Review: North Carolina Theatre Conservatory's CRAZY FOR YOU
By: Jeffrey Kare Aug. 17, 2015
Just as another Gershwin-based musical An American in Paris is currently playing big on Broadway, the triangle area was recently treated to a performance of the 1992 Tony-Winning Best Musical Crazy for You presented by the North Carolina Theatre Conservatory Master Summer Theatre Arts School.
Largely based on the Gershwin's 1930 musical Girl Crazy, Crazy for You tells the story of Bobby Child, the sweet son of a wealthy New York banking family, whose dream in life is to dance on Broadway. Despite protests from his battle-ax of a mother and wealthy soon-to-be-ex-fiancé, Bobby flees to Deadrock, Nevada where he falls in love with the only girl within 50 miles and achieves his dream.
As Bobby Child, Josh Keen proves to be a real song and dance man almost as if he was a young Gene Kelly. As Bobby's love interest Polly Baker, (a role originated on Broadway by Jodi Benson, best known as the voice of Ariel in The Little Mermaid) Carly Grissom proves to have some real star-making potential with her extraordinary talents.
Under the direction (and choreography) of Titio Hernandez, everyone else in the cast deserves some real applause for displaying such professionalism on the A.J. Fletcher Opera Stage! From Collin Yates, Hannah Johns, Leilani Carr, Wilson Plonk, Emily Foley (in a role that North Carolina native Beth Leavel originated on Broadway), Patrick Harvey, Jack Richardson, Jayden McGrael, and even Reed Shannon (whom I've had the pleasure of interviewing from Motown several months ago).
If you have and/or know some kids in the Triangle area who would like to pursue a career in the performing arts, the North Carolina Theatre Conservatory offers a variety of classes in performance, dance and acting. The Conservatory is a safe, supportive, challenging, and innovative environment where students will discover and develop their unique, creative voice. It's a profound path to empowerment, and to unlocking their artistic potential to become the stars of tomorrow.
http://nctheatre.com/page/about-conservatory
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