REVIEW — FOOTLOOSE THE MUSICAL
If you’re a fan of the original 1984 film, the story is intact. Our favorite characters live on in the hands of a very talented Broadway At Music Circus company.
Jacob Guzman does a brilliant job in the lead role, making his Broadway At Music Circus debut and infusing Ren McCormack with the same lovable goofiness and contagious energy that Keven Bacon did in the film. Guzman convinces the audience to fall in love with him during the show’s first number. Make sure you’re in your seat early so you don’t miss it.
Morgan Dudley is captivating as Ariel, Ren’s love interest, but she was almost overshadowed by Leanne Antonio, playing the role of Rusty and singing her heart out on “Let’s Hear It For The Boy.” She even hit Deniece Williams’ glass-shattering note at the song’s conclusion. I shouldn’t have been surprised to learn that Antonio is a University of Michigan alumna — Go Blue!
Other standouts were Nathaniel Stampley as Reverend Shaw Moore, the preacher poised to keep Ren and his buddies from easing on down the road. Moore’s singing voice pierces the heart (his and ours) on several songs written for the musical version of FOOTLOOSE, most notably the first act’s closer, “I’m Free / Heaven Help Me” and the reprise of “Can You Find It In Your Heart.”
That latter song is nailed earlier in the production by Christina Acosta Robinson. She’s a force of nature, having wow’d Broadway At Music Circus audiences during past productions of THE WIZ and THE COLOR PURPLE, during which she played Glinda and Shug Avery, respectively. Robinson’s Sacramento torrent continues with FOOTLOOSE.
Guzman’s and Dudley’s version of “Almost Paradise” was more beautiful than the one on the classic soundtrack. Simply gorgeous.
Of the songs that were written expressly for the musical version of FOOTLOOSE, “Mama Said” may have been my favorite.
“Mama said it doesn’t matter if you drive a hard bargain or drive around town / Once you drive up a mountain, you can’t back down!”
Grandma Coleman gave me a version of that advice, decades ago!
Early in last night’s show, the lights went up and we were herded toward the exits before the crew learned that excessive smoke effects had set off the UC Davis Health Pavilion’s fire alarm.
As the same thing happened during TINA: THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL at the SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center a few weeks ago, I’m beginning to think it’s either me or a newbie on smoke machine duty! Luckily, the show got back on track quickly and didn’t stop until the final “curtain.”
As I alluded to, we all sang and danced our way to our cars after the lights went up on this production last night. You should join us before the show closes on March 27.
Don’t be shy: go ahead, kick off your Sunday shoes, and get FOOTLOOSE!
Tickets for FOOTLOOSE THE MUSICAL are available at BroadwaySacramento.com.
Connect with freelance content creator Michael P Coleman at MichaelPColeman.com.
