BWW Reviews: American Theater Group's BUBBLE BOY A New Musical Charms at UC PAC

Gather your group and head over to the Hamilton Stage at Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway to see Bubble Boy, a new musical by Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio. Paul and Daurio are the team that wrote the popular Despicable Me movies among their many hits. Their original screenplay for Bubble Boy, the 2001 movie, has been adapted for the stage with clever musical numbers, creative staging, and an ever-talented cast. This musical is heartwarming fun for all ages.

Produced by American Theater Group (ATG), the show is directed and choreographed by Jen Wineman with musical direction by Brent Crayon. Bubble Boy is the story of Jimmy Livingston (Chris McCarrell), a boy forced to live in a plastic bubble to keep him safe from germs. His overbearing mother, Mrs. Livingston (Erin Maguire) has assumed total control of the teen while Jimmy's father, Mr. Livingston (Benjamin Howes) maintains his awkward silence. Jimmy becomes infatuated with Chloe (Gerianne Perez), the girl who moves in next door and she becomes a regular visitor at his home. When the girl of his dreams leaves for Niagara Falls to marry another, Jimmy creates mobile bubble suit and takes a cross-country trip to win her heart. His hilarious trek includes outlandish adventures from meeting a zany cult to an encounter with a biker group.

There are colorful, spontaneous musical numbers in Bubble Boy that pop with pieces like Prom Night and Gotta Get That Boy. Humor abounds with Mrs. Livingston singing Stay Clean and the quirky group number The Bright and Shiny Song. And, the show has its tender moments that warm your heart and give life to the characters with songs like Falling for the Boy and There's a Bubble Around My Heart.

Bubble Boy is a musical that will go far. It is a completely entertaining show that incorporates humor into a bizarre situation with a strong sense of humanity at its core. Metropolitan area audiences should not miss an opportunity to see it.

American Theater Group's Bubble Boy is will be performed on the Hamilton Stage of UC PAC through November 24th. For ticketing information, visit www.americantheatergroup.org or call the UC PAC box office at (732) 499-8226.

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