Courtesy of The Croswell Opera Home
Earlier than Lin-Manuel Miranda grew to become a family title, he teamed up with composer Tom Kitt to craft a peppy, full-throttle musical impressed by the enduring 2000 cult movie “Deliver It On.” Whereas this stage model veers sharply from the Kirsten Dunst film you keep in mind—plot, tone, and all—it nonetheless dives headfirst into the high-stakes world of aggressive cheer. And although it’d, on the floor, resemble your typical highschool musical, The Croswell’s “Deliver It On” is a gravity-defying good time, because of a spirited and versatile firm able to flip, twist, bounce, and break up their method into your coronary heart.
Directed by Croswell common Erin Pifer, whose resume of movie-inspired musicals contains “Footloose,” “College of Rock,” and “Mary Poppins,” this manufacturing is bursting with vitality and athleticism. It appears Pifer has grow to be the theater’s go-to for these crowd-pleasers (don’t be shocked if “Imply Ladies” is subsequent). Right here, she helms an enormous forged that doesn’t simply sing and act: they tumble, raise, and stunt with the sort of synchronicity that’ll make you wish to yell “Go crew!”
Lydia Kirk leads the cost as Campbell, a high-achieving senior at Truman Excessive who’s lastly about to take the reins as cheer captain. She’s flanked by her hilarious besties Skylar (a razor-sharp Lily Gecher) and Kylar (Gabrielle Dunn, delightfully daffy). All the pieces’s developing pyramids for Campbell, till a last-minute redistricting fiasco lands her at Jackson Excessive, a college with no cheer crew (gasp!), a popularity for being tough across the edges, and a tradition shock ready at each flip.
Jeff Whitty’s e-book could begin with a number of acquainted beats, teen angst, rivalries, friendship bracelets, however it snaps into form as soon as Campbell arrives at Jackson. Out of the blue, it’s as if Miranda and Kitt have been unleashed. The infectious “Do Your Personal Factor” kicks off a second act full of fierce rhythms, wealthy harmonies, and Miranda’s signature lyrical swagger. The simple showstopper? “It’s All Taking place,” a cheer-worthy explosion of rap battles, layered vocals, and teenage angst, carried out with full-throttle dedication.
As Jackson’s reigning dance crew, Ziyaan Nurruddin, Talitha Thomas, and Sky Rodriguez slay as Danielle, Nautica, and La Cienega, every oozing charisma, precision, and confidence. These three grow to be Campbell’s new tribe as she schemes to take down her former squad at Regionals, led by her new nemesis Eva (Bryce Lang, stealing each scene with impeccable timing and full Regina George vitality).
Past the pom-poms, “Deliver It On” delivers a considerate replace to the supply materials. The unique movie touched on cultural appropriation however didn’t go far sufficient. The musical goes deeper: tackling privilege, identification, and inclusion. New characters like La Cienega (a trans pupil whose self-love radiates in each scene) carry coronary heart and depth to a present that might’ve simply caught to surface-level sparkle.
Rachel Ogger nails each comedic beat as Bridget, Campbell’s lovable misfit buddy, who’s additionally despatched to Jackson and finds an sudden reference to the charming, goofy Twig (Bobby Lindsey). Marreon Washington (Cameron), Payton Sharpe (Steven), and Derrick McCullough (Randall) spherical out the crew, exhibiting off slick rap expertise and including heat and swagger to the present’s romantic threads.
And sure, let’s give a toe-touch spherical of applause to choreographer Debra Ross Calbrese and cheer coach Kelly Bailey, who labored extensively prepping this forged for the high-flying stunts on show. It’s a dizzying quantity of motion, and so they make it look easy. Music administrators Mandy Kruse and Josh Glover maintain the advanced rating tight and punchy, whereas Doug Miller’s scenic work is polished. (I actually loved the refined LED display screen work that was used to imitate FaceTimes and web searches, which added a contemporary contact with out distracting from the motion). Jen Brown’s costumes neatly mirror each colleges’ personalities, from buttoned-up Truman to the trendsetting Jackson crew.
“Deliver It On” was by no means going to be the Croswell season’s most deeply profound present, however it’s an adrenaline rush of a manufacturing: warm-hearted, wildly entertaining, and executed with precision. The forged sticks the touchdown, and the music can be caught in your head for days. Should you’re on the lookout for a summer time present that brings the pep, the punch, and the panache, this one’s acquired spirit, sure it does!
The Croswell’s manufacturing of BRING IT ON continues by way of July twentieth. You may get your tickets right here.