BWW Reviews: Cool Cats of SummerStock Austin Celebrate Jazz with SWING!

Summertime in Austin seems like the perfect place and time for a happy-go-lucky musical celebration of jazz music and swing dance. At least SummerStock Austin thinks so, and I whole-heartedly agree. Their production of Swing!, a dazzling and energetic musical revue, is absolutely astonishing and completely entertaining. Though SummerStock Austin's other two Current Productions of Pippin and The Bremen Town Musicians are excellent and memorable, Swing! proves to be the biggest crowd-pleaser of the bunch.

Part of what makes Swing! so enjoyable is that it's so simple. There's no plot or dialogue. The entire show is a non-stop slew of jazz standards and impressive dance numbers. Co-directors Vincent Sandoval and Michael McKelvey have created a show in which the clear goal is to entertain, and the show does so from beginning to end. The lighting by Jason Amato is absolutely gorgeous, the costumes by Glenda Barnes are stunning and colorful, and the six piece band, led by McKelvey, blasts the roof off of the Rollins Studio Theater. And of course, there's Sandoval's remarkable and complex choreography, full of tricks and lifts. Sandoval also skillfully weaves in some other styles including quick step, jive, and even a little contemporary to ensure that there's more to look at than just 90 minutes of swing dancing.

Complex as the choreography is, the young cast of SummerStock Austin is more than able to pull off the intricate dance numbers. All of the numbers numbers-particularly the opening number "It Don't Mean a Think if it Ain't Got That Swing," the Act I Finale of "In The Mood," and the Act II Finale of "Sing, Sing, Sing"-are full of crisp kicks, wide smiles, and high energy. Featured dancers Madison Piner and Ian J Bethany are incredibly impressive, especially during their expressive, athletic, and sexy pas de deux to "Blues in the Night." Coy Branscum, as one of the show's singer/dancers, gives off the jois de vivre and charm of classic Broadway leading men like Gene Kelley, particularly during his number "I Won't Dance," and Donnie Thigpen, who I compared to Sammy Davis Jr. when I reviewed his performance in The Bremen Town Musicians, resembles the great Sammy Davis Jr. even more here. His dancing is spectacular, and he carries himself with a coolness and cockiness that is smile-inducing. Singer Alyssa Muir proves to be another bright spot amongst a cast of incredibly talented performers. She's completely endearing and captivating as she croons songs like "Hit Me with a High Note" and "I'll be Seeing You."

Musicals don't get much more enjoyable than the spectacular juggernaut that is Swing! The only problem with the show is that at an hour and a half, the show is too short. But that minor issue aside, you will probably leave the theater wondering where the nearest dance studio is and where you can download some more Duke Ellington music. SummerStock Austin has done it again.

Running time: 90 minutes including one 15 minute intermission.

SWING!, produced by SummerStock Austin, plays The Long Center for the Performing Arts at 701 W. Riverside Drive, Austin 78704, now thru Sunday, August 11th. Performances are Wednesday 8/7 at 7:30pm, Friday 8/9 at 7:30pm, Saturday 8/10 at 2pm, and Sunday 8/11 at 7:30pm. Tickets are $12-22. For tickets and more information, visit www.summerstockaustin.org.