Posts Tagged ‘sara rae womack’

SDT’s Energetic “9 to 5” Highlights Nostalgia, Enthusiastic Cast

Posted in St Louis Theatre, tagged , , , , , , , , , on April 8, 2026| Leave a Comment »

9 to 5 the Musical
Music and Lyrics by Dolly Parton, Book by Patricia Resnick
Directed by Justin Been
Choreographed by Michelle Sauer and Sara Rae Womack
Stray Dog Theatre
April 4, 2026

Mara Bollini, Sarah Polizzi, Janelle Gilreath Owens and Cast
Photo: Stray Dog Theatre

I’m still not convinced 9 to 5 needed to be a musical. A hit comedy film from 1980 featuring the talents of Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, and Dolly Parton, the story was brought to the stage seemingly as a reason for the beloved Parton to write a musical score. And the score is probably the best part of 9 to 5 the musical, which also gets to serve as the showcase for its cast and especially the three leads, who are are notably excellent in Stray Dog Theatre’s latest production, directed by Justin Been. Still, the script doesn’t land quite the way the movie’s did (even though it’s written by the same author), although SDT’s cast and crew certainly try their best, and make for a crowd-pleasing production. 

I saw this show a few years ago, in a well-produced version from another local theatre company, and while I enjoyed it, for the most part, it didn’t make a strong case for why this show needs to exist in the first place. My thoughts about SDT’s production are along the same lines, although the cast and production values are certainly energetic and bring out much of the comedy of the piece. There are even featured video segments featuring Dolly Parton herself that add to the nostalgic air that seems to be the aim of the show now that its setting is almost 50 years in the past. There’s a vibrant production design featuring a colorful and versatile set by Rob Lippert, memorable costumes by Colleen Michelson and wigs by Sarah Gene Dowling, eye-catching lighting by Tyler Duenow and projections by Justin Been, energetic choreography by Michelle Sauer and Sara Rae Womack, and a fantastic band led by music director Mal Golden. Still, the overall impact of the show is different now, taking a lot of the “bite” out of the sharp satire from the film and playing out more as a “remember when” sort of story that majors on nostalgia, although the overall story majors on women who struggle to be taken seriously in the workplace and male co-workers who are largely sexist ogres, especially the boss, the selfish and scheming Franklin Hart (Joel Garrett Brown).

The story is mostly the same as the film, following three different women–longtime employee and management candidate Violet Newstead (Jennelle Gilreath Owens), “Backwoods Barbie” secretary and object of the boss’s lust Doralee Rhodes (Sarah Polizzi), and recent divorcee and workforce newbie Judy Bernly (Mara Bollini), who all have their various difficulties trying to succeed at their company, Consolidated. Among the obstacles is the obnoxious Hart along with his lovestruck assistant Roz (Laura Lee Kyro) and the general “boys club” office environment. There’s also an added love interest for Violet named Joe (Cole Guttman) who works in accounting and turns up from time to time, but isn’t given a lot to do. The plot essentially follows the film’s story, but with singing, dancing, and production numbers. 

The cast is strong, especially for the three leads. Owens projects the right degree of determination and competence as Violet, Bollini is especially adept at the comedy as the gutsy but green Judy, and Polizzi excels at playing a “Dolly Parton-type” without expressly imitating Parton. There’s also a memorable turn from Kyro as the lovesick Roz, who comes across as somewhat pathetic here, especially considering how sleazy Hart is, played with energy by Brown. There are fine turns by Josh Heffernan as Doralee’s devoted husband Dwayne and Gutmann making the most of an underwritten role as Joe. There’s also an enthusiastic ensemble who make the most of the energetically choreographed production numbers starting with the well-known title song. 

9 to 5 was a hit film, and the musical received mixed reviews on Broadway. It’s certainly a crowd-pleaser, and a showcase for Parton’s music and the well-cast three leads at Stray Dog Theatre. It has its fun moments, but it still doesn’t convince me that this movie needed to be a stage musical. Still the cast and crew make the most of this larger-than-life nostalgia fest. Especially if you’re a fan of the film, it’s worth checking out. 

Cast of 9 to 5 the Musical
Photo: Stray Dog Theatre

Stray Dog Theatre is presenting 9 to 5 the Musical at Tower Grove Abbey until April 25, 2026

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Stellar Cast Flies High in SDT’s Poignant, Visually Impressive “Superhero”

Posted in St Louis Theatre, tagged , , , , , , , , on December 11, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Superhero
Music and Lyrics by Tom Kitt, Book by John Logan
Directed by Justin Been
Choreographed by Sara Rae Womack
Stray Dog Theatre
December 4, 2025

Jabari Boykin
Photo: Stray Dog Theatre

Superhero is a musical by celebrated composer Tom Kitt and playwright John Logan that played a short Off-Broadway run in 2019. Now, Stray Dog Theatre is taking this lesser-known show and giving it an entertaining staging at its Tower Grove Abbey venue that seems just the right size for this small-but-memorable show about relationships, love, loss, and superpowers. Although the show itself isn’t perfect, under the direction of Justin Been and featuring a terrific cast and impressive effects, it’s flying high and packing a strong emotional punch.

The story follows teenage aspiring comic artist Simon (Jabari Boykin) and his mother, college English professor Charlotte (Sarah Gene Dowling), who are both still dealing in their own ways with grief two years after the death of husband-and-father Mitch in a tragic accident. Living in a city apartment that they moved to after the accident, Simon is still struggling to find his place at his school and in the neighborhood, and spends much of his time drawing and writing comic book stories–a love of which he shared with his late father. Meanwhile, Charlotte is dealing with career struggles as well as a new flirtation with mysterious neighbor Jim (Aaron Fischer), who Simon suspects of being more than a simple bus driver. Simon is clearly wanting a father figure, as well, and encourages the relationship between Charlotte and Jim, even though both adults have their reservations despite their mutual attraction.  He also has a crush on classmate Vee (Lindsey Grojean), agreeing to work with her on a project for school. As the story goes on, secrets are revealed, relationships are challenged, and grief is explored as the tale builds to a dramatic, ultimately poignant conclusion.

The story itself is intriguing, and the cast is first-rate, but the structure has some issues, especially in that the tension takes a little too long to come to a peak, to the point where it seems like there’s almost too much drama all at once, with not much time to come down to earth and reflect on the lessons learned. 

Still, the characters are engaging, especially as led here by the impressively talented young Boykin and SDT veteran Dowling, who are both fantastic and believable as a mother-son pair. Both have strong voices as well, and carry much of the dramatic weight with strong, believable portrayals. Fischer is also strong as the conflicted, mysterious Jim, who has memorable moments with both Charlotte and Simon. Grojean as Vee is also likable and memorable, and there’s a strong turn from Todd Garten as sympathetic landlord Vic, with good support from Justin Bouckaert, Kevin Hester, and Maggie Nold in smaller roles. The score has echoes of Kitt’s well-known other work, Next to Normal, as well as a bit of an homage to John Williams’s iconic Superman film score, and a few standout songs well-sung by the excellent cast.

The visual world of this production is achieved with expert creativity and flair by means of Rob Lippert’s multi-level life-meets-comic-book set and Justin Been’s truly stunning projections that are enhanced by Tyler Duenow’s lighting to achieve a more comic book look at key moments. The special effects are out of this world, as well, and Colleen Michelson’s costumes suit the characters well and fit perfectly into the well-realized world of the show. There’s also an excellent band led by music director/keyboardist Mallory Golden.

Superhero is, for the most part, a thoroughly absorbing musical and emotional adventure. Its especially strong cast is a particular highlight. For comic book fans, or for anyone interested in checking out a newer show that you may not have heard of, this is an excellent opportunity. 

Sarah Gene Dowling, Aaron Fischer
Photo: Stray Dog Theatre

Stray Dog Theatre is presenting Superhero at Tower Grove Abbey until December 20, 2025

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SDT’s “Ruthless” Satire of Old Hollywood is a Hilarious Hit

Posted in St Louis Theatre, tagged , , , , , , , , on August 8, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Ruthless!
Book and Lyrics by Joel Paley, Music by Marvin Laird
Directed by Justin Been
Choreographed by Sara Rae Womack
Stray Dog Theatre
August 2, 2024

Sarah Gene Dowling, Finley Mohr, Sarajane Clark
Photo by John Lamb
Stray Dog Theatre

Ruthless! is an apt title for the latest production from Stray Dog Theatre. A combination send-up/tribute to “Old Hollywood” and showbusiness in general, the show debuted off-Broadway in 1992 and become something of a cult favorite. In the hands of director Justin Been and an enthusiastic, talented cast, this show becomes an especially hilarious camp-fest, although I think it helps to be at least somewhat familiar with the material and genres that inform this musical.

At the heart of Ruthless! is an affectionate parody of various “Old Hollywood” and showbiz tropes, and more specifically stories like All About Eve, Gypsy, The Bad Seed, and Inside Daisy Clover. The story follows child prodigy Tina Denmark (Finley Mohr), whose mother, Judy (Sarah Gene Dowling) loves and supports, although she herself doesn’t know where her daughter would have gotten her talent, considering Judy herself sees herself as an untalented “typical” suburban housewife. Suddenly, the mysterious and ambitious talent agent Sylvia St. Croix (Sarajane Clark) appears, determined to make Tina a star. For Tina, however, stardom begins with getting the lead role in her school production of a Pippi Longstocking musical that was written and directed by her frustrated third grade teacher Miss Thorn (Anna Langdon), who once had Broadway ambitions of her own. When fellow student Louise Lerman (Sarah Lantsberger)–whose wealthy parents are bankrolling the show–threatens to get in the way of Tina’s ambitions, the story takes an even darker turn, and that’s only Act 1. Act 2 carries the saga to even greater, and campier, heights of raw ambition, complicated parent-child relationships, and power struggles as the show speeds up the pace on the way to living up to its title in frenetic, darkly hilarious fashion.

While the first act can be a little slow at times, the players give memorable and committed performances, led by Dowling in a versatile turn as the initially upbeat but conflicted Judy, who later undergoes a somewhat radical transformation. Clark is also fantastic as the mysterious, haughty Sylvia, and young Mohr is a delightfully disturbing blend of perky and (dare I say?) ruthless as Tina. There’s also a scene-stealing performance from Laura Kyro as Judy’s adoptive mother, theatre critic Lita Encore, who will not let anyone forget that she hates musicals. Langdon also has excellent moments as Miss Thorn, and Lantsberger offers strong, amusing support in a dual role as Louise Lerman and as Judy’s assistant “Eve” in Act 2. It’s a cohesive cast, and the chemistry between Dowling, Clark, and Mohr is especially memorable, with a ferocity that adds to the overall dark-comic atmosphere of this production. 

The look of this show is a well-realized mid-century marvel, as well, with an effective set by Rob Lippert and marvelous costumes by Colleen Michelson that add to the overall classic showbiz look. There’s also strong work from lighting designer Tyler Duenow and sound designer Been. The small band, led by music director Randon Lane, adds much to the overall sound of the catchy score and lending able support to the excellent singing.

Another fun touch in this show is all the references to the shows and films it’s parodying, which is another reason it’s helpful to be familiar with a lot of those stories. While it does have it’s slow moments, Ruthless! is, for the most part, a whole lot of fun. If you’re looking for a campy, fiercely dark showbiz musical with the glamour of the “old days’ and energetic performances, SDT’s current production is a good place to go.

Sarajane Clark, Sarah Gene Dowling, Laura Kyro
Photo by John Lamb
Stray Dog Theatre

Stray Dog Theatre is presenting Ruthless! at Tower Grove Abbey until August 24, 2024

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“Head Over Heels” is Tuneful, Whimsical Fun at New Line

Posted in St Louis Theatre, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on March 10, 2020| Leave a Comment »

Head Over Heels
Songs by The Go-Go’s
Based on The Arcadia by Sir Philip Sidney
Conceived and Original Book by Jeff Whitty
Adapted by James Magruder, Music Arranged by Tom Kitt
Directed by Scott Miller and Mike Dowdy-Windsor
Choreographed by Michelle Sauer and Sara Rae Womack
New Line Theatre
March 6, 2020

Michelle Sauer, Sara Rae Womack, Alyssa Wolf, Grace Langford
Photo by Jill Ritter Lindberg
New Line Theatre

New Line Theatre continues its tradition of offbeat hits with its latest production of Head Over Heels. Essentially a “jukebox musical” featuring music by pop group The Go-Go’s, this show show incorporates its musical catalog in a clever, crowd-pleasing way that’s more about telling a whimsical story inspired by classic literature and an ancient Greek setting than being a simple tribute to its musical source. It also provides a great opportunity for an excellent cast to showcase their talents as well as a great deal of energy and enthusiasm.

The plot can get convoluted at times, as a lot is going on here, but it’s a lot of fun, and the occasional confusion is part of the enjoyment. At first, in the kingdom of Arcadia, there are a lot of conflicting goals and motives. The King, Basilius (Zachary Allen Farmer) and Queen, Gynecia (Carrie Wenos Priesmeyer) have two daughters with romantic dilemmas. Younger daughter Philoclea (Melissa Felps) is in love with a rustic shepherd, Musidorus (Clayton Humburg), of whom her father does not approve. Meanwhile, the King is doubling his efforts to find an acceptable suitor for his elder daughter Pamela (Grace Langford), who isn’t interested in any of the men presented, and initially seems to be more in love with herself than anyone else. When the King and his attendant Dametas (Aaron Allen) go to visit the mysterious Oracle Pythio (Tiélere Cheatem), the oracle tells them of a four-fold prophecy which will lead to Arcadia’s losing its “Beat”. The king, determined to foil the prophecy, takes his people on a seemingly aimless journey, where eventually truths are revealed, lies are exposed, and there are a lot of whimsical twists and turns involving the King, Queen, Princesses, the Oracle, Dametas and his daughter, Pamela’s handmaid Mopsa (Jaclyn Amber), and more. 

Don’t think you have to be a fan of the Go-Go’s to enjoy this show. The group has always been more on the periphery of my musical interests, and I wasn’t extremely familiar with their songs beyond their bigger radio hits. Still, this show uses the songs well, and in a setting that might not seem an obvious one for these tunes. Everything from the rousing opening number “We Got the Beat” to other hits such as “Vacation”, “Our Lips Are Sealed”, and “Heaven is a Place on Earth” is used in an inventive way that contributes to the story. Especially notable is the fun, cleverly staged “Mad About You”, sung by Musidorus and a chorus of puppet sheep, staged in a hilarious, energetic way that makes it a highlight of the production. There is a message here, of accepting and encouraging change and not being bound to tradition simply for tradition’s sake, as well as some perspectives on challenging traditional gender norms and stereotypes, and everything is integrated into the story so that it fits the characters and situations well. Most of all, though, it’s a fun show with a lot of broad comedy and catchy, well-utilized pop tunes that serve the setting surprisingly well, even with the dialogue that’s more Elizabethan-sounding for the most part.

As is to be expected at New Line, the casting is strong, and the singing is especially impressive. Everyone from the leads to the ensemble puts in a winning, energetic performance, with standouts being Langford and Felps as the sisters who are at once different and not-so-different;  Humburg as the lovesick Musidorus, who through the course of the story has to change his appearance in a way that drives a lot of the plot; and Amber as the loyal, determined Mopsa, who both challenges and inspires Pamela. Farmer and Priesmeyer are excellent as the King and Queen, as well, as is Cheatem in a dynamic performance as the oracle Pythio. The chemistry among all the couples is strong, as well, as is the spirit and enthusiasm of the ensemble. There’s some especially clever staging here by directors Scott Miller and Mike Dowdy-Windsor, and choreography by Michelle Sauer and Sara Rae Womack, along with a great band led by music director Nicolas Valdez.

The presentation here is colorful and whimsical, with Rob Lippert’s classically inspired set serving as an ideal backdrop for the action. There are also bright, striking costumes by Courtney Gibson and Sarah Porter that add to the overall tone of the show nicely. Also lending to the overall atmosphere is Kenneth Zinkl’s dazzling lighting. Overall, the look and feel of this production is in keeping with the catchy, bright pop score and the general comic tone that blends the classical and the modern in a cleverly inventive way.

Head Over Heels is another example of one of those shows that seems to fit better in a smaller setting like New Line than on Broadway. Staged at New Line’s home base, the Marcelle Theatre, this show makes the most of the space and the closeness to the audience, who are seated on either side of the performance area here. It’s a fun, colorful, energetic and thoroughly winning production that marks another success for New Line Theatre.

Clayton Humburg and Cast
Photo by Jill Ritter Lindberg
New Line Theatre

New Line Theatre is presenting Head Over Heels at the Marcelle Theatre until March 28, 2020

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New Line’s Memorable “Be More Chill” Tells an Old Story For a New Generation

Posted in St Louis Theatre, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on June 9, 2019| Leave a Comment »

Be More Chill
Music and Lyrics by Joe Iconis
Book by Joe Tracz, based on the novel by Ned Vizzini
Orchestrations by Charlie Rosen
Directed by Mike Dowdy-Windsor and Scott Miller
Choreographed by Michelle Sauer and Sara Rae Womack
New Line Theatre
June 1, 2019

Cast of Be More Chill
Photo by Jill Ritter Lindberg
New Line Theatre

I brought my son with me to see Be More Chill at New Line Theatre. It’s not the first show I’ve brought him to, or even the first New Line show, but this time, the reason was a little different. This is a show that I’ve seen highly polarizing reactions to, largely on generational lines, so I thought my 19-year-old son might offer a younger perspective that would be helpful. Watching the show together–and talking about it afterwards–was a valuable experience, although from both of our perspectives, the show wasn’t particularly polarizing since we were largely in agreement. For the most part, this is an entertaining show with the great cast, production values, and musicality that I’ve come to expect from New Line. It offers a fun take on old themes, although aside from the packaging there isn’t much “new” about it.

Be More Chill itself has been something of a sensation in its pre-Broadway incarnations, and its current Broadway run is a reflection of that popularity. It has obviously struck a chord with its audiences, and New Line’s production is about as well-presented as I could imagine, although as a show I see it as essentially derivative and–like a lot of the other popular “teen” stories–not particularly reflective of my high school experience (or my son’s 30 years later). There are definitely relatable aspects, but there’s not much here that hasn’t been done before, and better. Still, it may not be revolutionary, but it’s a fun show, with some memorable songs and characters, including protagonist Jeremy (Jayde Mitchell), his longsuffering best friend Michael (Kevin Corpuz), bullying popular kid Rich (Evan Fornachon), and Jeremy’s crush, theatre geek Christine (Grace Langford), who develops an interest in Rich’s buddy Jake (Ian McCreary), who used to date popular girl Chloe (Laura Renfro). Everyone’s life is eventually affected when Rich tells Jeremy about a secret technological advance that can help him be “cool” and get whatever he wants, including Christine. The “Squip”–a microchip that is swallowed as a pill and activated by Mountain Dew–manifests itself to Jeremy in a form (played by Dominic Dowdy-Windsor) that resembles Laurence Fishburne from The Matrix and grows more commanding and demanding as the story plays out.

This story is one that’s been told many times before in various forms. It’s a high school “outsider strives to be popular and learns the price of conformity” tale that represents high school in a way that hasn’t changed much since the teen comedy-dramas that were so popular when I was a teenager in the 1980s, except for changes in clothing and music styles and pop culture references. In fact, the themes go back even further than the 1980s, to the 1950s and possibly even earlier than that. One thing this show does well, though, is recognize its influences and celebrate them, from nods to Bye Bye Birdie and other pop culture phenomena through the ages, to those various teen movies that paint high school as a struggle between cliques and outsiders. It also features a Faustian angle and a sci-fi twist that calls to mind a gentler Little Shop of Horrors and directly references another iconic influence, The Matrix.

The staging at New Line is eye-catching, with a versatile, colorful set and excellent atmospheric lighting by Rob Lippert. Sarah Porter’s costumes are also memorable, reflecting the various personalities of the characters and sci-fi angle as well. There’s also an excellent New Line Band conducted by keyboardist Marc Vincent and strong musical direction by Nicolas Valdez. The choreography by Michelle Sauer and Sara Rae Womack is lively and energetic as well, reflecting the pop-rock based score well.

The performances here are the show’s strongest asset, with Mitchell and Corpuz making a believable team as Jeremy and Michael. Corpuz is especially notable for his sympathetic portrayal as Michael questions Jeremy’s treatment as Jeremy falls more and more under the influence of the Squip. Corpuz also gets the show’s most famous song, the catchy, angsty “Michael in the Bathroom” and he makes the most of it, with a dynamic, excellently sung performance. Dowdy-Windsor is also a standout as the stylish, demanding Squip, and Zachary Allen Farmer impresses in several roles, including an apathetic drama teacher and, especially, as Jeremy’s Dad, who has his musical moment with the show’s funniest song, “The Pants Song”. There are also memorable performances from Fornachon as the conflicted Rich, Langford as the earnest Christine, Renfro as “mean girl” Chloe and Melissa Felps as Chloe’s neglected friend Brooke, who develops an interest in Jeremy. It’s a strong, cohesive cast with a lot of energy and enthusiasm and, as is usual for New Line, especially strong singing.

Be More Chill may not be the best “teen” show I’ve seen, but as staged at New Line, it’s a lot of fun. It’s also a great show for people of different generations to watch together, and talk about. It became the catalyst for some meaningful conversations between me and my son. Also, since this is such a highly talked-about show, this production gives St. Louisans an ideal opportunity to see what so many people are talking about. Considering New Line’s size and scale, it may even be a better venue than Broadway for this particular show. It’s a memorable way to close another excellent season at New Line.

Special thanks to my son, John Kenyon, for thoughtful conversations that contributed to this review.

Jayde Mitchell, Kevin Corpuz
Photo by Jill Ritter Lindberg
New Line Theatre

New Line Theatre is presenting Be More Chill at the Marcelle Theatre until June 22, 2019

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New Line’s “Anything Goes” Is a Thoughtful, Funny Take on a Classic

Posted in St Louis Theatre, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 8, 2018| Leave a Comment »

Anything Goes
Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter
Book by Guy Bolton, P.G. Wodehouse, Howard Lindsay, and Russel Crouse
Directed by Scott Miller and Mike Dowdy-Windsor
Choreographed by Michelle Sauer and Sara Rae Womack
New Line Theatre
March 2, 2018

Sarah Gene Dowling, Evan Fornachon, Aaron Allen
Photo by Jill Ritter Lindberg
New Line Theatre

Anything Goes is Anything Goes no matter who produces it, right? Well, maybe not. New Line Theatre, known for its productions of edgier and lesser known shows, has taken this classic, “fun” show and given it a presentation that’s in several ways different than what’s come to be expected as usual. There’s an emphasis on satire and less of an emphasis on dance than other productions I’ve seen, but still, it’s Anything Goes, and the overall effect is energetic, smart, and very very funny.

This is a version of the show I haven’t seen on stage before. Most more recent regional productions, and also the 2011 Broadway revival, have been based on the 1987 revival script of the show. For this production, directors Scott Miller and Mike Dowdy-Windsor are using the 1962 script of the show, which has the same basic characters and plot as the later revival, but with some differences in specifics and in the songs featured, and also in the prominence of some characters. While evangelist-turned-nightclub singer Reno Sweeney (Sarah Porter) is still a major focus, as is Billy Crocker (Evan Fornachon), the overworked stockbroker in love with young debutante Hope Harcourt (Eileen Engel), and “Public Enemy #13” Moonface Martin (Aaron Allen), but that focus is shifted a little, and through a combination of the different script and New Line’s intuitive directing, we get to see a somewhat different look at these characters, as well as others such as Hope’s seemingly stuffy English fiance, Sir Evelyn Oakleigh (Zachary Allen Farmer), and Moonface’s partner-in-crime, the brash, flirtatious Bonnie (Sarah Gene Dowling), who was renamed “Erma” in the 1987 version. The focus on dance isn’t quite a prominent here either, but what’s there is still spectacular, along with the ever-present broad, sketch-style comedy, which is perhaps even apparent so than in the other version. Here at New Line, what we get to see is a sharp, witty, tuneful, and well-cast production that’s a delight from start to finish.

New Line artistic director and Anything Goes co-director Scott Miller mentions in his director’s notes in the program the timeliness of this show. Many of the themes, he notes, are just as prominent today as they were in the 1930s, when this show was orginally written, and the time period in which it sill takes place. The show at New Line isn’t as big as other productions I’ve seen, but, especially in terms of costumes (designed by Colene Fornachon and Sarah Porter), it’s as glam and glitzy as anyone would expect. With the sumptuous evening gowns, dapper suits, and varous nautical and gangster attire, the spirit of the 1930s has been brought to the stage well. Rob Lippert’s excellent unit set, representing the luxury ocean liner on which the action takes place, is also on point, as is his equally effective lighting. There’s also great work from the excellent New Line band, doing justice to the marvelous Cole Porter score and outfitted in sailor hats in accordance with the theme of the show, ably led by Music Director and “captain” Nicolas Valdez.

The cast here is a treat, led by the always excellent Porter as the brassy, bold, and also surprisingly vulnerable Reno Sweeney, with standout moments such as the solo “I Get a Kick Out of You”, production numbers “Anything Goes” and “Bow, Gabriel, Blow”, and a fun bit of harmonizing with co-stars Fornachon and Allen in “Friendship”. Her scenes with the wonderful Farmer as the initially jaded, bewildered, and ultimately endearing Sir Evelyn are especially engaging. There’s also top-notch work from Dowling in a scene-stealing performance as Bonnie, and from Allen in an impressive comic term as Moonface, the small-time crook who wishes he were big-time. Fornachon and Engel make a good pair as Billy and Hope, as well, with great duets on “It’s De-Lovely” and “All Through the Night”. Reno is well-supported by her “Angels” Purity (Michelle Sauer), Chastity (Larissa White), Charity (Alyssa Wolf), and Virtue (Sara Rae Womack), and there are also hilarious supporting performances from Kimmie Kidd-Booker as Hope’s mother, Evangeline Harcourt, and Jeffrey M. Wright as Billy’s on-again, off-again boss, Elisha J. Whitney. There’s also a strong ensemble in support. The usually excellent New Line singing is there, of course, joined by impressive, energetic dancing as well.

This is a slightly different Anything Goes than you may be used to, but that’s a good thing. It’s a fresh look at an older show, with a bright, memorable score of hits by a legendary composer, as well as delightful moments of broad comedy and some pointed satirical touches. And the cast is great, as well. It might not be the type of show one might expect from New Line, but the level of excellence is certainly on par with New Line’s best. It’s refreshing, bold, and lots of fun.

Sarah Porter, Zachary Allen Farmer, Eileen Engel
Photo by Jill Ritter Lindberg
New Line Theatre

New Line Theatre is presenting Anything Goes at the Marcelle Theatre until March 24, 2018.

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