Displaying items by tag: William Carlos Angulo

It’s time to go back to high school – for a couple hours anyway – and the year is 1959. The time for slicked back hair with full-on pompadours, bobby socks with pleated knee length skirts and hanging out at the malt shop have once again returned as Marriott Theatre has begun 2020 on a strong note bringing the classic rock and roll musical ‘Grease’ to the stage. And though maybe not quite the R-rated, profanity-laced production that first hit Chicago when it was initially produced in 1971 by the Kingston Mines Theater Company in Chicago, there is still enough teenage-driven attitude, raunchiness and high school spirit to successfully deliver the spirit of the original. 

The story, which is based on co-writer and co-composer Jim Jacobs’ own experiences at Taft High School in Norwood Park, takes place at ‘Rydell High,’ walks us through the senior year of a handful of colorful characters. Greaser Danny Zuko (Jimmy Nicholas) returns after summer break to lead the T-Birds while, at the same time, Sandy Dumbrowski (Leryn Turlington) is just getting her feet wet at Rydell, a brand-new student whose family just moved to the area. It turns out the two had a relationship over the summer while on vacation, but their stories couldn’t be more different. While too-cool-for-school Danny tells a more vulgar description to impress the gang where the two were “getting friendly down in the sand,” Sandy, intercepted by the Pink Ladies led by tough and sassy Betty Rizzo (Jacquelyne Jones) a.k.a. “Rizzo,” tells the girls a wholesome version more along the lines of meeting a cute boy, holding hands, having lemonade and staying out until 10 o’clock. Thus, explained to perfection in the show’s second number “Summer Nights”.   

Not long after, the two are beyond surprised to find out they are attending the same school, but Danny’s cool image that he holds so dearly might just get in the way of rekindling any kind of romance they once had. While centering on Danny and Sandy, ‘Grease’ also keeps us busy with plenty of T-Birds and Pink Ladies action. Danny’s second in command, Kenickie (Kevin Corbett) is building a hot rod the fellas call “Greased Lightning”. It’s a hunk of junk, but he can dream. T-Birds Sonny LaTierri (Jack Cahill-Lemme), Roger (Jake Elkins) and Doody (Michael Kuroswki) cause trouble whenever they can, talk about rumbling with other gangs (they don’t) and just love to horse around any chance they get. 

The Rizzo-led Pink Ladies take Sandy in. She’s far too squeaky clean for their taste but maybe a pajama party with booze, cigarettes and ear-piercings might loosen her up. Frenchy (Landree Fleming) wants to be a beautician and drops out of high school, Marty (Michaelle Lauto) crushes on TV dance host Vince Fontaine (Curt Bouril) and Jan (Tiffany Taylor) has the hots for Roger, a T-Bird who really loves mooning people. 

There are plenty of ups and downs along the way for these seniors and plenty of unforgettable moments take place. Director Scott Weinstein not only does a fantastic job at staging this production in the round, he gives the audience what we want most of all – a nearly flawless recreation of the hit show so many of us grew up with. William Carlos Angulo beautifully choreographs the dance numbers to Ryan T. Nelson’s musical direction, particularly in “Greased Lightnin’” and “Born to Hand Jive” and the casting is just superb. Jimmy Nicholas brings the looks, the cool and the comedic timing to pull off an admirable Danny Zuko, while Leryn Turlington delivers the sweetness and innocence (and toughness at times) needed to play Sandy. Turlington also impresses vocally, especially in the key number “Hopelessly Devoted to You”. As good as Nicholas is as Danny, you can’t have a convincing leader of the T-Birds without strong support from his gang and Corbett, Cahill-Lemme, Elkins and Kurowski are simply terrific. Each have plenty of their own moments to shine, but when together, it’s not hard to imagine these goofballs being the best of friends.

Equally impressive is the chemistry and individual acting chops of our Pink Ladies. While Jones truly does stand out in this production (her rendition of “There are Worse Things I Could Do” – wow!), Fleming has plenty of laugh out loud moments as Frenchy while Lauto and Taylor have their own scene-stealing moments. 

Garrett Lutz also makes a funny Eugene and Kelly Anne Clarke is solid as Miss Lynch, but it is Jonathan Butler-Duplessis as Teen Angel who, though not as featured as the rest of the cast, might just leave the audience with the biggest impression of all after his show-stopping performance of “Beauty School Dropout”. 

‘Grease’ is a hit for good reason. What took off from a small Chicago theater company, made its mark on Broadway (16th longest run in history) and inspired a 1978 mega-hit starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton John, has now become an iconic part of pop culture. It is a story that so many of us can relate to, no matter when we went to high school.  From real teenage moments and hysterical antics throughout from the show’s many lively characters to well-executed song and dance numbers that keep your toes tapping, Marriott Theatre’s ‘Grease’ successfully keeps the classic musical alive in their own unique way while holding onto the integrity of the show. 

The arsenal of great songs is plenty and includes such familiar tracks as “We Go Together,” “You’re the One the I Want,” “Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee” and “Alone at a Drive-In Movie.” 

Highly recommended for those who enjoy laughing and listening to catchy music. 

‘Grease’ is being performed at Marriott Theatre through March 15th. For tickets and/or more show information, visit www.MarriottTheatre.com. 

I had a blast enjoying this production of ‘Footloose the Musical’ based on the 1984 movie starring Kevin Bacon and so did the opening night audience who roared their approval and stopped the show after the rousing rendition by Ariel played with real sass and excitement  by Lucy Godinez of "Holding out for a Hero." I had a blast enjoying this production of ‘Footloose the Musical’ based on the 1984 movie starring Kevin Bacon and so did the opening night audience who roared their approval and stopped the show after the rousing rendition by Ariel played with real sass and excitement  by Lucy Godinez of "Holding out for a Hero." 

Where have all the good men gone

And where are all the gods?

Where's the streetwise Hercules to fight the rising odds?

Isn't there a white knight upon a fiery steed?

Late at night I toss and I turn

And I dream of what I need

I need a hero 

I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night

He's gotta be strong

And he's gotta be fastAnd he's gotta be fresh from the fight

I need a hero

I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light

He's gotta be sure

And it's gotta be soon

And he's gotta be larger than life!

Larger than life

Somewhere after midnight

In my wildest fantasy

Somewhere just beyond my reach

There's someone reaching back for me

Racing on the thunder and rising with the hea

tIt's gonna take a superman to sweep me off my feet

This production of Footloose the Musical directed with fantastic energy and humorous insight by Gary Griffin is the PERFECT show to see right now for young and old alike because it is all about real love and communication and doing the right thing in your own hometown even if there is opposition on all sides. 

The surface storyline is about a small town whose church leaders have banned dancing following a fatal car crash following a school dance.

  
Of course, the show is about dancing and there is AMAZING dancing choreographed with great sexiness and joy by William Carlos Angulo throughout this show. 

Aidan Wharton plays Ren, the kid who comes from Chicago and creates a stir throughout the town when he lobbies for the right to dance. With wonderful unabashed enthusiasm and a skilled dancer, Wharton is an even better dancer than he is a singer and that's okay because this show needs Ren to be a super-natural standout on the dance floor. 

This show is all about teenagers falling in love and dancing and being footloose and fancy free for the first time in a long time. In small towns when this play took place people were often wed to their first loves, so relationships between teens were highly monitored. 

When Ren arrives in the small town from bustling Chicago the local kids warn him that "eyes are everywhere” and that every move they make is dissected day and night. There is no place to escape this scrutiny and even explore their own feelings for each other - like a dance party.

This somber and slightly scary dance number really reflects how many teens today feel about growing up in the internet age. They are feeling the constant pressure " to post...or not to post" and either way people are watching them and if they post the wrong thing or don't post anything at all. People are still judging them 24/7 often finding their lives and actions lacking. 

Ren tells everyone he sees that he is restless and can't stop moving, so he dances around all the time - which makes him seem weird or suspect in itself to those observing him for the first time in this reserved town. 

At one point the adorable country nerd and bumpkin Willard Hewitt played (delightfully by character actor Ben Barker) says to Ren in distress about his new hope for a girlfriend - "She scares me! She is the fastest talking woman I've ever met!" Ren says honestly to reassure the awkward Willard, "She talks fast ‘cause she LIKES you! She's just horny for ya!" Ben is insecure because he can’t dance, but later there is a fantastic bit of physical comedy by Ben Barker as he learns that he really CAN dance with his new girlfriend, all he needs is rhythm, sway and a little loving encouragement from Ren and the other kids.

 
Ariel, the town pastor’s daughter, is involved with the town bad boy Chuck Cranston (Ryan McBride) who is slightly mean to her and pushes her around when she doesn't want to follow him.  Chuck claims he is the "best time to be had in this tiny town” and demands that Ariel follow him into his truck whenever new teen Ren is in sight. The chemistry between Ren and Ariel is obvious from the first time they see each other. 

Ryan McBride is a dead ringer for the actor Andy Samberg and has a similarly wry sense of comic timing. McBride is also a solid singer/dancer and stands out well in this production. 

Lucy Godinez is a great singer and actress with real fire in her eyes. Godinez plays Ariel as a strong, independent woman who has a secure sense of her own blossoming sexuality even though her father is the highly judgmental and protective Reverend Moore. 

Johanna McKenzie Miller as Ariel's mother, Vi Moore, is stunningly intelligent in her role as always and emits an essence of spiritual peacefulness that lends the whole play an anchor of calm, and quiet belief in her daughter and in others to do the right thing for ALL in the end. 

To me it is obvious that Ren's character is very much a Christ figure of hope and change in this show. Ren appears without warning in the small town where dancing has been banned by the elders for several years, yet he is so FULL of life and joy that he can't STOP dancing! 

At the crucial moment of judgement by the town as to whether they will allow dancing again, several quotes about the very positive nature of dancing itself are read to the council members from the Bible by Ren in Christ-like fashion: 

Psalm 149:3 Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!

Ecclesiastes 3:4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance

Psalm 30:11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness

Jeremiah 31:13 Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old shall be merry. I will turn their mourning into joy; I will comfort them and give them gladness for sorrow.

The whole show reminded me how important dancing really is in relation to feeling a sense of love and joy in your daily life. Director Gary Griffin mentions in the press kit that he chose this show in part due to the current oppressive and depressing political climate especially for young people, which is mirrored in 'Footloose.' 

Dancing is a thing I rarely take the time to do anymore publicly or privately and being reminded in such a colorful and glorious way by this production that dancing is actually "prescribed" as a healthy form of activity by God makes me want to dance around the best I can! 

Highly recommended for all ages. I suggest you see this show and get your Spring on! 

‘Footloose the Musical’ is being performed at Marriott Theatre through June 2nd. For more show info click here.