Review: World Premiere Musical FRACTURED BROADWAY: MADE IN LA Pokes Loving Fun at Local Theatre

The San Pedro Theatre Club presents the World Premiere of FRACTURED BROADWAY: MADE IN LA. This hilarious parody with a big Los Angeles point of view is a satirical romp through your favorite musicals parodied to reflect the current affairs of live theatre in Los Angeles. With 24 original parodies set to favorite tunes from well-loved Broadway musicals, everyone from would-be actors to those struggling with auditions, from directors to producers to critics, audience members to old folks reminiscing about their past theatre glory days, has their moment to shine in the spotlight.

Thus begins the second season of the San Pedro Theatre Club, now at a point of make-it-or-break-it. To support that effort, Artistic Director Drew Fitzsimmons decided to create a World Premiere show the group could produce without having to pay rights by drafting a team of creative souls (William Ardelean, James Blackman, Nicholas Bradfield, Austin Fresh, Jazzy Jones, Peter Miller, Leslie Sharp, Melodie Rivers and CJ Rodrigues) to write it along with him and take it to the stage ion just seven days. Several of those writers also appear in the rotating cast of the musical, each seeming to parody their own theatre life - all in good fun!

To give you a better idea, I am sure you can figure out the melodies given the song titles: "I'm Just an Actress Who Can't Say No" comically acted out by Sara Bozin, a lovely soprano, "I Dreamed a Scene," "Memorize" lovingly performed by Kelsey Bullock to the famous tune from Cats, "Speaker of the House" performed by Fitzsimmons backed by his cast- and I wish I had the lyrics - "No Singular Location" and "On La Brea" (think Dulcinea as a Hollywood streetwalker), just to name a few.

There are several standout numbers including Patricia Butler's rousing rendition of "You're Gonna Cast Me" which she belts out to the tune "I Am Telling You" from Dreamgirls, Peter Miller sharing his acting dreams in "If I Get the Lead Role" to the tune of "If I Were a Rich Man," Jazzy Jones vamping it up with William Ardelean and Nicholas Bradfield in "What a Producer Wants" to the tune "Whatever Lola Wants," Ben Lupejkis' riotous take on "Trouble" with the cast tapping along with no musical accompaniment, and the Act 1 finale "Femme Fiasco" to the tune of Chicago's "Cell Block Tango" with frustrated actresses Sara Bozin, Kelsey Bullock, Patricia Butler, Cynthia Gregoli, and Jazzy Jones bemoaning casting couches on Hollywood's Theater Row. And as a special treat at the end of intermission, Peter Miller lovingly generated belly laughs as he mocked Executive Producer James Blackman using an Avenue Q type puppet in his likeness.

While the production is basically a workshop in progress, the idea is a sound one and the Vaudeville-type revue is very enjoyable and certainly will appeal to anyone who has worked in any aspect of theatre. Although it does need a bit of work to pull it together better, Fitzsimmons makes an excellent host and easily goes with the flow when the unexpected happens. With the repeated change of piano accompanist and not enough rehearsal time, some problems with musical coordination are bound to happen. But hopefully once the production tightens up and the final cast is set, Fitzsimmons' plan to take the show on the road to benefit the San Pedro Theatre Club will come to fruition.

FRACTURED BROADWAY: MADE IN LA plays Fridays & Saturdays @ 8:30pm and Sundays @ 2:30 at the San Pedro Theatre Club located at 624 S. Pacific Ave. in San Pedro, CA. Tickets are $25, but if you are affiliated with a cast member, ask them about the family/friends discount: Friday - $10, Saturday & Sunday - $20. Tickets at the door or in advance by phone at (310) 600-3466 or online at
https://www.vendini.com/ticketLine/ITL/?t=tix&e=a9acfb3a3131787f44ff07bb046d3d99&theme=mobile

Photos by Mike Miller

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