Posts Tagged ‘carolyn leigh’

Fun Revised “Peter Pan” at the Fox Takes a New Look at a Familiar Classic

Posted in St Louis Theatre, USA Theatre, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on November 14, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Peter Pan
A Musical Based on the play by J. M. Barrie
Lyrics by Carolyn Leigh, Book by Morris (Moose) Charlap
Additional Lyrics by Betty Comden, Adolph Green, and Amanda Green
Additional Music by Jule Styne, Additonal Book by Larissa Fasthorse
Directed by Lonny Price
Choreographed by Lorin Latarro
The Fox Theatre
November 13, 2024

Nolan Almeida, Hawa Kamara
Photo by Matthew Murphy
Peter Pan US Tour

Peter Pan is a classic Broadway musical that has been filmed several times over the years. It has been a hit with audiences in the past, but parts of it have become dated over the years, and the latest production, featuring new additions to the book by Larissa Fasthorse and now on tour at the Fox, has worked to fix some of the problematic elements while retaining the overall spirit and classic story and score. This production, led by several dynamic performers and an energetic young lead, works well as a family favorite and a refreshing update in that, while it does make a few necessary changes, it’s still very recognizably Peter Pan.

One of the more obvious changes is apparent from the outset. The story still starts by introducing the Darling siblings–Wendy (Hawa Kamara), John (William Foon)–and Michael (Camden Kwok) and their harried parents (Shefali Deshpande as Mrs. Darling, Cody Garcia as Mr. Darling), but the setting is no longer Victorian England but the present day, and the dog Nanna has been replaced by a distracted human babysitter, Liza (Hannah Schmidt). This setup works surprisingly well, with the idea of youth vs. “growing up” being introduced in the children’s interests and Mr. Darling’s hyperfocus on his work. Soon, Peter Pan (Nolan Almeida) arrives, and the story plays out essentially as before, but with an elevated role for Tiger Lily (played at this performance by Bailey Frankenberg) and fellow Native American denizens of Neverland, who are given a brief but poignant backstory. There are also the orphaned Lost Boys, who follow Peter and are looking for a mother, and the vengeful Captain Hook (also Garcia), who leads a bumbling gang of pirates and hope to follow through on a personal grudge against Peter. As before, the story is full of humor, adventure, swashbuckling sword fights, and the classic score featuring familiar songs like “I Gotta Crow”, “I’m Flying”, “Distant Melody” and more, with a few additions including the lively “Friends Forever” for Peter and Tiger Lily and their followers, which is a welcome replacement for an outdated previous song.

The performances and staging are lively and energetic, with a charming performance from Almeida as the determinedly youthful Peter, and by Kamara as the resourceful Wendy, who has strong chemistry with Almeida as well as with the delightful young Foon and Kwok as her brothers. Frankenberg, filling in for principal Raye Zaragoza as Tiger Lily, is also excellent and a strong dancer. Garcia in a dual role as Mr. Darling and as the vain, scheming Captain Hook is hilarious and full of energy, supported in a fun comic performance by Kurt Perry as his First Mate, Smee. There’s also a delightful ensemble of Lost Boys, Pirates, and Tiger Lily’s tribe that provide much in the way of humor, enthusiasm, and athletic dancing choregraphed by Lorin Latarro. 

The production values are especially impressive and adaptable for a tour, with a versatile set by Anna Louizos that features some clever transitions, as well as thrilling projections designed by David Bengali and dynamic flying moments choreographed by Paul Rubin. There are also colorful costumes by Sarafina Bush, as well as striking lighting by Amith Chandrashaker. 

Overall, this Peter Pan is a lot of fun, with action, humor, and lots of heart. It’s a welcome and appropriately updated production that works well while keeping the essence of the story of the struggle between the desire to grow up fast and maintaining the adventure and freedom of youth. It’s an entertaining, tuneful and visually stunning treat for all ages. 

Cast of Peter Pan
Photo by Matthew Murphy
Peter Pan US Tour

The National Tour of Peter Pan is running at the Fox Theatre until November 24, 2024

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The Muny Dazzles with Dance in “Jerome Robbins’ Broadway”

Posted in St Louis Theatre, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on June 15, 2018| Leave a Comment »

Jerome Robbins’ Broadway
by James M. Barrie, Irving Berlin, Leonard Bernstein, Jerry Bock, Sammy Cahn,
Moose Charlap, Betty Comden, Larry Gelbart, Morton Gould, Adolph Green,
Oscar Hammerstein II, Sheldon Harnick, Arthur Laurents, Carolyn Leigh,
Stephen Longstreet, Hugh Martin, Jerome Robbins, Richard Rodgers,
Burt Shevelove, Stephen Sondheim, Joseph Stein, Jule Styne
Directed by Cynthia Onrubia
Additional Choreography by Harrison Beal, Dan Knechtges, Ralph Perkins
The Muny
June 11, 2018

Cast of Jerome Robbins’ Broadway
Photo: The Muny

The Muny’s 100th season is finally here, and it’s opening in grand style with a show that’s really several shows in one. The 1989 Tony Winner for Best Musical, Jerome Robbins’ Broadway pays tribute to a prolific director-choreographer from the Golden Age of Broadway in a production that, even though it has “Broadway” in the title, seems almost tailor-made for the Muny.

The Muny has traditionally been about big, large-cast musicals with spectacle and style, and that’s here in abundance with Jerome Robbins’ Broadway. It’s the first regional production of the show ever, apparently, and although it’s not exactly the same as the 1989 version, most of the songs are here, highlighting Robbins’ illustrious career and featuring some iconic numbers from classic shows, as well as some numbers from lesser-known shows. From On the Town, HIgh Button Shoes and Billion Dollar Baby to West Side Story, The King and I, Peter Pan, and Fiddler On the Roof, this show has a little bit of everything, dance-wise, from dramatic, ballet-influenced numbers, to jazz, to slapstick comedy, and more, staged with the usual big, bold, high-energy stage-filling style of the Muny.

There isn’t really a story here. It’s a revue, essentially, with Rob McClure as “The Setter” introducing the scenes. McClure, a Muny veteran and favorite performer, also plays several memorable roles in the production, including two roles from HIgh Button Shoes and the role of Tevye alongside Maggie Lakis as Golde in the excellent Fiddler sequence that features “Tradition”, “Tevye’s Dream”, “Sunrise, Sunset”, and the always thrilling wedding dance. There are many excellent moments here. In fact, there are so many highlights, it’s not easy to name them all. Among the standout routines is a thrilling rendition of “I’m Flying” from Peter Pan starring Sarah Marie Jenkins as a vibrant Peter Pan, along with Elizabeth Teeter as Wendy, Gabriel Cytron as Michael, and Cole Joyce as John. This sequence is particularly dazzling, with excellent flying effects by ZFX, Inc. and great use of the Muny’s electronic scenery wall. The ensemble is the star here, really, with energetic dancing from the more dramatic West Side Story moments to the high comedy of the “On a Sunday By the Sea” number from High Button Shoes. Another memorable sequence is the truly stunning dance number “Mr. Monotony” featuring powerful vocals from Muny veteran Jenny Powers and astounding dancing from Sean Rozanski, Alexa De Barr, and Garen Scribner, who also all turn in strong performances in the West Side Story sequence as Bernardo, Maria, and Tony respectively, alongside the equally excellent Davis Wayne as Riff and Tanairi Vazquez as Anita, along with an athletic, energetic ensemble of Jets and Sharks. There is so much here to see and enjoy, with Robbins’ routines recreated with an authentic look and feel, to the point where it seems for some moments as if the audience has traveled in time.

The production values here are also first-rate, with a stylish, colorful and versatile set by Paige Hathaway and remarkably authentic costume design by Robin L. McGee. There’s also excellent lighting design from John Lasiter, lending atmosphere and changing tones and moods to the various production numbers. There’s also great video design by Nathan W. Scheuer and wonderful music from the always excellent Muny Orchestra.

This is an old-school musical revue with lots of energy and a big cast to fill out the enormous Muny stage. Jerome Robbins’ Broadway is a collection of numbers that serves as an ideal first show for the Muny’s 100th season. It’s a retrospective, but also a celebration of musical theatre’s past as the Muny prepares to move into the future. It’s a dazzling start to a long-awaited season in Forest Park.

West Side Story Dancers
Photo: The Muny

The Muny is presenting Jerome Robbins’ Broadway in Forest Park until June 17, 2018.

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