By Megan Holley
SCERA Center For the Arts in Orem, Utah is a family friendly theater that provides top notch performances, this particular production that is currently running is based on Disney’s original movie Descendants the Musical, and is filled with breathtaking harmonies and thrilling choreography that will leave you with goosebumps and chills. This production is performed by SCERA’s very own high school award winning performing group Acting Up. Director Kathryn Laycock Little directs this wonderfully engaging show with her usual attention to detail.
Just like the Disney original movie, this show starts off in Auradon with Prince Ben (Rockwell Macgillvray) talking to his parents Queen Belle (Katelyn Buffington) and King Beast (Joe(y) Brannelly) about the future of their kingdom with Ben’s upcoming coronation to become king. Ben brings four kids from the Isle of the Lost, where villains live, and have them come live in Auradon to see if they would be able to bring the rest of the kids from the Isle of the Lost to the mainland. The four kids Ben chose belong to Auradon’s most feared villains: Jafar (Daniel Cespedes), Cruella De Vil (Vashti Coray), Grimhilde the Evil Queen (Elena Dutton), and Maleficent (Ellary Green). On the Isle of the Lost, Mal (Campbell Gordon), Evie (Eloise Brown), Jay (Luke Elison), and Carlos (Cairo McGee) try to cause as much trouble as they can, until they are summoned to Auradon. Mal and her mom Maleficent come up with a plan to take Fairy Godmother’s (Jessica Fincher) wand while in Auradon to set everyone on the Isle of the Lost free so they could rule the kingdom once more, on the Isle of the Lost magic does not work.
Every character, from the ensemble to the leads, all have such distinct and strong individual characters, and move around the stage with purpose, even during scene changes where you can see their shadows. During the opening song “Rotten to the Core”, the harmonies are so strong and clear, it’s exciting and satisfying.
Gordon (Mal) is a very strong actress and singer and her choices present a clear character arc throughout the show, from being a huge trouble maker, to not being certain being evil is for her. Who is she really and what side is she on? Macgillivray (Prince Ben) and Gordon have marvelous onstage chemistry and we are convinced they are really in and their harmonies are lovely in “Better Together”.
Little does an incredible job with directing, and music directing, and casting choices in Descendants the Musical—the harmonies and relationships are wonderful.
Choreographer and costumer Brodee Ripple takes her cast and decked them out in sumptuous costumes. Onstage movement has some surprising tricks and twists–literally. The costumes from the Isle of the Lost are mostly darker colors, while the Auradon costumes are more peppy light tones. And the ball gowns for Ben’s Coronation coordinate the colors per family–parents’ and offspring’s are the same—so we easily identify who’s who in this delightful romp.
Elizabeth Griffith’s fantastic lighting design that even without a set you can tell the difference between the darker Isle of the Lost and the lighter Auradon. The lighting for the portal between the island and the mainland is a strobe light symbolizing the movement between places. Note: this production has strobe lights. Chase Elison gives his usual great sound design with the music as an accompaniment to the great voices in the cast.
Come relax, grab some popcorn and snacks before the show, and let this phenomenal cast entertain you for the night. Descendants the Musical at the SCERA is a show you definitely will not want to miss.
SCERA Center for the Arts presents Descendants the Musical, based on The Disney Channel Original Movie, written by Josann Mcibbon and Sara Parriott, with music adaptation by Madeline Smith.
SCERA Center for the Arts, 745 South State, Orem UT 84058
March 18, 2022- April 2, 2022 Mon, Tue, Thurs- Sat 7:30 PM
Tickets: $8-$10
Contact: 801-225-2787
SCERA Center for the Arts Facebook Page
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