BWW Previews: BRING IT ON: THE MUSICAL Opens at Kauffman Center

Competitive cheerleading and team rivalries come to the stage of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City, MO. with Bring It On: The Musical. Inspired by the 2000 film, Bring It On. The musical opened on Broadway August 1, 2012 at the St. James Theatre, playing through December 30, 2012. The show premiered in Atlanta, Georgia in January 2011 and utilized competitive cheerleaders from across the country.

A New York Times reviewer wrote that the opening number of the Ahmanson Theatre production "truly dazzles,' and the New York Times called the musical, "Impossible to resist!" Tony Award winner Jeff Whitty wrote the original story for the musical that received Tony Award nominations in 2013 for Best Musical and Best Choreography. The show received five Drama Desk Award nominations, including Outstanding Director of a Musical, Outstanding Lyrics, and Outstanding Choreography among others.

Lin-Manuel Miranda (Co-Lyricist, Co-Composer) received a Tony Award in 2008 for Best Original Score for In The Heights, named a 2009 finalist for the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the 2009 Grammy for original Broadway Cast album of In The Heights. Co-Lyricist Amanda Green wrote the lyrics and co-wrote the music for Hands on a Hardbody that opened on Broadway in 2013.

Andy Blankenbuehler, Tony Award winner in 2008 for Best Choreographer of In The Heights, choreographs Bring It On: The Musical. His credits include Broadway shows Annie, 9 To 5, The People In The Picture, and The Apple Tree. He performed in the original company of Fosse on Broadway, and in six other Broadway productions.

Nadia Vynnytsky appears as Campbell in the musical production. She has previously toured nationally and internationally with Legally Blonde, Shrek, and Catch Me If You Can. Zuri Washington portrays Danielle and recently appeared in the world premiere of M33.

Making his national tour debut, Tyler Bertolone, appears as Randall. Credits include Into The Woods, Dog Sees God; television shows "Banshee" and "Revolution." Other cast members include Emily Mitchell as Eva, Maisie Salinger as Bridget, Jennifer Geller as Nautica, Sharrod Williams as La Cienega, Andy White as Steven, AJ Lockhart as Cameron, Mia Weinberger as Kylar, Bailey Purvis as Skylar, and Erin L. Fleming as Twig.

Bring It On: The Musical runs at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts through February 16. Evening performances Tuesday through Saturday begin at 7:30 p.m., the Saturday matinee is at 2 p.m., the Sunday matinee at 1 p.m. and the Sunday evening performance begins at 6:30 p.m. Purchase tickets online at the Theater League website, by calling 816-994-7228 or at the box office at 1601 Broadway.

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