By Bailey Loveless
In Orem, Utah Valley University celebrates theatre and the opening of their beautiful Noorda Center for the Performing Arts with their performance of Curtain Up!, a Broadway revue. The show runs about two hours and celebrates theatre of all genres from the past century, from the works of Leonard Berstein and Stephen Schwartz to small vignettes from contemporary plays. For me personally, it was a lovely way to spend my World Theatre Day, hearing tunes from some of my favorite shows and seeing the talent of UVU’s Theatre Department.
The show features a company of approximately 30 people performing a variety of pieces from solos to large ensemble numbers. To accommodate the wide range of songs and shows represented, the staging is kept minimal with simple black boxes and costume racks meant to mimic a backstage area. The company stays onstage for the duration of the show watching each other’s performances and assisting with arranging the boxes for each number. It reminded me of hanging out backstage when I was in school with my cast mates, singing our favorite show tunes. The company works well together, particularly shining in the large ensemble numbers. However, I felt that sometimes their presence distracted from some of the more intimate pieces.
While all of the performances are well-executed and enjoyable, for me there were a few particular stand-outs. The “Les Miserables Medley,” a mash-up of different songs from the show, is completely epic. Matthew Herrick as Jean Val Jean has amazing vocals. The company and ensemble truly shine in this piece.
Aspen Thompson and Brennan Newkirk dance beautifully in “Shall We Dance” from Crazy for You. Newkirk also appears with McKell Petersen in a both heartwarming and tragic, all-too-real scene selection from The Theory of Everything, that had me both laughing and crying.
The selection from Arthur Miller’s Death of Salesman (actors not listed) also brought a tear to my eye.
Kiersten Zundel shines in her performance of “100 Easy Ways to Lose a Man” from Berstein’s Wonderful Time. Her vocals are wonderful, and her comedic timing is spot on. The piece truly showcased both the original show and Zundel’s own skills.
One of my favorite performers of the night was Jordan Briggs, who features in multiple pieces from a scene by George Bernard Shaw, to a laugh-out-loud rendition of “Company” from Stephen Sondheim’s Company, to a marvelous performance of “Waving Through a Window” from Benj Pasek and Justin Paul’s acclaimed musical, Dear Evan Hansen. He slips seamlessly into each new character and song throughout the night, bringing energy, charm, and nuance to each role.
Other notable shows represented include Phantom of the Opera, West Side Story, Wicked, and Into the Woods. Because of the wide variety and the lack of a central storyline, there are a couple of jarring transitions from one piece to another. However, I loved watching some of my all-time favorite songs performed and discovered some new ones as well.
Overall, Curtain Up! is a relaxing, fun way to spend an evening for any theatre lover. It did just what I hope any good piece of theatre would do: it made me laugh, it made me cry, and it made me smile. The show is family-friendly content-wise, but please be aware that there is no intermission. There’s only one more performance, so head over to UVU’s new Noorda Center to celebrate the arts and some of the greatest works of the last century.
Utah Valley University presents Curtain Up! An Evening of Broadway with UVU Theatre
Smith Theatre, The Noorda Center, 800 W University Parkway, Orem, Utah 84058
March 27-28, 2019, 7:30 PM
Tickets: $5-15
The Noorda Center Facebook Page
Curtain Up! Facebook Event
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