This production was scheduled July 18-28, 2024.
Twice a year the students from SLO REP’s Academy of Creative Theatre youth training program wow SLO with a captivating performance. This time they have chosen to do Crazy for You, Youth Edition featuring some great George and Ira Gershwin musical theatre tunes, and this theatre fan couldn’t be more glad.
Way back in the 1930s, the Gershwin brothers were in their prime. Their Broadway musical, Girl Crazy, was a smashing success—a classic storyline of boy-meets-girl, boy-loses-girl, boy-wins-girl-back, mixed up with farcical elements like disguises, false identities, and comedic timing.
Some of its songs from almost a century ago, including “I Got Rhythm” and “Embraceable You,” are now longtime standards. They have stood the test of time so well that in 1992 Ken Ludwig and Mike Ockrent decided to rewrite the basic story and include other memorable Gershwin tunes, such as “Someone to Watch Over Me,” “They Can’t Take That Away,” and “Nice Work If You Can Get It.”
They gave America’s youth a chance to perform these classics in Crazy for You.
If you’re looking for a comedic, all-ages family show that’s fun, light, humorous, and has a happy ending, this is it.”
ACT’s young adults are bringing their version—including humor, mischief, and tap dance—to downtown SLO until July 28. These students do a wonderful job entertaining and, all the while, they are learning, connecting, furthering their performance skills, and building self-confidence.
ACT offers year-round training in acting, singing, and dancing. It’s an “important outlet of arts education in our county,” according to Claire Edmonds, who directs the production eloquently, doing a great job setting up the two contrasting worlds that collide in this show. Each world has been given its own atmosphere, with the look and sound of each differing both in design and in concept.
The detailed and interactive sets, designed flawlessly by Dave Linfield, vary from a Broadway neighborhood in New York City to an Old Western town in Nevada by the name of Deadrock. The scenes seem to change with the flick of a wrist.
When it comes to costume design, classic fur coats, hats, heels, leather chaps, and cowboy boots are executed beautifully and germanely by Cheryl Nacario. The remarkable choreography by Natalie Mara lends itself to the storyline accurately as well; whether it’s a line of dancing chorus girls or a western linedance, all the moves work smoothly. And the tap dancing is excellent. More shows should include tap: it leaves you happy and in awe when done well, much like Marco Petterson does in his role here as Bobby Child.
Petterson entertains us as an aspiring dancer and reluctant banker, and an endearing Gwyneth Lincoln steals our hearts and lights up the stage as the dreamy Ms. Polly Baker.
Tyler Hagobian as a zany Broadway producer plays old age with flair; Clara Walters as Bobby’s fiance and Quinn Thurman as Bobby’s mother play the debutant and upscale financier of the bank, respectively. Though they both have plans for Bobby, fate takes its time getting him there.
Emmett St. James as a hilarious man-in-charge and Charlie Biggers as an upright bass-thumping cowpoke really get the belly-laughs from the audience. Jude Biggers and Mika Pirozzi as Mr. & Mrs. Fodor do great work on their dialects. The line of chorus girls and dancing cowpokes do a very good job of singing, acting, dancing, and supporting the cast well overall.
If you’re looking for a comedic, all-ages family show that’s fun, light, humorous, and has a happy ending, this is it.
Go see a show!