Music Mountain Theatre takes a risk with The Go-Go’s “Head Over Heels”
Posted
John Dwyer
Music Mountain Theatre will begin its 2021 Summer Season with “Head Over Heels,” premiering July 2.
The show will run for 12 performances ending on July 18. The show will feature music from The Go-Go’s performed by a live all female band.
I am highlighting this company and this production because I want to show appreciation to a company that is taking risks. Due to production costs, story line, etc., this show has not been produced as often as it should. Standards get done by this company and others but sometimes a company will take a chance and, as Willie Loman’s wife said, “Attention must be paid.”
The show was on Broadway for six months. Reviews were mixed, not due to the material, as much as bad casting choices who didn’t commit to their roles. On paper, it looks like it could have and should have run longer.
This show has the vibe of the Abba jukebox musical “Mamma Mia,” with the value-added story line of a classic but mixed with an outrageous lesson in gender studies. It takes guts to do it up right. Perfect for just coming off of gay pride.
It is being directed by the excellent Louis Palena with extensive choreography rendered by the equally talented Jordan Brennan. Their “Aida” and “Full Monty” have impressed me more than the Broadway versions in their vision and honesty. Hoping for the same here. I appreciate the effort to provide diversity for our local theater audiences, who are some of the most sophisticated audiences around
This Elizabethan romp focuses on the royal family’s extravagant journey to prevent an oracle’s prophecy of doom and save their beloved kingdom. Set to the songs of the most successful all-female rock band of all time, from “Vacation” to “Our Lips Are Sealed” to “We Got the Beat,” this hilarious quest is wrought with mistaken identities, jealous lovers, sexual awakening, scandal, and self-discovery – where everything, and everyone, is not quite what it seems.
Appearing in the cast of “Head Over Heels” are Blair Johnson, Jenny McNiven, Jenna Parrilla Alvino, Allison McMullin, Edward Honan, Angelica Staikos, Karl Weigand, and Tim Chastain. The live band will feature Julia Baker on percussion, Meghan Doyle on guitar, and Sue Den Outer on keyboard. Loving that it is an all-female band, a la The Go-Go’s.
This is a must-see for those who want local producers to take a few chances with the audience. When that happens, magic can occur. I will review it soon and hope it meets our high expectations. Regardless, I am thankful that Music Mountain can give us this chance to celebrate the exuberant music of The Go-Gos. Roll the dice. Dance and sing and “Go big or go home.”
Show times are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturdays, and 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Patrons who are fully vaccinated are now permitted in the theater without a mask. For information on MMT’s safety protocols or to purchase a ticket, visit musicmountaintheatre.org or call 609-397-3337.
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