Review: Crazy for You at Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre

Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre's production of Crazy for You is the perfect combination of dynamic dancing, slapstick comedy, and pure talent, all brought together with toe-tapping Gershwin music. Stand-out leads and a company full of never-ending energy are sure to impress as they sing and dance their way into the hearts of the audience.

The cast of Crazy for You at Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre lights up the stage with their vibrant dancing. (Photo courtesy of Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre)

When New York banker Bobby Child (played by Jake Delaney) heads to Deadrock, Nevada to foreclose on a run-down theatre, he finds himself instead trying to save the theatre and win the heart of the theatre owner's daughter, Polly Baker (played by Emily Grace Tucker). Delaney is quick to impress with his tap dancing skills, and Tucker charms the audience with her beautifully sweet voice. But what's even more noteworthy is that Delaney and Tucker both showcase an impressive trifecta of dancing, acting, and singing talent throughout the entire show.

Bobby's plan is to put on a show to raise money to pay off the theatre mortgage. But after Polly finds out that Bobby has been sent to foreclose on the theatre, she wants nothing to do with him. Desperate to prove his love to Polly and his true intentions to save the theatre, Bobby hatches a plan to disguise himself as well-known theatre owner Bela Zangler (played by Craig Smith). Smith plays a convincing Zangler and provides some of the show's best humor in his scene where he drunkenly stumbles into an also drunk Bobby, who is dressed as Zangler.

Speaking of humor, the show has plenty of it. With a book by Ken Ludwig, the show is full of jokes and witty one-liners. While some puns had me rolling my eyes, other moments had me laughing out loud. (And for a little musical theatre humor, fans of Les Miserables will enjoy a brief recreation of a certain well-known scene.)

Jake Delaney (left) and Craig Smith (right) are a comical duo as they mirror each other in a state of intoxication. (Photo courtesy of Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre)

Other characters in the show include Bobby's domineering fiance Irene (played by Millicent Hunnicutt), saloon owner Lank (played by Galloway Stevens), Bobby's rich and controlling mother Mrs. Lottie Child (played by Sherry Konjura), Polly's father Everett (played by Jim Johnson), the lead dancer of Zangler's Follies Tess (played by Ashley Rubin), the English guidebook-writing duo of Patricia and Eugene Fodor (played by Molly Tower and Connor McAndrews), and a handful of fun-loving cowboys and perky Follies girls.

With a talented company, the group numbers were a significant highlight of this show. The energetic and perfectly executed choreography (thanks to choreographer Samantha Hewes) made for show-stopping numbers like "Slap that Bass" and "I Got Rhythm." And the creative use of props during these songs made them even more entertaining. 

Company numbers, like "Slap That Bass" pictured here, showcased top-notch talent, entertainment, and choreography. (Photo courtesy of Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre)

If you're looking for an evening of Wild West showdowns, lively tap dancing, romantic twists, and feel good musical comedy, then you'll love this satisfying production of Crazy for You. Overall, I give this production 8 out of 10 standing ovations.

Crazy for You is playing at Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre now through November 8. For more details and ticket information, please visit the Dutch Apple website.

PRiMA Theatre to Present 'Rockin' Rodgers & Hammerstein'

ROCKIN’ RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN is a tip of the hat to America's song writing duo, with exciting new and contemporary arrangements of their classic songs. This theatrical concert-style cabaret experience will take place on Sunday, October 5 at 3pm and 7pm at the Trust Performing Arts Center (formerly the Lancaster Quilt Museum). The cast features performers from area theatres and is lead by Director Daniel Stargel and Music Director Andy Roberts.

“This is a great opportunity for those who grew up with the music of Rodgers & Hammerstein to hear the songs they love in fresh musical arrangements with a live band,” says PRiMA’s Executive Producer, Mitch Nugent.

Tickets are $22.00 for standard general admission tickets and $38.00 for premium tickets in prime, up-front seating. For groups of seven or more, premium tickets are available for 40% off at $23.00. Groups can make reservations by contacting the box-office at (717) 327-5124 or boxoffice@primatheatre.com.

The Trust building is located at 37 North Market Street in Lancaster City. An elevator, handicap accessible seating and restrooms are available at the venue. A drop-off location is available for buses and other vehicles directly outside the venue on Market Street. For paid groups of seven or more, complimentary tickets for bus drivers, event coordinators, PCAs or CNAs are available.

For a behind the scenes look at rehearsal for this production, check out this video:

For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit PRiMA Theatre's website.

Review: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (National Tour) at Hershey Theatre

Hershey Theatre opened their 2014-2015 Broadway season with the North American tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. This new version of the fun, family-friendly Andrew Lloyd Webber musical is one that will entertain people who have never seen it before while at the same time throwing in some surprises for those already familiar with it.

If you think you know this musical, think again. This production of Joseph has been given a modern makeover, using pop-sounding voices, video projection, hip clothing, and subtle twists on the familiar songs to give the show a very current look and sound. The creators gave this show just enough of an update to keep it fresh without taking away from the original production.

The cast is led by former American Idol contestants (and real-life husband and wife) Ace Young as Joseph and Diana DeGarmo as the Narrator. Their voices have more of a pop music sound to them, so fans of the original production and voices may take a while to warm up to this more modern sound. While they both delivered satisfactory performances, the highlight of their performing for me was their take on the prologue that they performed as a duet at the end of the show. The piece sounded like it could be a current hit on the radio right now, and my only complaint is that I can't find it anywhere to buy!

Brian Golub (Reuben) delivers a vocally impressive performance as he leads the cast in the comic song "One More Angel in Heaven." Ryan Williams also provides an entertaining performance in his role as Pharaoh. The remaining supporting cast members give adequate performances that aren't outstanding but are still good enough to pull off a solid production, and the ensemble blends well to provide a strong foundation.

DeGarmo and Young's rendition of the prologue isn't the only musical change. While all of the songs stay true to Lloyd Webber's orchestrations, several of them add very slight changes that make even a die-hard musical fan like myself wonder Was that part of the original song?. And some of the songs sound even more pop-rock than the originals, which fits in with the overall feel of the show.

In addition to Broadway-style songs like "Close Every Door," the music provides a variety of other styles, from the country hoedown-style "One More Angel in Heaven," to Calypso ("Benjamin Calypso"), and even a little Elvis ("Song of the King").

There is no dialog in the show, as the songs tell the story from beginning to end. The choreography is just as colorful as Joseph's coat, giving the actors a 90-minute dancing workout that flows from one song to the next.

While it lacks depth and overly impressive acting, the production as a whole is entertaining, colorful, and full of energy, with just the right amount of humor. If you're looking for a fun show that the whole family will enjoy, Joseph is a good bet.

Overall, I give this production 7 out of 10 standing ovations.

Joseph is playing at the Hershey Theatre now through September 28. For more information and to buy tickets, please visit the Hershey Theatre website. For more information on the production, plot, cast, and future tour locations, please visit the Joseph U.S. tour website.

Theatre Reviews: Row L Seat 1 Style

Have you ever left a theatre after seeing a show and thought, Wow, that was amazing! Or Holy cow that girl could sing! Or Ummm...what did I just waste my money on? Well, I think these kinds of thoughts every time a show ends. In fact, whoever I happen to be seeing the show with is (un?)lucky enough to hear all my thoughts after the show. But why stop at sharing my thoughts with only one or two people? My head is already about to explode with thoughts on every show I've ever seen, so why not put those thoughts out there for the world to see? Enter my theatre reviews.

As is the case with many blogs, reviews are a regular topic for Row L Seat 1. Whether you're interested in having me review a production or are just browsing for some info on a show you might want to see, here are four things to know about my theatre reviews.

1. They're honest. I love theatre and will see any show at least once; however, I realize that not everyone feels the same way about theatre. Not every person will enjoy every show. Even I don't enjoy every show that I see. My main goal when I review a show is to provide readers with information to decide whether or not they would enjoy the show. And if someone who wasn't planning to see a show reads my review of that show and thinks, "You know, that sounds like something I might like...I think I'll go see it," then my secondary goal is accomplished too! But if I'm not honest, I have no credibility. While there are definitely shows that I have nothing but great things to say about, one of the quickest ways to lose my readers' trust is for me to claim that everything in every show is wonderful. While I would love if this were true, it simply isn't. But please don't mistake honesty for negativity. I'm never mean in my reviews, and I always point out the great moments of the show. My reviews include honest information about what I liked, didn't like, and think other people would or wouldn't like about the show.

2. Every review is different. I don't have a set formula for writing a theatre review. I don't follow any rules or guidelines. After all, I'm a blogger, not a theatre reviewer for The New York Times (maybe someday?). Because every show is different, the way I approach a review is different for each show. Some of my reviews are longer, while others are shorter. Some have tons of pictures, while others have only one, or maybe even none. Some focus on the lead actor, while others focus on the supporting actor who should have been the lead actor. Sometimes I focus on the plot a lot, and other times I barely even mention it. Sometimes I tie my personal life into a review. I even had my 4-year-old son help me once with my review of Aladdin on Broadway. So really the sky is the limit. I'll make 100% sure readers know what I thought about a show...but switching up how I let readers know is part of what I enjoy about theatre blogging!

3. My reviews are my opinions. While I'm always honest with what I think about a show, I am expressing my opinions. And I realize that not everyone will agree with my opinions. Maybe the actor that I raved about in a review happens to be getting over a cold on the night that someone else sees the show, so maybe that actor doesn't perform quite as well that night. Or maybe some costumes that I thought were amazing, someone else thought were hideous. I always encourage readers to interact with me and share their own opinions, even if they disagree.

4. I want to help! I want to help people find shows that they will love. I want to help theatres connect with new and returning audience members. I want to help people discover how powerful and emotional theatre can be. I want to help outstanding actors receive more recognition for their talent and hard work. So how can I do this? In addition to writing the review itself, I share it on all of Row L Seat 1's social media sites as well. This includes the Row L Seat 1 Facebook page and the Row L Seat 1 Twitter page, and occasionally even my personal social media pages if it's a production I feel very strongly about. 

I keep an updated list of all my past reviews on my Theatre Review page, so feel free to check them out to see if there's a show you might enjoy or to get a better sense of my reviewing style. And if you're gearing up for a big production and looking for a little extra help getting the word out about it, consider a Row L Seat 1 theatre review! To request a review, just shoot me an email at kim@rowLseat1.com.