Category Archives: 2024

2024, Candelight, Johnstown, Musical

Patsy Cline Roams The Halls At Candlelight Dinner Playhouse

September 21, 2024 Todd Jones

Charlotte Campbell Brings Down The House Singing, “I Fall to Pieces”

Reviewed by Tom Jones
September 20, 2024

Patsy Cline was at the height of her fame at 30 when she died in an airplane crash. Her death put the American Country Music World into mourning. Cline had already immortalized such songs as “Walkin’ After Midnight,” “I Fall to Pieces,” “Your Cheatin’ Heart” and “If I Could See the World Thru The Eyes of a Child” — moving her to the top of music charts.

Her worldwide fans felt as if they had lost someone very special. One of those who felt the great loss was a Houston housewife, Louise Seger, who had become a Cline fan and dear friend just a few years earlier.

Cline and Seger are united this season as Charlotte Campbell and Jalyn Courtenay Webb portray the two in “Always, Patsy Cline” on the Johnstown stage. Louise Seger was a somewhat hassled wife and mother whose life was made pleasant listening to music on the radio and television. She was especially interested in a young woman who was a favorite on Arthur Godfrey’s TV show, and who was just beginning to release records. Seger began to hassle the local radio DJ, virtually demanding that he play Patsy Cline music over and over and over.

She dragged her boss and friends from work to a concert in Houston where Cline was to appear in person. Seger demanded they arrive “way early” to be certain to get a good place to park, etc. They arrived “way” early — so much so that they were virtually the only car in the lot.

Before the show started, she spotted Cline in the theater and immediately sided up to her just to say, “Hello.” The “hello” turned into Seger inviting Cline to her home after the concert, taking her to meet the local DJ the next morning, and began a friendship that became a series of exchanged letters and telephone calls.

This friendship comes to life in ”Always, Patsy Cline” as Charlotte Campbell beguiles the audience with her charm and vocal skills, while Jalyn Courtenay Webb busies herself encouraging everyone to adore the Cline persona. She takes back seat to ensure that the Cline impersonation remains the show’s spotlight. Unfortunately, we do not hear the wonderful Webb voice nearly enough – just a snippet here and there. One of the men at our table noted at intermission, “ “I had no idea that Jalyn Webb has such great acting skills!” She is truly a wonder – evoking a crazy humor one minute, deep-felt sorrow the next.

In 2018, Webb was honored by the Colorado Theater Guild who gave her the Guild’s Henry Award as Best Performance by an Actress in a Musical that year for her portrayal of the Houston housewife. While Campbell looks regal and majestic, Courtenay amazes the audience with hair piled high (upon hair piled high), her disheveled costuming and her busy-body/take charge attitude.

The production was written by Ted Swindley and has found enthusiastic audiences throughout the United States. Much of the excitement of the Candlelight production is provided by the excellent orchestra. Conducted by Paul Falk, the group includes Nel Dunfee, Alex Ward, Ryan Millard, Cody Stadelmaier, Thom Wade, and Christina Smith. Lighting and set are also excellent.

Much of the audience at opening night were already Patsy Cline fans, giving the show a standing ovation, complete with couples from the audience dancing in the area near the stage.

This is a highly interesting show – one showing great warmth and compassion, while providing the audience with first-rate performances. First rate performances are commonplace now on the Candlelight stage.

“Always, Patsy Cline”
Through November 10, 2024
Candlelight Dinner Playhouse
4747 Marketplace Drive
Johnstown,, CO 80534
Box Office 970/744-3747
Online: coloradocandlelight.com

2024, Candelight, Johnstown, Musical, Review

Candlelight Wows Audience With “Disney’s High School Musical”

July 2, 2024 Tom

“Those High School Days” Are Alive And Well In Johnstown.

Reviewed by Tom Jones
June 30, 2024

Christmas vacation is over and the students at East High School have returned to take their places in the hierarchy of teenage America. All of our high school friends (and enemies) are there. The jocks, the pompous pom pom girls, the brainiacs, the over-protective faculty advisors, and so many of us who were a bit lost in the jungle that was high school.

This has every potential of being a scary, unhappy look at the past. But Candlelight has pulled out all the stops to provide an exuberant and joyous trip down a memory lane that should not be missed. “Disney’s High School Musical” appeared on film in 2006 and has gone on to become a stage hit in local high schools nationwide

Thomas Beeker as Troy Bolton and Andrea Camacho as Gabrielle Montez are delightful as the school’s most famous jock, and the newcomer who transfers into the school just after the holidays knowing no one. They are both already skilled performers and are just terrific, as is just about everyone in this ensemble of many new faces with great talent!

It becomes fun to hate the over-the-top school diva, Sharpay Evans, played by Delaney Marie, and her hapless brother, Ryan, played by Curtis Lemieux who exudes talent with a combination of skill, wonder and goofiness.

All four of the leads are new to Candlelight, and will hopefully be seen in many future shows. Also new to Candlelight’s stage is Olivia Wilson, who plays Kelsi Nielsen the shy wallflower who has just written the school’s upcoming musical production based on “Romeo and Juliet,” and Chris Akele as Chad Danforth, Troy Bolton’s best friend. Giving excellent support are familiar faces such as Damon Guerrasio as Coach Bolton, Owen Whitman as Zeke Baylor, and Smantha Jo Staggs as Ms. Darbus.

Carrie Colton, director and choreographer, is known to Candlelight from her great work with “The Sound of Music” and “The Scarlet Pimpernel.” Chas Lederer is Associate Director and is familiar to Candlelight audiences from his work on stage in several shows including, “The Secret Garden,” “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” and “The Little Mermaid.” Associate Music Director is Mason Siders, who assisted with “Secret Garden, “Joseph,” and “The Scarlet Pimpernel.” Jalyn Courtenay Webb is Music Director whose magic and incredible skills have been appreciated in virtually every production known to man. Her on-stage skills include being recipient of the Colorado Theater Guild Award for best actress in “Always, Patsy Cline” a few seasons ago.

The collaboration of new faces with experienced artists combine to create a super evening of entertainment. Choreography is especially fun with an amazing game of basketball choreographed to perfection. Early in the show, the theater students are encouraged to “become what you want to be,” with Jazz Mueller inching across the stage in a glorious inch-worm routine that needs be seen to be believed. The set, lighting, and sound, are all terrific. The musical accompaniment is taped. Songs, while not familiar to me, were obviously well known to opening night viewers who all but sang along with great enthusiasm.

Premise is an overview of life at East High, with the athletes, brainiacs, thespians, musicians and would-be scientists vying for popularity, acceptance and yes, the excitement of basic friendship. The high school basketball team is in line for a possible state championship, the theater department is hosting auditions for the school musical, written this time around by a shy student. Faculty advisors spar for acknowledgement of their various departments.

And the audience is treated to a summer treasure, remembering where they fit into their own high school story! While picking up tickets for opening night performance, a couple in front of me was trying to purchase tickets to the sold-out show. They were offered some seats in the balcony/mezzanine. While pausing before such a purchase, they queried, “What is playing here tonight?”

They bought tickets, and I didn’t see them after the performance, but I am wondering what planet they arrived from wondering “What’s Playing tonight?” in one of Colorado’s best playhouses!

“Disney High School Musical on Stage!”
Where: The Candlelight
4747 Marketplace Drive, Johnstown, CO
When: Now through September 8, 2024
Information or tickets: Box Office: 970/744-3747
www.coloradocandlelight.com

2024, Candelight, Musical, Review

“Secret Garden” Is A Heartfelt Charmer

April 24, 2024 Tom

The Yorkshire Moors Turn Up On Candlelight Stage In Elegant Production

Reviewed by Tom Jones
April 19, 2024

Mary Lennox is a spunky 11-year-old whose life turns upside down in just a few hours. She is living with her adoring parents on assignment to India, and wakes up one morning to learn that both her parents died the previous night in the cholera epidemic. She is sent to dreary Yorkshire, England to live with an uncle Archibald she has never met, and Archibald’s brother, Dr. Craven. The uncle Archibald is not a delightful, cheery chap, but rather a cold unhappy man whose young son, Colin, appears to be hidden away in the manor house and slowly dying. Colin’s mother, Lily, died giving birth to him several years ago. Archibald, a hunchback, wants to be outwardly cordial to the orphaned Mary, but is so consumed by the death of his wife that he is of no help to anyone. There appears to be unhappiness everywhere in the home, with the lurking ghosts of the past affecting everyone except for Archibald’s brother, Dr. Craven, who apparently wants everyone else out of the house so that he can have it to himself.,

This doesn’t sound like a good premise to base an evening of musical theater. But amazingly, it is a joyous portrayal of how kindness, perseverance and incredible music can overcome nearly everything.

The resourceful Mary Lennox realizes dreadful unhappiness is consuming the manor house and decides to do something about it. She develops a friendship with the crippled son, Colin, who tells her of a secret garden surrounded by a wall near the manor house. This wall is reportedly hiding the garden which was the delight of Lily before she died. The garden is off limits until Mary convinces a bird to help her find the key and the entrance to the garden. She rallies the estate gardener, Ben, the estate handyman, Dickon and his sister, Martha, to hopefully bring the dormant and nearly dead garden back to life. She rallies the crippled Colin to get out of bed, on his feet, and help others, instead of continually being in need himself.

The role of Mary Lennox is shared on alternating performances. Elinor Rodgers and Alianna Glorioso take turns portraying the orphan Mary. Oliver Harrelson and Gus Gaza alternate as Archibald’s ill son, Colin. I saw Elinor Rodgers as Mary and Oliver Harrelson as Colin. Both are excellent. They are both young and have stage presence of experienced performers, and super voices to match.

Patric Case and Scott Severtson portray the Craven brothers, Archibald and Dr. Neville. They are a duo to see and hear. Archibald is haunted with memories of his wife. His unhappy brother, Dr. Neville Craven, continues to rue the day Archibald married the beautiful Lily, who he also loved. The embittered brothers share one of the most glorious duets in my musical memory, “Lily’s Eyes.” They recount how the newly-arrived young Mary Lennox appears to have the same glorious hazel eyes as the beautiful, now deceased, Lily, who both brothers loved, and was married to just one – the hunchback Archibald.

Sounds a tad complicated. I first saw the show when it was in previews on Broadway many years ago. We did not have good seats and were somewhere in the high nosebleed section of the theater. On leaving the theater, one of the people with us commented, “Well that show sure isn’t going anywhere.” I felt otherwise. Even though we had dreadful seats and were confused by portrayals of the living, mixed with spirits of the dead, I was enchanted by the beautiful music.

This time around, Director Shelly Gaza has wisely divided the scenes of the living, with scenes of the spirits carefully placed in the huge frame at the back of the stage. This does wonders for telling the story.

Maryann Laurie is mesmerizing as the spirit of Lily. It is Lily’s garden that Mary Lennox and her newly-found friends are trying to bring back to life. It is Laurie as Lily who warmly invites everyone to ”Come to My Garden.” Jazz Mueller is terrific as Martha’s brother Dickon who is an estate handyman and local mystic. Chas Lederer puts common sense to work as Ben, the estate’s groundskeeper. Many in the excellent cast play more than one role. The orchestra, under direction of Katie Hughes has never sounded better. The set design, lighting, sound, choreography and costume design are all flawless.

The story is based on the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett which was a must-read read for young readers. Book and lyrics for the musical are by Marsha Norman, with music by Lucy Simon. It opened on Broadway in April, 1991, and ran for 709 performances. It received numerous awards and has been produced worldwide.

Music is not well known, but enthralling. In addition to the over-the-top “Lily’s Eyes,” other great moments are created with “A Girl in the Valley,” “A Bit of Earth,” and “Race You to the Top of the Morning.” This is just about as romantic as a story can be. It is breathtaking to see and to hear. Near show’s end the Archibald and the ghost of his beautiful wife, Lily meet in a fog of brilliance and sing of their continuing love, “How Could I Ever Know” – just about as dramatic and enchanting as anything the stage can provide. “The Secret Garden” is a story of healing, helping and love.

“The Secret Garden”
Through June 16, 2024
Candlelight Dinner Playhouse
4747 Marketplace Drive
Johnstown,, CO 80534
Box Office 970/744-3747
Online: www.coloradocandlelight.com

2024, Arvada Center, Drama, Musical

“War and Peace” ….about 70 pages of it….”Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812”

February 20, 2024 Tom

Arvada Center Brings Tolstoy Epic To The Stage

Reviewed by Tom Jones
February 19, 2024

The cast opens the show singing, “There’s a war going on out there somewhere. There’s a war going on out there.” These are Moscow aristocrats in 1812 whose main concerns about the war appear to be that they aren’t happy at home. And one of their group, Andrey is “out there somewhere, and Andrey isn’t here!” No one knows when he’s coming home.

Andrey will hopefully return soon. He has left a grumpy father who is losing control of his faculties, and a sister who is devoting her entire dreary life to the care and keeping of her uncaring and unkempt father.

Andrey has a friend, Pierre, who is not involved in the war. He has remained in Moscow, living with a wife, Helene, who he basically detests, drinking himself to oblivion, and wallowing in self-pity. Helene, has lovers of her own and has no inclination to enjoy her husband. She has a brother, Anatole, living in Moscow, who is an absolute rake, always looking for women to enjoy. He, too, is unhappily married, anxious to find romance wherever he can.

Image by Amanda Tipton Photography | FB- Amanda Tipton-Photographer | IG – @amandatiptonphotography

Into this dismal group come Natasha and her cousin, Sonya. They are best friends, outwardly sunny and happy. Natasha is engaged to Andrey, and has come to town to officially meet Andrey’s father and sister. This is not family match made in heaven. The father decides at first glance that he does not like Natasha. Mary, Anatole’s sister, decides at first glance that she doesn’t like Natasha. Oh well, for the time being, “There’s a war going on and Andrey’s is not in town.” Maybe when he returns everything can be just hunky dory.

Such is the premise of this unusually interesting sung-through musical adventure, now on stage at the Arvada Center, “”Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812.” This not an ordinary “Let’s put on a show” type of production. The setting at first glance is like entering into a lavish Russian home, only to find that the stage is completely surrounded by audience. The cast and musicians wandered on and off the stage, out into the audience, winking as some, singing and playing instruments as if they were enjoying an evening at a Russian cabaret. Then I realized that I was more than just a spectator, I was part of the show. Unlike the missing Andrey, I was “ there!” Why in the world had I gone to Moscow in 1812? And who were these people sitting by me? Did they already know Natasha and Pierre, or were they meeting them for the first time? This is quite an effect!

The “story” is taken from 70 pages, near the middle of Leo Tolstoy’s 2000-plus pages historic novel, “War and Peace.” The entire production is sung. The music has the feeling of what just might be Russian folk music, with a touch of present-day pop/rock. Although there are no hummable melodies, the total experience is enormously entertaining. The set is glorious, the costumes are terrific, and the show is a sight to behold. The continually moving band/orchestra performers are flawless. This is more like going on a two- and one-half-hour amusement park ride than going to an actual musical. And unlike the missing Andrey, “I was there!”

Tolstoy published “War and Peace” in 1869, about 50 years after the time reflected in the production. This segment of the novel touches on the romance of Natasha and Anatole, while Pierre searches for meaning in his life, and everyone else just tries to cope.

While Natasha is in town to meet Andrey’s parents, she meets Anatole, unaware that he is already married. Romantic sparks fly and Natasha decides she will throw her love for Andrey to the wind and run off with her new-found jerk, Anatole, much to the dismay of everyone in the show, and my now-friends in the audience.

The cast is universally talented. Brett Ambler as Pierre and Bella Anaya Hawthorne as Natasha are great performers, as are Jack Wardell as Anatole, Aynsley Upton as Sonja, Neyla Pekarek as Mary, Nicole deBree as Helen e, Bryce Baxter as Dolokhov, Anna Maria High as Marya D, Brian Watson as Old Prince Bolkonsky and as Balaga, and David Otto as Andrey. The supporting cast is equally flawless – Elleon Dobias, Penina Eisenberg, Drew Horwitz and Ronald MacQueen.

The incredible goings-on are directed by Lynne Collins, with David Nehls as music director and Grady Soapes as choreographer

Versions of the musical had limited performances, before premiering on Broadway in November of 2016. The production received excellent reviews and was nominated for 12 awards – the highest number of nominations in the 2017 season. Josh Groban performed as Pierre in the Broadway show.

This is not a traditional theatrical production – but an unusually interesting one, extremely well done by a wonderfully talented cast. Near the end the “Comet of 1812” appears in the sky. Some see it as a portent of good things to come. Others are fearful, but we are left unknowing. As the performance ended, I felt amazed at the talent of the performers, but I really didn’t like the characters they were portraying. By the time I reached home, however, I realized that the show was so effective that I ended up really “caring.” The first thing I did upon returning home was to head to my computer. I Googled to learn how Tolstoy continued his story of Pierre and Natasha, and Sonja, and Anatole and Andrey, and Helena, and my other friends from the evening. This is wonderful entertainment. Or maybe I was just enlightened by the comet!

“Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812”
Through March 31, 2024
Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
6901 Wadsworth Boulevard
Arvada, CO 80003
720/898-7200
www.arvadacenter.org

2024, Candelight, Johnstown, Musical

“Crazy for You” Is Enormous Fun!

February 9, 2024 Tom

Award Winning Musical Is Ablaze With Crazy Corniness And Terrific Choreography

Reviewed by Tom Jones
February 9, 2024

Bobby Child is the son of a rich banking family in New York. He is a talented showbiz wannabee whose dreams of stage stardom are thwarted with a bad mistake in an early audition. His mother (fierce guardian of the family fortune) wants to exile her stagestruck son, sending him to Deadrock, Nevada, to foreclose on a rundown theater bank loan.

Looks like Bobby Child of New York might be following in the footsteps of Joseph of biblical Canaan whose brothers sent him to Egypt to get him out of the way in Candlelight’s recent “Dreamcoat” hit. Like the biblical Joseph, Bobby lands isolated in a place extremely foreign to him – going from the excitement of Manhattan to the forlorn wilderness of nowhere Nevada.

Bobby’s misfortune, however, is to the benefit of current theatergoers, as this delightful tale provides an evening of showstopping delight. Yes, it is basically a show-biz fable with the appropriate cliches of the theatrical world. But it is a wow. After the first act I realized I was experiencing the charm of naïve silliness.

Matthew Dailey and Sara Kowalski are terrific as New Yorker Bobby Child and Nevadan Polly Baker. They are both great singers and dancers. Together they dazzle. They have great opportunity to bring life to such George and Ira Gershwin songs as ”Someone to Watch Over Me,” “Embraceable You,” “You Can’t Take That Away From Me,” and join the talented ensemble to announce “I Got Rhythm.”

Candlelight continues to assemble remarkable talent. In addition to Dailey and Kowalski, Patric Case and Hugh Butterfield also shine. Case as the Broadway entrepreneur Bela Zangler and Hugh Butterfield as Lank Hawkins, a Nevada saloon owner.

Mid-way through the second act Dailey and Case are on stage together, each portraying Bela Zangler, much to the amazement of the audience trying to figure out who is who. The timing is flawless. I began to wonder if they even wondered who was who. This result is one of the most clever sequences in recent memory.

Steve Wilson has directed this stunner, with choreography by Shawna Walker, set design by Brian Watson, and Chas Lederer as assistant director. Music director and conductor is Richard Shore. The orchestra under his direction is as terrific as the performers it accompanies.

The Broadway production opened at the Shubert Threatre on February 1, 1992, and was met with excellent reviews. It went on to win the Tony Award for Best Musical that year, followed by accolades wherever it went. Curiously, “Crazy” has not continued to be an often-seen show. It was based on the Broadway review “Girl Crazy” of the 1930s, incorporating music and lyrics by George and Ira Gershwin from that show, as well as from other songs from other Gershwin shows.

Before the final curtain I began to weary. The show is nearly too good to be true and is a bit long. But in the interim the audience is treated to a wonder of excellent dancing, singing, stage set, costumes, lighting and sound. Just about everything dazzles in this evening of charming music and comedic lunacy. It has now been several hours since I left the theater, delightfully musing on what I saw!

“Crazy for You”
Through April , 2024
Candlelight Dinner Playhouse
4747 Marketplace Drive
Johnstown, CO 80534
Box Office 970/744-3747
Online: www.coloradocandlelight.com

Tom's Colorado Theater Reviews