattoo everywhere I went.  Upon arriving in L.A., my friend Jonathan and I went to a performance of Cirque du Soleil - TOTEM in Santa Monica that Thursday evening.  I was irritated to find out through Twitter and Facebook that Gwen Stefani had ventured out to see TOTEM just a few days earlier!  No fair!!! She took pictures with fans and tweeted about it and I could do nothing but wish we had been there.  While seated in the venue, I joked, "oh well, maybe she'll be at the Pantages tomorrow night and we'll just get to see her there."  Then we continued with the show and our plans throughout the following day and I thought nothing of it.  Little did I know what I had just put out into the Universe.

We had dinner and drinks and a lovely time the following day and then settled in to our seats at the Pantages in Hollywood for The Book of Mormon.  During intermission we were chatting with some of our fellow audience members seated near us when I saw someone walk down the aisle with platinum blonde hair.  I noticed heads turning but I thought nothing of it.  We were in Hollywood after all and surely it was some celebrity, a common occurrence.  The people sitting next to us then said, "Oh that's Gwen Stefani!"  And my head exploded.  WHAT!?  I hesitated-I really worry about being obnoxious in this sort of situation and I wasn't sure how I felt about approaching her.  We were limited on time as intermission was surely ending soon and I suddenly became very nervous.  My head clouded up and I became frozen to  my seat.  Jonathan wouldn't stand for it, knowing how important this was for me, and he insisted that we go to her seat and say something to her.  As he walked down the aisle, I followed but could barely control my legs as they carried me right down the aisle towards the front of the auditorium.

Gwen and me-a little blurry

As Jonathan approached the second row, I saw Gwen and her husband (Bush front man Gavin Rossdale) seated and waiting for the show to resume.  Jonathan said, "hey Gwen" as if they were old friends and she looked up kindly while I stood there, stunned and feeling my mouth dry out as if it was full of sand.  I felt as though I was no longer in my own body.  She looked JUST as you would expect her to and I was simply not mentally prepared for this moment.  I stammered but managed to say, "I am such a huge fan, I love you so much, I have seen you in concert 8 times-Oh! I have to show you my tattoo!!!" and bent down to pull up my pant leg and show her my ankle.  She was so sweet about it and said she "I love it!" as she pulled out her cell phone and asked if she could take a picture.  YES!  She struggled to take a picture in the dark seating area and gave up when she could not get it to work.  I was hyperventilating and I just kept telling her what a huge fan I am and how I am sorry for being obnoxious and bugging them.  I said, "oh I feel like I'm going to die" and she responded without missing a beat, "Don't die!" 

I am just proud of myself for not passing out at that point or wetting my pants or something equally embarrassing.  The sound of her voice alone was enough to put me into a daze.

Jonathan asked if we could take some pictures with her and she quickly and graciously made her way back into the aisle to indulge us.  We had very little time but we managed to get a picture of just me with her (a little blurry) and one of me and her and Jonathan. The best part about all of this is that she really could not have been nicer.  I imagine it must be annoying to have people bugging you all the time but she was kind and friendly.

Gwen (looking gorgeous as always), me, and Jonathan

We thanked her again and I again apologized (unnecessarily) for bothering them and we returned to our seats.  I thought I might cry, but I held it together and simply allowed myself to take in the moment.  Our fellow audience members in close proximity were congratulating me and asking to see my tattoo and they were just as excited as I was!  As the show began I remained in a daze and I was grateful I had already seen the show because there was no way I could pay attention.  The memories are a little blurry and I was slightly embarrassed about how I reacted and spoke to her, but I will never forget that moment.  The number one person in this world I have ever wanted to meet and I had the opportunity to just walk up and speak (stammer) to her.  

As we left the theater that evening I insisted that Jonathan wait for me to post the pictures on Facebook and I immediately sent a text message to my sister Mel who I knew would freak out too.  Once we reached the car I turned to Jonathan and I said, "I can die now."