By Eliza Dosch
SUU’s production of 42nd Street in Cedar City is a musical within a musical, a concept that I as a lover of theatre simply adore. It takes place in the 1930s during the Great Depression and follows one show’s journey from auditions to opening night. As with all productions, things don’t go as perfectly as planned. The star of the show and Broadway Diva, Dorothy Brock (Eliza K. Hall), hurts her ankle, and Peggy Sawyer (Savannah Selbach), a small-town girl making her Broadway debut, is asked to step up and take her place. But can she do it?
Directed by Lisa Quoresimo and choreographed by Kay Anderson, 42nd Street is a charming production, capturing the nostalgic feeling of classic Broadway that everyone loves. This is Anderson’sfinal swan song before retiring, and what an amazing swan song it is. With choreography centered around tap dancing, 42nd Street stands out from other musicals. Tap brings a fun and unique aspect to any production, but this is the first production I’ve seen where tap dancing is the main focus. Anderson’s splendid chorography is brought to life by the excellent dancers in the cast. The ensemble pieces are clean and unified in movement and sound, a difficult feat to achieve on taps. I applaud the quality of the choreography, and the dancers’ execution of it.
Dancing is not the only strong area in this production. Vocal tone, musicality, and character acting are all strong aspects of this show as well, making for a well-rounded performance. The ensemble sings very well, carrying parts easily, and the principles each bring a distinct quality of voice and body movement to their characters. Music Director Brandon Scott Grayson and Vocal Director Jeffery Savor have done a fantastic job creating the wonderful vocals for this cast.
Hall has a beautiful alto voice, with an almost mysterious tone, which she uses to draw in the audience when she sings. She turns Dorothy Brock into a loveable character through comedic movement, leaving the audience in stitches. Selbach stands out as a strong tapper from the beginning and is easily spotted in the ensemble pieces due to her bright energy. This brightness in energy and vocal quality provides a nice contrast to Dorothy and gives the show some diversity. Her character, Peggy Sawyer, is one that every little girl who dreams of Broadway can relate to. Julian Marsh (Zane Brady) is the director of Pretty Lady, the show within the show. He has a voice that belongs to every successful New York man in the 1930s. Accompanied by his rich baritone voice, he creates a character who makes the audience feel like they are looking back in time to Broadway in the ’30s.
Billy Lawlor (Ian Allred)and Maggie Jones (Lena Conatser) also stand out in vocal quality, as well as in their use of comedy, and Allredstands out as a strong dancer. Conatserblew me away with her voice and big energy. She captures the attention of the audience from the get-go. Another comedic character that stands out is Abner Dillon (Samuel Gaylord), a rich and successful man funding the show in which Dorothy stars. With his thick Southern accent and handlebar mustache, Gaylord takes control of the stage anytime he speaks.
No classic Broadway production is complete without a quartet of beautiful ladies! 42nd Street’squartet welcomes Peggy to the cast, in awe after seeing her dance for the first time. Phyllis (Faith Read), Lorraine (Rio LeFevre), Gladys, (Nichole Lynn Bailey), and Anytime Annie (Danielle Brady) create a dynamic synergy of strong dancers and singers. It is a pleasure to watch these ladies perform. I wish I could fill pages and pages, praising each individual member of this cast. Every one of them is strong and shines on that stage. How wonderful it is to see such an amazing and diverse cast.
I also must mention the technical directors: Scenic Designer Brian Jude Beacom, Costume Designer Martha Clarke, Hair and Make-up Designer Karly Kerins, Lighting Designer Ruben Pina, and Sound Designer Tony Solaro. The set is simple, with that classic Broadway feeling channeled through it. The hair, makeup, and costumes are beautiful, and the wardrobe quick changes are flawless. During one scene, a scrim is used to create shadow dancers. This lighting effect is beautiful and magical. The rest of the lighting design brings that classic Broadway vibe to the production. The sound designer does an amazing job of using sound effects to bring us to the streets of New York, with background noises and cat horns surrounding the theatre. The technical crew makes a production work. I applaud the hard work, time and effort put into this show by the technical directors, and the backstage crew. Without them, much of the nostalgia in this production would be lost.
All in all, 42nd Street is a fun, amazing production. The cast and crew create a charming world for the audience to be a part of. Please make your way to the Randall L. Jones Theatre this weekend for a fun, lighthearted production, suitable for the whole family to see. With only two shows left, this is a production you don’t want to miss!
SUU presents 42nd Street, Book by Michael Steward and Mark Bramble, Music by Henry Warren, Lyrics by Al Dubin
Randall L. Jones Theater, 300 W Center St, Cedar City, UT 84720
April 19-20, 2019, Fri 7:30 PM, Sat matinee 2:00 PM
Tickets: $15 Adults, $7 Children, SUU Students get in free with ID
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