Reviews

Riverside Youth Theatre Equals Quality Youth Theatre

By Darcie Flansburg
The Real Critics Editor/PublisherBroadway reviews are great for youth theatre because it gives many young thespians a chance to shine and grow rather than just a few leads. Riverside Youth Theatre’s “On Broadway Now!” production was not only an obvious thrill for the performers, but also for the audience.
The show featured various musical numbers from productions that were on Broadway in 2009. Shows included “Jersey Boys,” “Hair,” “Legally Blonde,” “Grease,” “Spamalot,” “Mary Poppins,” “Next to Normal,” “Shrek the Musical,” “The Little Mermaid,” and “Young Frankenstein.” But the shows that I was really thrilled to see on the docket were “13” and “Spring Awakening.”

 

I was privileged to see the world premiere of “13” at the Mark Taper Forum in 2007 and the RYT “tween” cast looked to be having as much fun as that Broadway bound cast. This is important; the “fun” element really drives most musical theatre numbers, especially when they are about adolescents. And right from the start of “On Broadway Now!” the ensemble was loving every minute of their time on stage and the audience could feel it.

The show made me excited not only for the fabulous musical choices, but also the quantity of truly talented teens. It is companies like this that keep theatre alive by putting on quality shows that interest the youth and showcase their talent.

A few future stars to note include Anyssa Navarro, Melissa Smith, Hannah Wolgemuth, Eryn Moore and Maddison Rickard.

Navarro has a fabulous voice, and a clear passion for musical theatre. Her performance of “Hopelessly Devoted to You” was right on key and on emotion.

Smith has potential in both dance and leading lady work. She was precise in her movement and emotion even when she was merely part of the ensemble. But her performance of “Whispering” from Spring Awakening was truly moving.

Wolgemuth performed with great heart and verve. Every move that she made was done to the fullest. Moore was spunky and perfectly timed as the ditsy, yet somewhat witty El Woods. And Rickard is a small girl with a huge voice that was sadly undermined by bad head mics. I wish that I could have heard more of her song because what I did hear was so right on and full of so much soul.

But just because I am pointing out these individuals does not mean that no one else from the production deserves recognition. Actually, there are just far too many to point out. To quote one of my favorite shows, Nigel Lithgow on So You Think You Can Dance has often said that if a dancer doesn’t stick out in a bad way, it’s a good thing. I may point out a few, in my mind, stars, in the hopes that they recognize their own star quality and never give up on their art, but this is not to say that anyone else should give up because I did not mention them. As a young actress, I was not mentionable. In fact, I stuck out in a bad way. But that never stopped me from doing what I love.

On a slightly negative note, I wish that the “tween” ensemble had done “The Age of Aquarius” rather than just “Let the Sun Shine In” because they had the talent to do so. I also wish that the show had gone on longer. The ensemble could have sung “Summer Lovin’” from Grease and some more songs from “Next to Normal.”

But hey, you know it’s a great show when the critic wants more. I truly look forward to seeing more work from this company and all of these young stars.

For more information on RYT check out www.riversideyouththeatre.org

Posted by Darcie Flansburg at 2:06 AM

Disney’s High School Musical performed by Riverside Youth Theatre

LINK: http://www.nationalyouththeatre.com/reviews/reviews_ryt_highschoolmusical.html

Can jock Troy Bolton and brainiac Gabriella Montez find romance without peer pressure interfering? Possibly, if they both agree to meet on the neutral ground of their high school’s drama department. Though that’s hardly neutral ground so far as the school’s prima donna thespian star Sharpay Evans is concerned, as Sharpay wants Troy for herself. Almost as much as she wants the lead role for herself!

The popular Disney Channel movie has become a phenomenon on youth stages across the country, filling up every seat in the house. As it did in Riverside Youth Theatre’s recent production where Director Debbie Wolgemuth and her cast and crew treated their audience to a very fun, often creative, and always energetic performance.

They begin their production the way the film does, with the New Year’s Eve party where Troy and Gabriella get pushed together into a karaoke song, surrounded by partygoers who begin dancing to The Start of Something New. Brad Stephens plays a likeable Troy Bolton. Heather Noriega gives Gabriella a very real personality, beginning as a shy and reluctant singer who slowly feels more and more comfortable with Troy. Together they do a nice job with their duets.

Sallie C. Griffin is a flirty and funny Sharpay with great personality as the jealous diva, but with a fragile side hiding just underneath, scared no one will care about her if she’s not a star. Aaron Wolgemuth is her eight seconds-younger twin brother who is just beginning to assert himself, but he has no trouble asserting himself in their auditions when he shakes his groove thing, with Sallie and Aaron demonstrating great charisma and moves in What I’ve Been Looking For and Bop to the Top. But Troy and Gabriella aren’t their only competitors in those auditions. The school’s theatre director Mr. Darbus desperately seeks out other auditions from the audience. When a young girl pipes up and sings a few lines of What I’ve Been Looking For, Sharpay glares angrily and nervously at both her new rival and at Mr. Darbus for giving the girl a chance.

Said Mr. Darbus is given truly a singular performance by Brian Jerz who offers a flamboyant and creative take on the male version of Darbus, adding to the role in many successful ways and doing it all with terrific expressions and bodylanguage. He lectures like an over-the-top Shakespearean monologue, punctuates all of the amusing auditions with hilarious reactions, and fights with melodramaticgusto his nemesis basketball coach (played by the adult member of the cast, Michael Lankford, who is in a constant state of rage). And Brian does it all in one outrageous costume after another, from a fancy bandleader get-up to a black leather vest suit to some glittery stuff.

Other highlights include a well-choreographed Keep Your Head in the Game featuring the basketball players, some amusingly artsy thespians, and some especially high-energy injections by an enthusiastic and talented group of cheerleaders (partially choreographed by one of the standout cheerleaders Alison Ogilvie) who rally the high school for the big basketball game with Pump Up the Jam and some techno music. It all ends on a strong note with the big cast number We’re All in This Together that has Mr. Darbus pulling dance partners out of the first row of seats and gets followed by a standing ovation.

Performed May 11-20, 2007.Rob Hopper

National Youth Theatre

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