Review: Disney's FREAKY FRIDAY - World Premiere Musical at Signature Theatre

How many of you when you arrive at the theater immediately read the bios in the program?

I've been doing it all the time, even before I began this incredible assignment at Broadwayworld.com. I always "try" to get to the theater early to accomplish this task. But sometimes, there are events that get in the way (like Sunday's Marine Corps Marathon which made the commute extra laborious).

I will help all of you out with a sneek peak at the program because after you hear about the individuals who are involved, you will immediately call the Signature Theatre to get tickets to this World Premiere Musical, FREAKY FRIDAY.

The Lyrics are by Brian Yorkey with Music and co-orchestrations by Tom Kitt (along with Michael Starobin). This is the same team behind NEXT TO NORMAL and IF/Then, both shows which were in DC prior to their Broadway runs at the Arena Stage and National Theatre, respectfully.

Director Christopher Ashley has been nominated for Tony Awards for MEMPHIS and ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW. But, many of you may have seen his latest work at the Ford's Theatre with the musical COME FROM AWAY which opens on Broadway in February. Get your tickets NOW!!!

Sergio Trujillo also will be heading to Broadway again soon with A BRONX TALE, also Tony-nominated for ON YOUR FEET. Trujillo did astounding work on CARMEN, AN AFRICAN-CUBAN JAZZ MUSICAL at the Olney Theatre Center.

Does the name Beowolf Boritt ring a bell? You can see him in a popular television computer commercial while working on his design for the new musical THE BRONX TALE. He has two Tony nominations and a win for ACT ONE. Boritt also did COME FROM AWAY. His inventive design work here includes two turntables which work brilliantly.

The Costumes Designer is Emily Rebholz, has done four Broadway shows

Howell Binkley (Lighting Design) won a Tony for HAMILTON.

And Tara Rubin, one of the best in casting, did the New York casting.

Are you getting the picture.

Now to the actors.

The two leading characters are Emma Hunton (Ellie Blake) and Heidi Blickenstaff (Katherine, Ellie's mother). They are both just tremendous.

Hunton has been on Broadway in SPRING AWAKENING and NEXT TO NORMAL.

Blickenstaff I've seen on Broadway in SOMETHING ROTTEN and Off-Broadway in [title of show] in which she was part of the original creative team and cast. She also performed at Signature Theatre's Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer's Birthday Celebration at the Kennedy Center.
These two performers just shine on stage. Blickenstaff gives a tour de force performance which will go down in history.

The remaining huge cast are all terrific. It was fun to recognize two members from PETER PAN LIVE! on NBC, Jason Gotay (Adam,Ellie's high school love interest) and Alan H. Green (Mike, Katherine's fiance). Gotay in PETER PAN was the lost boy "Tootles" and Green was a Pirate.

I saw the talentEd Tyler Bowman who shares the role of young brother of Ellie, "Fletcher", with Jayson Heston Miller.

Signature regulars Sherri L. Edelen and Bobby Smith add their multiple talents to the evening.
The 9 piece orchestra rocks under the baton of Bryan Perri. Stay at the end of the show for their marvelous exit music.

For those not familiar with the book or the two films based on it, it concerns a switcheroo between mother and daughter, where the mother has a catering firm and the 16 year old daughter is in high school. They switch roles WITHOUT any make-up and they do so convincingly.

There is great humor, superb dancing, lively music, and a message that will hit home with everyone.

It is so inspiring to see so many young people flocking to this presentation.

See a nice story on the show by Peter Marks in the Washington Post, October 23, 2016 Arts & Style Section. Marks relates that Disney has no plans for a Broadway run with FREAKY FRIDAY.

The show is labeled DISNEY FREAKY FRIDAY. Disney Theatrical Productions, a division of The Walt Disney Studios under the extraordinary lead of Thomas Schumacher plans to only have regional theaters produce FF (three already have it scheduled). But it is my opinion that Disney will change their mind (as they did with NEWSIES which was not to go to Broadway after its Papermill Playhouse production but became a huge Broadway hit and soon will be released as a film) and after this successful and critically acclaimed production will somehow, someday, end up on Broadway...which it should.

Don't miss it!!!

FREAKY FRIDAY runs until Nov. 20. For tickets, call703-820-9771 for visit www.SigTheatre.org where you can see some nice videos.

Backstage Tours of FREAKY FRIDAY are offered on Saturdays until Nov. 12 at 5 p.m. for $10.

THIS AND THAT

There are a pletera of more musicals to see in the upcoming months.

Signature has two: SILVER BELLS , another World Premiere Musical Nov. 22 to Dec. 24 and the Maury Yeston hit TITANIC from Dec. 13 to Jan. 29 which offers a New Year's Eve performance. They also are presenting something different in connection with TITANIC. They "Full Steam Ahead" Launching an Epic Musical" Nov. 16 to Dec. 11, a five part seminar $260 or $220 for Friends of Signature.

ALWAYS, PATSY KLINE at Dundalk Community Theatre to Nov. 6

AVENUE Q at Vagabond Players through Nov. 20.

CINDERELLA at the Hippodrome Theatre through Nov. 6.

SISTER ACT at Toby's Dinner Theatre through Nov. 13.

MARY POPPINS at Olney Theatre Center through January 1.

CAROUSEL at Arena Stage through Dec. 24 with Nicholas Rodriguez, E. Faye Butler, and Betsy Morgan.

SECRET GARDEN at Shakespeare Theatre Company with Daisy Eagan who won the Tony Award for her role as "Mary Lenox" in the original Broadway cast. Here she will be playing the maid "Martha".

THE THREE PENNY OPERA at George Mason until November 5.

THE WHO'S TOMMY at Open Circle Theatre in Rockville, MD until November 20.

INTO THE WOODS at the Kennedy Center (the acclaimed Fiasco Theater Production) Dec. 6 to January 8.

Jason Robert Brown IN CONCERT Dec. 9 at Library of Congress...try the waiting list.

HAIRSPRAY LIVE! on NBC Dec. 7.

Get your hands on the November 4, 2016 edition of Entertainment Weekly for some Broadway news. You can read about the new musical A BRONX TALE, and Andrew Rannells in FALSETTOS. The lead article is about the composing team of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul and their hit musical DEAR EVAN HANSEN which begins performances Nov. 14. (Surprised there was no mention of its pre-Broadway run at Arena Stage.) I learned they have composed for the new film "Troll" and "La La Land". Their musical A CHRISTMAS STORY comes to Baltimore's Hippodrome Theatre on Dec. 6.

There is also a nice article about DEAR EVAN HANSEN'S star, Ben Platt.

cgshubow@broadwayworld.com

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