By Val O’Bryan
Billed as “The New Gershwin Musical Comedy,” St. George Musical Theater presents Crazy for You: the story of a New York City Banker that longs to dance on stage, a small-town postmistress trying to reinvigorate her diminishing community, and their unlikely love story. The cast and crew bring high production value to this musical by Ken Ludwig, inspired by the original material of Guy Bolton and John McGowan, with music and lyrics by the incomparable sibling duo, George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin.
Facing pressure to take his banking career and engagement seriously, Bobby Childs (Abe Hegewald) escapes to Deadrock, Nevada, to foreclose on a dilapidated theater where he meets local sweetheart Polly Baker (McKenna Hodge). For Bobby, it is love at first sight and he decides to help Polly save the theater instead of foreclosing and losing the woman he loves. What follows is a delightful blend of singing and dancing showgirls, cowpokes, and unlikely romances with the desolate Nevada desert as a backdrop.
I was fortunate to talk to a few members of the production team about the show. Director Gabriel Brown explains “I’m a sucker for the melodramatic moments; old vaudeville theater tropes, stereotypes being played out or turned on their heads, the Old West shootouts, and cartoonish gags. This production is packed with them and we’ve placed them so they shine bright.” This musical has a lot of great tap dance and audiences are sure to be thrilled by “I’ve Got Rhythm.” Brown explains,“That number is a beast. It’s incredibly complex, very long, and has taken the cast hours to nail. We’re here though, and I’m so proud of what they have accomplished.”
In addition to the skilled dancers in the cast, audiences will also appreciate the costumes. So it was great that I got to visit with costume designer Ester Bergman and see her in action, preparing for the musical. I shadowed her around a warehouse as she carefully selected clothing and accessories for each character based on the time period, actor, and characterization. She also shared with me that she did a lot of sewing in addition to the clothing she found. Bergman is very thoughtful and conscientious about her design decisions. In addition to being beautiful, the costumes she creates also help to tell the story. Bergman hopes that audience members notice “the movement of the fabric, the vibrant colors, and the confidence and joy that the actors take in how they look on stage.” Bergman is a talented costume designer and the production team is so lucky to have her.
From music director Celeste Dixon, I learned about the era and the music that originated from Tin Pan Alley. Dixon explained that Tin Pan Alley was a time “when songwriters and lyricists were packed into a building, pumping out song after song. Walking past that building in New York would sound like tin pans were being dropped out of the windows one after another. What a wonderful time to witness the beginning of musical theater.” Audience members are sure to recognize some of Gershwin’s timeless themes in the music, as well as some impressive harmonies by the cast. Dixon notes “The Cowboy Trio by far has the trickiest musical harmonies in this show and they have to do it while moving, dancing, and even speaking French! I’m really excited for the audience to be wowed by these boys.” Don’t be fooled by their rough exteriors. The cowboys are excellent singers and dancers.
Don’t miss Crazy for You at St. George Musical Theater. It’s a lot of fun and family friendly. The show opened on August 18, 2022, and runs until September 17, 2022.
St. George Musical Theater presents Crazy for You. Music and Lyrics by George and Ira Gershwin, Book by Ken Ludwig, inspired by material by Guy Bolton and John McGowan.
Historic Opera House, 212 North Main Street, St. George, UT 84770
August 18-20, 22, 25-27, 29 and September 1-3, 5, 8-10, 12, 15-17, 2022 7:30 PM
August 27, September 3, 10, 17, 2022 1:00 PM.
Tickets: $25
Contact: 435-628– 8755, SGMTTICKETS@GMAIL.COM
St. George Musical Theater Facebook page
Thank you for covering this, what a wonderful article! ~B.Bennet Pres. St. George Musical Theater