By Tanner Tate
On Saturday, I had the opportunity to view Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story in the Hafen Theatre at Tuacahn, in Ivins, UT. Buddy is the story of Buddy Holly, (usually played by Andrew Harvey, but was u/s Mike Dorsey on Saturday,) an enigmatic force of nature in the rock and roll world from 1957 to 1959, who, for only eighteen short months, captivated the world with his own brand of music, releasing over ten hit songs in that short span, such as “That’ll Be the Day,” “Peggy Sue,” and “Everyday.”
Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story was originally premiered in 1989 on London’s West End, and was one of the first iterations of a “jukebox musical” ever premiered. Since then, it has had a number of revivals over the years, including a run on Broadway and five U.S. national tours.
My two friends and I entered the Hafen Theatre, a repurposed auditorium from the days when Tuacahn High School for the Performing Arts still resided on Tuacahn property, to see what instantly resembles an old-timey radio show. The set design envisioned by Director Keith Andrews and Producing Artistic Director Scott Anderson makes the audience feel as if they are viewing such a production through a vibrant television screen. The stage is dressed with 1950’s-style microphones, electric and acoustic guitars, a drum set, and a KDAV “ON AIR” sign, with records on the wall, and a radio-host station nearby.
As the show opens in 1956 with a country group performing for the radio show, its uniqueness shines with small directorial additions to the script, such as “applause” signs held up at specific moments by members of the ensemble, add to the feel that we are not the audience at the Hafen Theatre, but that of a live radio show. Much of the show runs in this format, with a band playing onstage and interacting directly with the audience, shifting the production from a theatrical production to a live concert at a number of instances, transporting the audience to the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York, and the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa. Many songs are played as a concert and there is no shortage of showmanship in these numbers. The concerts usually feature Buddy Holly front and center, but also bring several other 1950’s names to the stage, notably J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson (Jimmy Denning) and Ritchie Valens (Tony Diego Garcia). One fun aspect of the Buddy Holly is hearing the names of up-and-coming artists who would later become extraordinarily famous, such as Roy Orbison and Waylon Jennings, all mentioned in passing by characters in the show. The narrative follows Buddy as he copes with the reality of explosive fame and makes several critical decisions that take his career in a direction that may be different than what he initially wanted, ultimately leading to a shocking finale.
Dorsey is very enjoyable as Buddy, bringing a lightness and carefree nature to the character that felt profoundly appropriate in telling his story. His two friends from his band The Crickets: Joe Maudlin and Jerry Allison, played by Roy Brown and Ken Sandberg respectively, are also enjoyable to watch as the trio interacts and demonstrates that their bond is tight, making it difficult to watch when their paths start diverging. In the beginning, Buddy begins his journey with local radio personality Hipockets Duncan (Scott Wakefield) and Wakefield brings a mature air to a youthful rockfest, trying to keep Buddy’s feet on the ground while his head is in the clouds. As Buddy travels from Lubbock, Texas to New Mexico, he meets Norman Petty and his wife, Vi (Luke Darnell and Angela C. Howell). Darnell and Howell build on the energy Wakefield presents, assisting Buddy and the Crickets in their endeavors while providing some parental guidance to the group. Remarkably, Howell doubles as the music director of the production.
When assuming their penultimate roles of The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens, Elliot and Garcia become audience favorites as they emerge from ensemble roles and take center stage, riling up the crowd toward the end of the show with the hits of “Chantilly Lace” and “La Bamba.” Denning is particularly fun to watch, and is a natural as a rock and roll star, adding a healthy dose of humor to his songs.
The climax of the production comes at the end when nearly every member of the cast takes the stage with some form of instrument, and I realized at the end of the production that almost every cast member seems to be proficient in at least two instruments. Among those I witnessed were piano, acoustic and electric guitar, trombone, trumpet, drums, bongos, banjo, guiro, upright and electric bass, celesta, a violin played both classically and as a fiddle, and even the slapping of thighs for percussion. Cast members we’d grown familiar with through the production are suddenly transformed into rock musicians. This was my favorite part of the show.
Craig Beyrooti handles the sound design of the show, which is no menial task. The 1950’s-style costumes are regularly appropriate, with sequins and sparkles galore, styled by Stefanie Genda. Julie Duro manages the lighting, which also could not have been a simple undertaking, but Duro is able to capture the essence of a 1950s big-band party at a fancy concert hall.
Overall, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story is a blast from the past, blending a fascinating narrative of a young rock star with a raucous 1950s big-band ballroom concert. Many audience members were elderly, and my friends and I loved watching the elderly women stand up in their seats and dance to the music they grew up with. The show is long, with lots of concert numbers, and many young kids would probably not enjoy it as much as adults, but the content of the show is appropriate for all ages. Buddy will only be rocking and rolling at Tuacahn for two more weeks, closing August 13th, so get your tickets fast.
Tuacahn Center for the Arts presents Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story by Alan Janesat the Hafen Theater.
1100 N Tuacahn Dr, Ivins, UT 84738
June 24-August 13, 2022 7:30 PM, Matinees on Saturdays 2:00 PM
Tickets: $24.00-$66.00
Contact: 800-746-9882
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Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story promo video
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