RISING STARS. With their female counterparts taking the stage with, the young student actors pictured here are part of Lakewood Playhouse’s summer intensive that is being culminated with a delightful performance of Broadway’s best. (Photo by dean lapin)
A thoroughly charming evening was had by all at Lakewood Playhouse’s opening weekend of “The Best of Musical Broadway” (otherwise known tongue-in-cheek as “BOMB”). Starring a cast of 35 young students, 10 to 18 years old, from Lakewood’s summer theater program, this show is highly entertaining from beginning to end. What’s more is that some of the budding talents in “BOMB” are making their public debut in this show and are sure to be seen on Tacoma stages in productions to come. Others are familiar faces from having performed in past local plays and are sure to be seen again on Tacoma stages.
This is the first time that students of Lakewood Playhouse’s youth theater programs have presented a main stage production to cap off their four-week summer schooling. Featuring 18 memorable musical theater numbers, BOMB brings together the best of Broadway old and new. Acting, singing, dancing…it’s all there, built around songs that bring out the best of these young entertainers. From oldies but goodies like “Do Re Mi” (“The Sound of Music”), “Consider Yourself” (“Oliver!”) and “Ease On Down the Road” (“The Wiz”), to more recent smash-hit productions like “Freak Flag” (“Shrek: The Musical”), “Welcome to the ‘60s” (“Hairspray”) and “I’m Not That Girl” (“Wicked”), each tune is presented one right after the other for a non-stop and highly appealing revue.
In this show there are no sets but instead a single raised stage in the center of the floor. This keeps the focus completely on the music and performers, who are all dressed in black. Some songs include the entire ensemble cast, such as the opener “Mamma Mia” (from “Mamma Mia!”), while others feature one or two soloists, like “Pretty Women” (“Sweeney Todd”) and “I Won’t Say I’m in Love (Disney’s “Hercules”). In every song the performers have a lot of fun and it shows.
The adults involved in this production also deserve a round of applause: co-director and choreographer Elizabeth Meberg, co-director Alex Domine, music director Michael Clark and Alex Smith on lighting and sound. Kudos, too, for the musicians providing live accompaniment.
One more weekend remains in “The Best of Musical Broadway” run, Aug. 27 and 28 at 8 p.m. and Aug. 29 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 for general reserved seating and $10 for those under 18. Lakewood Playhouse is located at 5729 Lakewood Towne Center Blvd. in the heart of Lakewood Towne Center. For more information, call (253) 588-0042. To learn more about the theater’s youth programs, log on to www.lakewoodplayhouse.org.
Next up at the Lakewood Playhouse main stage is “Sherlock Holmes and the Doom of Devilsmoor,” playing Sept. 24 to Oct. 24.
Contact the writer at mnagle@tacomaweekly.com
