By Megan Holley
Desert Star Playhouse in Murray, Utah is a family-friendly dinner theatre and its current show, Deseret Newsies, Desert Star’s Fake Newsical, will keep everyone laughing all night long. They are known for having delicious popcorn (which is free) and having the audience participate in the performances by booing the villains and cheering on the heroes. At the end of every performance, the cast performs an Olio that is themed to the show. Each show is full of jokes about Utah, housing prices, Kardashians, and fake news. Desert Star also celebrates audience members’ birthdays, anniversaries, and more after the main show ends and before the Olio begins. There’s something for everyone at the Desert Star.
Scott Holman magnificently directs another great show that is hilarious and full of family friendly fun. Jack (Rick Miller/Zackery Western) and Crotchie (Danny Eggers) are your typical Newsies who are trying to spread truthful news. When fake news starts popping up, they know they have to do something to stop it. Jack and Crotchie begin the show at the Jordan River in Utah, when the Kardashian sisters Kendal (Brittney Nielsen) and Kylie (Brittany Shamy/Brittany Anderson) first introduce the pair to the world of fake news with a story on Big Foot living and having a ward of Big Feet in the area. When Jack and Crotchie go to tell Mr. Deseret (Matt O’Malley) and Katherine (Anna Duval/Jessica Yergensen) what happened, Al Gorithym (Daniel Akin) and Pixel (Sara McDonald) show up to convince O’Malley that it is what they need to survive in the news world. Throughout the entire performance there is a lot of improvisation, which makes the show even more hilarious, and the best part is that they stay in character the entire time.
Holman always chooses performers that have amazing comedic timing and improvisational skills, while being able to effortlessly sing, dance, and act. The cast of this show could not be better if they tried, every performer is thoroughly committed to their character. Even when things do not go according to plan, they improvise and make it seem like it was supposed to happen.
Choreographers Allison Cox and Yergensen brilliantly added choreography that is similar yet different to the Newsies musical, while also adjusting it for each character so it fits the character’s behaviors. Accompanists Tracy Harris and David Slack keep the show running by providing the music for the show and the sounds for the audience to know when to boo or cheer. They are both incredibly talented and you will want them to keep playing once the show is over.
Set Designer Ken Lineberry brilliantly added a map of Utah that shows the weather. Starting up north and heading south it is “hot”, “sweltering”, “brimstone”, and “Satan’s door”. The best part about the weather is the camera set up is labeled “BSNBC”. Costume Designers Lee Daily, Larissa Villers, and Mary Atkinson ensure the characters look realistic, Jack and Crotchie are in standard Newsies attire, the Kardashians are in tight LA style dresses, and Al Gorithym is in a dark suit with a red tie to represent that he is the bad guy. Maeson Busk and Brytan Todd work together to make the lights highlight the various activities of the characters, lights dimming when the bad guys plot their evil plans. Video and Projection Design by Jae Varela, Ben Thompson, and Todd is brilliant. During the song “What’s a Meme?”, they have various popular memes come up on the screen behind the actors. Greg Nuismer, Slack, Busk, and Todd create a sound that enhances this very music-driven production.
There is no better way to make memories than to go see live theatre as a family at this hilarious dinner theatre, especially since laughter is the best medicine. If you have been to Desert Star Playhouse in the past, you know they have the audience participate by booing and cheering, but with this show they add something new for the audience to do. To find out what it is, come see the show.
You can go with or without a mask, and they also have the option to eat before the show if you are more comfortable wearing a mask. If you are comfortable going without a mask, they have the option to order during the show. Children under five years old are not allowed.
Desert Star Playhouse presents Deseret Newsies, Desert Star’s Fake Newsical by Scott Holman.
Desert Star Playhouse Theatre, 4861 S State Street, Murray, Utah 84107
June 10-August 21, 2021, times vary
Tickets: Adults $26.95, Children $15.95 (11 and under)
Contact: 801-266-2600
Desert Star Facebook Page
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