“I got Rhythm. I got Music,”
sang the players from W.T. Woodson’s “Crazy for You.” And they have a whole lot
more, including contagious dancing, impressive performances, and a tremendous
set.
“Crazy for You” starts with
Bobby Child (Terry Barr), whose main focus in life is dance. But when his
mother forces him out to the middle of nowhere to foreclose a property, he
finds much more than expected. Bobby discovers an old theatre in need of a fix
up and Polly Baker (Ann Marie White) the owner. Bobby attempts to put on a show
with his Follies girls from
Terry Barr, who with an
wonderful voice and nimble tap-dancing feet, led the show with ease. His
ability to act while singing, as well as adding in a few dance moments and tap
moves such as in “I Can’t be Bothered Now,” showed his flexibility as an actor.
His natural movements and change of accents brought a noticeable quality to his
character. Ann Marie White showed the roughness of Polly as the only girl in
town, as well as her softer side in numbers like “Someone to Watch over Me.”
Working also as choreographer, White put an amazing amount of work into the
dance numbers, as well as in developing her own character.
Supporting players included
Patsy (Laurel Steuernagel), a funny ditzy Follies girl from
The ensemble of “Crazy for
You” never lacked enthusiasm or energy. The Follies Girls were memorable for
their tap numbers, as well as their harmonization. They were excellently
synchronized and they taught the Cowboys in town, who were known to throw fake
fight scenes in the middle of the bar, to dance. The Cowboy Trio (Kirk
Dennison, Luke Savoca and Matt Savoca),
stood out with comedic timing and the ability to hold harmony
beautifully.
The lighting for this show
was simple, yet brought the attention where it was needed most. Aside from a
few shaky spots, and a couple hasty cues, the lights were used effectively.
While the acoustics in the theatre were not the best, sound was very seldom an
issue. Although microphones did go in and out occasionally, the projection of
the actors helped so that essential lines were not missed. The stage crew did
an impressive job of changing the sets from one scene to another. With many
large flats to maneuver, the crew moved them with ease and was always quick and
on time.
With energy and a large list
of songs, W.T. Woodson showed that with rhythm and dance, we too will go “Crazy
for You.”
by Elizabeth Reed of
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Mixed identities, a
complicated love triangle, and four weddings in two weeks, sounds like
Shakespeare right? But set it in the old west and add Ira and George Gershwin’s
music, tap dancing and a whole lot of fun and you get Crazy for You.
Crazy For You opened on
Broadway in 1992 and went on to win a Tony for Best Musical that Year. It tells
the story of a banker, trying to find his place in the world. Bobby Child(
Terry Barr) goes to Deadrock to foreclose a theatre and ends up falling in love
with Polly Baker ( Ann Marie White), the owner. To try to win Polly’s
affections, Bobby proposes to put on a show to save the theatre. Unable to win
her as Bobby, he pretends to be Bela Zanger, a world famous choreographer and
starts up a show. However, no one shows up and Polly begins to fall in love
with “Zanger” not Bobby! Much chaos
ensues as mixed identities and misunderstandings are eventually sorted out and
everyone ends up with his true love.
The leads in this show were
true triple threats. They could sing, dance and act equally well. Terry Barr
was particularly good at playing both Bobby and Zangler, bringing boyish appeal
to the role. Ann Marie White as Polly had a beautiful voice, a rich character
and was a great dancer.
The chorus worked through
their complicated choreography and for the most part succeeded. Though not
everyone was step perfect, they executed their steps with energy and style.
Several memorable cameos included Patsy the dumb chorus girl(Laurel
Steuernagel), and Zangler(Matthew Esherick), who provided many laughs during
his song What Causes That? The three singing cowboys(Kirk Dennison, Luke
Savoca, and Matt Savoca) had perfect moves and perfect comic timing.
The set, which was the best
aspect of tech, wheeled out smoothly and was made in layers. Often two layers
of set were exposed to create real depth.
Sound faded in and out and lighting was not always on time. The show's
pacing was slow in first act, but it picked up in the second. Over all, the
tech enhanced the show, making it more visually interesting to watch.
Woodson did a good job on
Crazy for You, pulling off a complicated dance show with determination and
fun.
by Grace Vander Veer of
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What do you do when your
mother pressures you about your career, your “fiancée” refuses to leave you
alone, and the girl of your dreams refuses to speak to you? Put on a show! The
W.T. Woodson Performing Arts Department certainly followed this time-honored
maxim in its toe-tapping, foot stomping production of George Gershwin’s “Crazy
for You.”
Adapted by Ken Ludwig from
the 1930’s Gershwin Musical, “Girl Crazy,” “Crazy for You” opened in 1992 at
the Shubert Theater on Broadway, winning Best Musical. The show follows Bobby
Child, the son of a banking tycoon who prefers to sing and dance rather than
deliver his mother's latest foreclosure. However, after ruining an audition
with the illustrious showman Bela Zangler, Bobby escapes
The Woodson performers
danced, sang, and sparkled through this show full of love, the Wild West,
show-business, and mistaken identity. The leads, Terry Barr as Bobby and Ann
Marie White as Polly, both demonstrated their strength as triple threats,
dominating during solos and combining their talents in duet and group numbers
to drive this dynamic show. A Cowboy Trio of singers, Kirk Dennison, Matt
Savoca, and Luke Savoca, contributed to the storytelling with hilarious antics
and flawless vocals. Cassy Burne, portraying Irene Roth, Bobby’s fiancee, and
Jasper Hollins, the owner of Deadrock’s saloon, shone onstage separately and
together with palpable chemistry. The cast as a whole maintained energetic
personalities while singing and dancing. The choreography by Ann Marie White
was heavy, intricate, and challenging, and these steps were executed with
minimal glitches. Sometimes the timing and placing of musical numbers seemed
off, yet the cast recovered well and made up for any flaws with a well-timed
gag.
The setting moved between
In a show about the trials
and tribulations of theater, W.T. Woodson Performing Arts certainly exemplified
all the aspects of good theater in its dazzling production of “Crazy for You.”
by Francesca Chilcote of
Paul VI
--------------------------------------------------
Abundant in musical ability,
the cast WT Woodson High School's recent
performance of "Crazy For You" was one of exceptional vocals, dances,
and variety. Crafted around the music of George Gershwin, "Crazy For
You" sets out an interesting plot that could include many of the composer's
popular melodies.
Woodson's show was held
together by the very strong leads and supporting actors. As Bobby Child, Terry
Barr brought his character to life with
his strong tenor voice and gifted dancing skills. Ann Marie White, as
Polly Baker, also combined powerful vocals and dance technique to bring
strength and depth to her role. Barr and Baker were exceptional apart, but as a
duo they were even more in sync to constantly keep the show's energy flowing.
Other standout performances
were given by Jasper Hollins as the rough and tumble Lank Hawkins, Cassy Byrne
as Irene Roth, Child's fiance turned Lank's new partner, and John Wassel as the
father figure, Everett. The trio of singing cowboys (Kirk Dennison, Luke Savoca
and Matt Savoca) also proved to have wonderful stage presence and vocal
harmonies, bringing smiles to everyone.
Although there were
occasional slip ups with the microphones, the audience was impressed with Colin
Rosenblum's and Daniel Whitehead's perfectly timed sound cues. The spotlight
sometimes tended to wash people out, but Nick Mattheisin's lighting was
generally very well done and complimented the well-crafted sets. Certain props,
such as the breaking glass bottle, by Kevin Gray, also added much to the
production.
With wonderfully challenging
choreography by Ann Marie White and difficult vocals, individuals in the
ensemble would get lost at times; however the energy of the cast more than
overcame such issues.
W. T Woodson's "Crazy
for You" provided the audience with a great show that dives into the
history of the American musical and brings to life one of the greatest
composers we've ever known.
by Peter Wiese of
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Singing, fake fights and
dancing cowboys. Wonder what would
happen if two different worlds mixed together? Imagine them singing and dancing
together.
This production took place
in
“Crazy for You” included
mainly dancing. The choreography was arduous and fast, however, the dancing
numbers were infections and made the show successful to the highest extend. The
dancing included lifts, tap shoes and many, many turns. Also the setting of the
production was quick and smart. The turning of the backgrounds and the moving
of the props were so quick, to the point the audience felt nervous that the
stage crew might be trampled by one of the backgrounds. Besides that fact, the
production had little negatives. On a
positive note however, both the lead actor and actress, Polly and Bobby Child
were a triple threat, for they could sing, act and especially dance. The dance
numbers were also successful besides the dance skills that these characters
had, because Polly and Bobby also had realistic chemistry. W.T. Woodson’s
production of “Crazy for You” was a toe tapping number memorable dancing.
by Jolleen Tran of
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Although old fashioned,
“Crazy for You” has powerful and numbers and a classic American setting.
W.T. Woodson put on the world renowned
Gershwin musical this past weekend. The show won three 3 Tony awards in 1992,
and its music is timeless.
Bobby (Terry Barr) a dancer
wannabe form
The cast was full of energy
and emotion as they untangled the plot of mistaken identity and young
love.
Anne Marie White did an amazing
job as Polly. She was a true triple threat. Her singing, dancing, acting, and
even choreography carried the whole show. Terry Barr portrayed Bobby very well
his vocal abilities were vast and his dance was very well rehearsed.
Other notable characters
included the Cowboy trio (Kirk Dennison, Luke Savoca, and Matt Savoca).
Dennison especially played his part of the awkward cowboy very well and managed
never to break character. The Follies
girls’ ensemble had very nice chemistry and their tap moves were usually in
sync.
The sets were very elaborate
but some scene changes took a long time. The lighting sometimes washed out the
actors. The costumes created by Mary
Sollosi and Rassah Ostaadhossaini were very well done and true to the period.
In the end everyone ends up
happy and in love. The cast and crew of
by Sandy Callahan of Bishop
O'Connell
--------------------------------------------------
Usually people travel from
the Midwest to
The show was written by Ken
Ludwig to music from Girl Crazy (a musical from 1930) by Gerswhin. It hit the
Broadway stage in 1992 and swept away the Tony Awards for Best Musical and Best
Choreography.
Bobby Child is the born into
a family of banking tycoons. They force him to go to the Deadrock,
Focus, concentration, and
energy were all exhibited by the cast. The large cast stayed in character, and
supported each other. In large numbers like “Slap that Bass”, everyone onstage
was feeding off of one another’s energy.
As Polly Baker, Ann Marie
White consistently stayed with her accent, carried the scene, danced well, and
had a comprehension of the character’s intentions. There were variations in all
the lines she delivered and when she sang she had quite enjoyable high notes.
Terry Barr’s tapping, singing, acting, and determination made Bobby Child loved
in the show. To go along with his funny facial expressions, he had a strong
voice that was steady and on pitch.
The grumpy hotel and saloon
owner Lank Hawkins was played by Jasper Hollins. His articulation was clear; we
knew what he was saying and how he felt about it. Hollins projection also
helped with this. Portraying the character of Irene Roth was Cassy Bryne, who
not only had clear character objectives, but also a wonderful voice to go with
it. In her song “Naughty Baby”, she stayed in character, in tune, and sounded
great while doing so.
Although the choreography
was impressive, it sometimes seemed like too much for the stage. Their
performing space seemed limited when the principle dancers did complicated
numbers. At times, the ensemble went ahead and the orchestra had to try and
catch up. What contributed to this was probably the fact that the orchestra was
placed behind the performers. Some cast members had some difficulty enunciating
their words and the lines couldn’t be heard or understood.
Despite some bumps in the
road, W.T. Woodson’s production of "Crazy for You" left the audience
with smiles on their faces as they traveled
by Ellen Winter of Duke
Ellington
--------------------------------------------------
With a overbearing mother,
an obsessive fiance and a love for dancing, Bobby Childs in stuck between a
rock and a hard place. When his mother sends him to Deadrock
When he gets there, he meets
Polly, the girl of his dreams. However, she vows to hate him for trying to
foreclose on her father's theatre. Bobby decides to win her heart by disguising
himself as a famous broadway producer. All is going well, until the real
producer shows up.
There were a few perfomances
that really stood out. Terry Barr, who played Bobby Child, dominated the stage
with his adorable character. Playing opposite him, Ann Marie White (Polly
Baker) was a sight to behold. She was an excellent singer, dancer and actor,
something very hard to find in high school. Together they were two phenominal
triple threats that were the strength of the show.
The Orchestra for the show
was also really good, however because of where they were placed they were often
lost and overpowered by the dancers. That almost the whole cast could tap was
wonderful for a high school, but they tended to speed ahead of the music, which
isn't uncommon in high school theatre.
Except for the placement of
the orchestra, the set was rather ingenious. By placing flats in front of the
three-dimensional sets, they added a subtle depth to the set, which was a very
clever way to create the world of the show. Also, the stage crew did a great
job managing all the changes even though the set pieces we very large.
Overall, "Crazy for
You" was an enjoyable show.
by Amanda Bloss of
--------------------------------------------------
Things were certainly
looking up for
First brought to the
Broadway stage in 1992, “Crazy for You” combines the musical genius of George
and Ira Gershwin with the witty style of writer Ken Ludwig to create an
uproarious comedy set in both the lazy town of
Anne Marie White as Polly
Baker, Bobby Child’s love interest, lit up Woodson’s stage with her flawless
dance moves, beautiful voice, and lovely characterization. White showed nice chemistry with Bobby Child,
played by Terry Barr. Demonstrating his
admirable tap-dancing and vocal talents, Barr proved that he couldn't be
bothered by the pressures of a demanding role.
One true highlight of the
show was the trio of cowboys who sang “Buyin’ My Time.” The three cowboys had
the audience in laughter with their lackadaisical movement contrasting their
harmonious voices. The Follies Girls
were also a delight with their exciting dance moves, though at times their
intense concentration on the complicated dance steps distracted from their
energetic characters. In “Slap that
Bass,” perhaps the most enjoyable number in the show, both the Follies Girls
and cowboys entertained the audience with their fun facial expressions and
tricky dance moves.
Set design by Woodson’s Tech
Theatre Class was very well done, appropriately switching from a western town
to a city street with ease. The
intricately detailed two-level saloon was exquisite, and with its old western
feel, the set easily transported the audience back to the crazy days of the
Wild West. Compliments to the stage crew
who, despite large set pieces, usually managed to move the set with ease
(Margaret Gertzog, Tina Lydon, Lizzi Reams, Victoria Zelvin). While some sound and light cues were missed,
they were covered well.
To perform a show that calls
for complex choreography and never-ending energy is difficult, but the cast of
W.T. Woodson’s production ambitiously performed this musical comedy with
boundless enthusiasm. The memorable
performances by some of the leads and energetic ensemble certainly made the
audience crazy for “Crazy for You.”
by Kate Parkin of Herndon
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Crazy For You was first
staged in 1992 on Broadway, and ran for 1,622 performances. It is an revised
adaptation of the 1930 musical "Girl Crazy". It won the Tony award
for best musical in 1992.
Bobby Child (Terry Barr), a
talented actor and dancer, is sent by his mother, Mrs. Lottie Child (Britt
Goodman) to foreclose on a theatre in
Terry Barr's performance as
Bobby Child was stunning, with superb energetic tap-dancing, and good acting.
He was masterful in his singing, and executed such songs as "K-R-A-Z-Y For
You", "Nice Work if You Can Get It" and many others with
ecstatic ferocity. Ann Marie White as Polly Baker was consistent, lively, and
compelling.
The ensemble of
"Follies Girls'" (Alyssa Easterly, Amy Lewis, Lauren Lukow, Sam
Melvin, Sara Miller, Katy Moffett, Sara Persily, Kristen Salpini, Mie Savoca,
Leah Starns, and Laurel Steuernagel) were solidly good with their dancing and
singing, as was the Chorus (Lynn Bonomo, Caitlin Connolly, Mike Downey, Emily
Gawlak, Maggie Lewitus, Ally Milewich, Debra Miller, Luke Nicastro, and Nadine
Tadros).
Sound errors were present,
but this was often due to poor handling of the microphones by actors. Sets were
well designed, and significantly contributed to the show. Some actors did not
hit everything on cue, and there were some instances in which characterizations
could have been stronger.
by Alex Badley of Homeschool
ITS
--------------------------------------------------
Filled with dancing feet,
shimmying hands, enthusiastic dancing and eye-catching costumes, WT Woodson’s
“Crazy For You” was a fun-filled afternoon of shootin’ and tappin’.
Opening on Broadway in 1992
and running 1,622 productions, “Crazy for You” is one of musical theatres’ most
performed shows. Written in 1930 by Ken Ludwig with music by George and Ira
Gershwin, this popular tap-dancing musical is an adaptation of “Girl Crazy”
written in 1930 by George and Ira Gershwin.
Bobby Child has devoted his
life to being a song-and-dance-man, but gets stuck working in the family
business – the East Coast Bank. While on an assignment to foreclose the Gaiety
Theatre in
Terry Barr as Bobby Child
brightened the stage with his glowing stage presence and clear-as-a-bell voice.
Barr’s vocals were pure and strong, primarily appearing in I Can’t Be Bothered
Now,” “Slap That Bass” and “Nice Work If You Can Get It.” His tapping toes and
foot-stomping dance entertained the audience as he slid his way to stardom.
Chemistry was strong between Barr and Ann Marie White, as Polly Baker. White
executed her own choreography with energy and skill, and showed off impressive
vocals in “But Not For Me,” “Someone To Watch Over Me” and “Embraceable You.”
She dazzled with her beautiful vocals and energetic tapping.
The Trio of Cowboys proved
to be one of the standout performances of the afternoon. Moose, Sam and Mingo
(Kirk Dennison, Luke Savoca and Matt Savoca) filled the stage with bumbling and
fumbling entertainment and some darn inaccurate shootin’! The three amazed the
auditorium with their near-flawless harmonies, and contrasting with their
whacky physical comedy, formed a beautifully balanced trio of talent and
entertainment.
The set changed from the
Zangler Theatre in New York City to the inside of the broken-down Gaiety
Theatre in Deadrock, Nevada, and from Main Street to the inside of Lank’s Hotel
and S’loon. The set was versatile and of impressive caliber and the huge set
pieces were changed quickly, yet slightly noisily from scene to scene. The WT
Woodson Pit Band covered and segued smoothly between scene changes.
Though the spotlight was
sometimes unsteady, and the body mics or perhaps the difficult acoustics made
it hard to understand some actors, the cast and crew of “Crazy For You” did an
admirable job delivering this lighthearted comedy.
“Crazy For You” was
overflowing with enthusiasm, energy and heart. “Things Are Looking Up” at WT
Woodson!
by Chelsea Cook of
Homeschool ITS
--------------------------------------------------
What do you get when you
combine a desperate wanna-be Broadway dancer, a spunky cowgirl, a long
forgotten mining town, several lazy cowboys, lots of tapping Follies girls, and
the magic of theatre?
To escape his banker mother
and nagging fiancée, Irene, Bobby Child (
As Bobby Child, Terry Barr
lit up the stage with his energetic tap dancing and exceptional vocals. Ann Marie White as his counterpart, Polly
Baker, was equally stunning with her impeccable tapping and vocal
technique. In their duet “Shall We
Dance?” the two truly shone as they danced across the stage in perfect
unison. “Embraceable You” was also
particularly entertaining as Polly expressed her love to Bobby (as Zangler).
Cassy Byrne did an excellent
job as Irene Roth. Her deep, sensuous
vocals were pleasant as she seduced the saloon owner, Lank Hawkins (Jasper
Hollins) in “Naughty Baby.” The Cowboy
Trio (Kirk Dennison, Luke Savoca, Matt Savoca) wowed the audience with their
tight harmonies and spectacular vocals in songs like, “The Real American Folk
Song,” and the Follies Girls tapped their way into the hearts of the audience
in numbers like “Slap That Bass” and “I Got Rhythm.”
Choreography (Ann Marie
White) was impressive. The variety and
individuality of the numerous tap numbers made them all interesting and
exciting to watch. Lighting and sound
had issues, but the perfectly timed gunshots and player piano made up for it. The stage crew, headed by Margaret Gertzog,
was quick, efficient, and practically invisible as they moved around the
creative set pieces.
So when you’re crazy for
that sweet, embraceable someone, grab their hand and have a dance because what
causes that feeling is sure to give you rhythm!
by Sarah Hayes of Homeschool
ITS
--------------------------------------------------
Pack your bags and say
goodbye to Broadway because you’re headed straight for
Opening at the Shubert
Theater on Broadway in 1992, George Gershwin’s “Crazy for You” travels from
Terry Barr’s good natured
guise was luminous and he portrayed the ambitious Bobby Child with precision
and confidence. Barr oozed enthusiasm in “I Can’t Be Bothered Now” and his
exuberant dancing matched his pleasant voice charmingly. As Polly Barker, Ann
Marie White connected with Barr in “Shall We Dance” by displaying emotion
clearly and tapping beautifully. Keeping her country accent throughout, White’s
exceptional voice captured hearts with “Someone to Watch Over Me.”
As Polly’s drunk father
Everett, John Wassel interacted with the cast comically. Wassel’s redneck
accent was always there, and his intoxicated walk and belly scratching antics
made for some amusing moments. Often aiming his gun at Wassel, Jasper Hollins
depicted the trigger happy Lank Hawkins with agitated gusto, and his facial
expressions were dead on, especially when a ricocheting bullet zoomed around
his hotel and saloon.
As the energy began to wane
slightly, a fight between cowboys broke out and sent the show’s spirit back up
again. The Follies Girls and cowboys showed excellent chemistry and projection,
despite minor sound problems. In “Slap That Bass” the ensemble added to the
performance with an animated number, leaving the audience tapping along.
Ann Marie White’s
choreography was convivial and peppy and the dancers executed it well. The
Follies Girls showed off White’s skills particularly well in “I Can’t Be
Bothered Now” as they piled out of a limousine before dancing the streets of
With a tip-tap and a
“yee-haw,” WT Woodson followed their bass playin’, Broadway dancing hearts all
the way to being “Crazy for You.”
by Taylor Hart of Homeschool
ITS
--------------------------------------------------
In most aspects of theatre,
overacting is something that plagues amateur actors and marks them as novices
to the audience. Surprisingly, however,
the overemphasized actions of the actors in Crazy for You at
Bobby Child, played by Teddy Barr, proved to
be an impressive dancer and a fine singer.
His characterization of Bela Zangler within the play also showed his
ability to generate laughs. The lead
opposite of him, Polly, played by Ann Marie White, also shined. White also could sing, dance and act. The two of them made an interesting pair as
they were both impressive performers and they seemed to build off each other,
but not in the sense of rising to the competition of the other but rather
building of the talent and ability of the other. A show lives and dies by the performance of
its leads and this show was definitely anchored by the performances or rather
the joint performance, singular, of these two individuals.
The show was further
enhanced by the large dance numbers including an enormous cast of
characters. The choreography, by Ann
Marie White who also played Polly, was excellent. The dancing numbers captivated the audience
and made the show feel much more professional—through difficult routines. Although there were a few slip ups as White
tried to produce as close to professional level choreography with amateur high
school level performers, the dancing for the most part worked. The set seemed a bit unsturdy but had a
certain cartoonish allure to it and it brought a much less serious tone to the
show and created an atmosphere which fostered a delightfully playful show.
Another addition to the show
was the townspeople. The group of
cowboys, led by cowboy “Moose,” provided a lot of laughs and brought a certain
adorable silliness to the production.
Jasper Hollins as Lank Hawkins gave a particular riveting performance as
the hotel/saloon-owing antagonist. He
gave quite a comical performance and gave the show a lot of energy to
boot.
The show combined a lot of
interesting, “showy” elements such as comically fake gunshots, a set which
looked like something from the comics section of the newspaper, large dance
numbers, and some over exaggeration on the actors’ part to create a thoroughly
enjoyable, fun experience which managed to hold my attention for a whole 2
hours.This show was truly something spectacular.
by Mike Fink of James
Madison
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On Saturday May fifth, 2007
W.T. Woodson presented George Gershwin’s Crazy for You. Crazy for You starts out in
After arriving to
The choreography designed by
Ann Marie White, who also plays the female lead role of Polly, was
awesome. The dancing was intricate and
appealing to the eye.
The leads Terry Barr, who
played Bobby Childs, and Ann Marie White, who played Polly Baker, were both
great actors, dancers, and singers. Both
Barr and White had tremendous stage presence and energy.
“I Got Rhythm” sung by Polly
and company was very strong. White
(Polly) has an amazing voice and the choreography and music by the others was
great.
Crazy for You had a great
deal of energy and the production ran smoothly.
by Cole Andrews of
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WT Woodson presented Crazy
for You. It tells the story of Bobby Child, played by Terry Barr, who only
wants to dance. His mother Lottie Child, played by Britt Goodman, forces him to
go to a plain and boring town named Deadrock to close a theater owned by Everet
Baker, played by John Wassel. While in Deadrock, Bobby meets some interesting
cowboys and the only girl in town named Polly Baker, played by Ann Marie White,
who he later falls in love with.
Barr and White had great
chemistry and portrayed their characters very well. They both also had
beautiful voices in the songs Could You Use Me? and Shall We Dance?
A memorable ensemble was
that of the Cowboy Trio made up of Moose (Kirk Dennison), Sam (Luke Savoca),
and Mingo (Matt Savoca). Their songs Bidin' My Time and The Real American Folk
Song were both sung strongly.
Matthew Esherick did a good
job portraying Bela Zangler, but at times it was difficult to understand him
because of the accent he used. He was very humerous in the song What Causes
That? sung with Barr.
The set was interestingly
done with pieces that had New York City
on one side and the town of Deadrock on the other. They were easy to move to
make set changes go quicker. The set for the saloon and hotel was very
believable. The costumes were very period also.
WT Woodson should be
commended for doing a job well done on the romantic comedy Crazy for You.
by Josephine Kontkanen of
Manassas Park
--------------------------------------------------
They've got rhythm, they've
got music, they've got an entertaining show, who could ask for anything more?
With singing cowboys and flirtatious showgirls, W.T Woodson's performance of
Crazy for You was infectious and enjoyable, never having a dull moment.
Crazy For You first
premiered in 1992, when book writer Ken Ludwig took classic songs by George and
Ira Gershwin, and spun an original story around them. The musical stars Bobby
Child, an eager young man who just wants to dance in Bela Zangler’s theatre.
However, when his family's bank forces him to go to Deadrock, Nevada to
foreclose on an old stage that can’t pay its mortgage, he is immediately
smitten with the cowgirl Polly, whose father owns the building. Eventually,
Bobby disguises himself as Zangler, and talks the town into putting on a show
to raise the money needed to restore the theater to its former glory.
Complications hilariously ensue when Polly falls for Bobby-as-Zangler, right as
the real producer shows up.
As Bobby, Terry Barr was
extremely efficient. With an impressive
stage voice and light-footed dance moves, he was consistently in character. His
accurate impression of Bela Zangler, complete with a hilarious Hungarian
accent, delighted the audience. Ann Marie White played Polly with ease, and was
able to show the change in her feelings for Bobby without missing a beat. The
chemistry between the two leads was apparent, especially in song and dance
numbers. With a show that requires two
triple-threat leads, Barr and White did not disappoint.
Several supporting
performances were notable and entertaining. Matthew Esherick played the real
Zangler with a certain sense of hilarity. In the second act, he and his twin
(the disguised Bobby) united for the song “What Causes That?” in which they
complain about their problems with women. Their drunkenly synchronized dancing
was a hilarious crowd-pleaser. Although some supporting characters lacked the
gusto needed for such a performance, it did not take away from the experience.
The ensemble tapped
ferociously, with choreography by multi-tasking Ann Marie White, who was
especially dazzling herself with her evident skill and dedication. Full of talented dancers, the ensemble was
easily the strongest element of the show.
The cartoon-like set and
reaction time props by Kevin Baker,
such as the cuckoo clock,
added a feel of innocence to a show that is never intended to be racy. The giant pieces of backdrop filled up the
stage well, and the stage crew (
Margaret Gertzog, Tina Lyden, Lizzi Reams, and Victoria Zelvin)worked quickly
and efficiently, making it so that scene changes were never awkwardly long.
All in all, the cast and
crew at W.T Woodson had no need to ask for anything more. Their amusing and lively performance of the
Gershwin musical was certainly something to go crazy for!
by Shannon Swanson of
Manassas Park
--------------------------------------------------
Tap dancing, over the top
characters, and Gershwin classics - one
can only be talking about the 1992 musical of Crazy for You performed by the
students of W.T. Woodson Theater.
Based on the musical comedy
Girl Crazy from the 1930’s, this 1992 Tony Award winning musical first opened
at the Shubert Theatre on Broadway on February 19, 1992. It originally ran for 1,622
performances. Crazy for You, was written
with the music fist and the plot second, so the plot is structured around the
songs written by the Gershwin’s.
The plot they did come up
with to fit around Gershwin’s classics follows the story of Bobby Child, the
son of a wealthy banker, who only wants to
sing and dance. His need to
please his mother's wishes, however, sends him off Deadrock, Nevada , where he
finds the girl of his dreams and the theater he needs to save in order to win
her over. What follows next is a series
of disguises, show-tapping dancers, and love triangles to boot.
Terry Barr captured the
essence of Bobby Child, with his energetic and optimistic personality. With his
tap dancing feet and his true musical theater styled vocals, he proved himself
a triple threat. Another triple threat
was Ann Marie White, who played the torn, but hard core Polly Baker. She showed off her impressive vocals in such
numbers as “Someone to Watch Over Me” and let her feet do the talking in “Shall
We Dance”. White also choreographed the
show's many musical numbers with fast-paced tap and jazz. With the extensive
number of songs that had to be choreographed, sometimes the execution became
sloppy and many members of the chorus were not in step with one another.
Britt Goodman played a
humorous mother of Bobby Child with her dry sarcasm and non-shallow
physicality. John Wassel played a
hilarious Everett Baker, father to Polly, with high energy and sharp comedic
timing, and his ability to show an endearing side to the reminiscent hillbilly.
A real treat was the singing hillbilly trio of Moose, Sam, and Mingo played by
Kirk Dennison, Luke Savoca, and Matt Savoca.
Their unfaltering three part harmonies were spot on and they kept in
their hilariously complimentary characters throughout every scene.
Although sound was a problem
throughout the show, both technicians and actors, covered to the best of their abilities. The stage crew worked speedily, moving the
large set during the many scene changes.
Crazy for You is a tall
order show with complicated technical aspects and many show stopping numbers.
W.T. Woodson met that order head on and created an energetic show that left
everyone singing along.
by Karen Kelleher of Paul VI
--------------------------------------------------
Get carried away in lilting
Gershwin music and have a laugh with some timeless American humor at W. T.
Woodson High School’s solid production of Crazy For You!
Ken Ludwig adapted Crazy For
You from the 1930 George and Ira Gershwin show Girl Crazy. When Crazy For You
opened on Broadway in 1992, it became a wild success and won the 1992 Tony
Award for Best Musical.
In New York, Bobby Child
(Terry Barr) has no luck learning the financial business from his mother (Britt
Goodman) or getting his dream role dancing in Bela Zangler’s (Matthew Esherick)
latest Broadway show. Mrs. Child orders
Bobby to foreclose a theater in sleepy Deadrock, Nevada, much to the chagrin of
the theater owner’s daughter, Polly Baker (Ann Marie White). Bobby falls for Polly, but she naturally
despises him, so Bobby decides to pose as Bela Zangler. As Zangler, Bobby initiates a theatrical
production, hoping to revive the theater, save it from foreclosure, and win
over Polly. When Zangler’s showgirls,
and eventually Zangler( Matthew Esherick), come to town, hilarious
complications ensue.
Ann Marie White as Polly led
the production, and filled the theater with her exceptional voice and stage
presence. She naturally infused Polly’s
character into her singing, acting, and dancing, and excelled in all three
abilities. Terry Barr as Bobby proved
triply talented as well, and skillfully brought out the humor in his role.
Supporting actors competently
rounded out the show. Jasper Hollins as
Lank Hawkins, saloon owner and potential buyer of the theater, alternated
comedy and rage without overacting. John
Wassel as theater owner Everett Baker typified the lazy dumbness of the town
consistently and appealingly. However,
the drunken, drawling cowboy ensemble proved the highlight of the show,
culminating with a singing Cowboy Trio (Kirk Dennison, Matt Savoca and Luke
Savoca).
The cast of Crazy For You
glided through dialogue smoothly and effectively, but sometimes became
disjointed during musical numbers. The
dancers, however, tackled some ambitious choreography with intense
concentration.
The sound crew, headed by
Colin Rosenbluth and Daniel Whitehead, tackled any microphone problems well and
even orchestrated an effective comic scene involving gunshots setting off a
cuckoo clock and player piano. Lighting,
though not always well-executed, was well-designed, and contributed well to the
show’s overall effect.
The W.T. Woodson cast
entertained and satisfied, and presented Gershwin’s timeless music with
earnestness, energy, and talent. Who
could ask for anything more?
by Madeline Chessman of Paul
VI
--------------------------------------------------
When a small town girl and a
big town boy meet the sparks begin to fly. But when you add in a fiancé who
just can't take a hint, a Saloon owner who seems a little crazy along with some
dancers and cowboys you get W.T. Woodson's production of "Crazy for
You."
Crazy for You by George
Gershwin is the story of a young man named Bobby who gets sent to Deadrock,
Nevada to deliver a foreclosure notice. He then falls in love with the young
lady whose father owns the theatre and will not stop until he's saved it.
Terry Barr (Bobby Child) and
Ann Marie White (Polly Baker) were both triple threats who were strong in
acting, singing and dancing. Barr did the most he could with his character
although he had a few trouble spots where he seemed lost. White tried her best
to overcome a microphone problem that caused her to be very difficult to hear
at time. Barr and White both did a good job in their musical numbers together
and were able to compliment each other nicely. In their first number together
they were able to play off the awkwardness of the situation without making the
whole thing seem awkward.
The Cowboy Trio (Luke
Savoca, Kirk Dennison, and Matt Savoca) were very entertaining to watch on
stage. Each had their own distinct character but they blended together. Matthew
Esherick (Bela Zengler) played his character well but was difficult to
understand at times because of the accent he was using. Mary Sollosi and Alex
Hosenball (Patricia and Eugene Fodor) were a nice touch to the show. Their
characters didn't seem to fit in anywhere until the relationship between Bobby
(Barr) and Polly (White) needed to be mended.
The Follies Girls were
entertaining to watch but they were often not together in their dance numbers.
The ensemble added a nice touch to the show without taking away from it. When
songs where going on they gave the feel of a place without bringing the focus
completely on themselves unless they were supposed to. Songs that left you
wanting more included "Bidin' My Time", "Shall We Dance",
"The Real American Folk Song", and "What Causes That?"
The costumes designed by
Mary Sollosi and Rassah Ostadhossaini were all very period and put together
nicely. The sound and lighting had a few trouble spots including microphones
popping and light cues that seemed slow but otherwise was done simply but well.
The stage crew moved quickly except for a few scene changes that were slow. The
set was put together nicely and moved around in an interesting fashion that
allowed many different views.
So if you can't be bothered
now or things are looking up, then W.T. Woodson's "Crazy for You" is
just what you need.
by Michelle Kaczmarek of
Paul VI
--------------------------------------------------
An enjoyable time was had by
all at W.T. Woodson’s performance of Crazy for You. The show was carefree and
tap-dance filled, with plenty of good music.
The show begins in New York
City, where the star Bobby Child (Terry Barr) is living under his domineering
mother’s thumb (played by Britt Goodman). She wants her son to become a banker,
but Bobby loves to dance. His mother prevails upon him to travel to Nevada to
foreclose on an old theater property. This is where Bobby meets the girl of his
dreams, Polly Baker (Ann Marie White), and then impersonates famous show
producer Bela Zangler to help restore the theater.
Terry Barr displayed ability
in acting, dancing, and singing, as did Ann Marie White. It was enjoyable to
watch the leads; their energy kept the show moving. Bobby’s bumbling enthusiasm
and Polly’s country western charm were delightful.
The Follies Girls ensemble
displayed bouncy energy and had many lively tap dance numbers that were
pleasant to witness. The cowboys had good chemistry as an ensemble and were
quite comedic, both with timing and physical comedy. Especially noteworthy was
Moose (Kirk Dennison), who stole a few scenes with his charisma and comic
timing.
The sets were impressive,
the city was very atmospheric, with a large and artistic mural as its
centerpiece. There was also an elaborate saloon, which cleverly appeared as a
three-dimensional room with the use of large walls that were portable. The
stage crew was quick and efficient in doing its job.
Overall, this light,
romantic story was nicely done, with comedic moments that the audience enjoyed.
by Rue Khalsa of Paul VI
--------------------------------------------------
‘Crazy For You,’ the
romantic musical comedy about a young banker who travels out to Nevada to turn
his life around, tapped across the W.T. Woodson stage Saturday afternoon. The
show, which flips from New York City to Deadrock, Nevada, was written by George
Gershwin.
Terry Barr was fantastic in
his role of Bobby Childs, the banker who just wanted to dance. Barr did that,
and sang, and acted, as the extremely entertaining triple threat. Opposite of
Barr was Ann Marie White, who played Polly Baker. White also was a triple
threat, singing, acting, and dancing throughout the show.
The student-directed
choreography was ambitious, but might have been better suited simplified. Many
actors looked dazed in trying to remember the counts than stay in character.
Having the orchestra located onstage behind the set may have made the dancers rush ahead of the music, forcing the
orchestra to play ‘catch-up’ for some of the show.
The set was
multi-dimensional. It had switch-around flats, a staircase, and even a car that
a performer tapped-danced on. The audience was able to watch the scene changes
in the darkness, and the stage-crew handled it nicely. The lighting design was
creative, but there were several dark spots during songs, and spot lights
weren’t always where they needed to be when they needed to be there.
‘Crazy For You’ was an
ambitious show for the Woodson Players.
by Margaret Spenneberg of
Robinson
--------------------------------------------------
What would you do in order
to win the girl of your dreams? Dress up as a man named Bela? W. T. Woodson’s
production of Crazy for You invites audiences to travel back to 1930’s New York
City and the wild, wild west of Deadpan Nevada.
Crazy for You was written by
Ken Ludwig with music by George and Ira Gershwin. Crazy for You contains
beloved Gershwin classics: “I Got Rhythm”, “Someone to Watch over Me”, and
“Embraceable You”.
Crazy for You follows Bobby,
a banking tycoon’s son who is much more interested in dancing than banking. Bobby
travels to Deadrock, Nevada to deliver a foreclosure notice to the Gaiety
Theatre. When he arrives, Bobby meets the girl of his dreams and comes up with
a plan to save the theatre by putting on a show. Polly discovers that Bobby is
from the bank she becomes angry with him. Bobby decides to disguise himself as
Broadway producer Bela Ziegler in order to save the theatre and win Polly’s
affection.
Terry Barr, who played
Bobby, and Ann Marie White, who played Polly, proved that they were real triple
threats: they could act, sing and dance well. Barr and White had a natural
chemistry is songs like “Shall we dance” and “Could you use me”.
The tap dances throughout
the show were performed with high energy and vitality, especially from the
Follies Girls. The choreography by Ann Marie White was very high quality. The
cowboy trio (Kirk Dennison, Luke Savoca, and Matt Savona) harmonized
beautifully to create a wonderful sound. In certain scenes it was very
difficult to hear and understand actors. Also, some actors with accents had a
lack of diction.
In certain songs, it seemed
that the actors had lost the orchestra. The orchestra was lighted at the back
of the stage, which made the scene changes visible and sometimes distracting.
However, the scene changes were very fast. The colorful costumes enhanced the
New York and Nevada settings of the production. The set seemed to be a bit
shaky at times.
Although some scenes were a
bit slow, W.T. Woodson produced an “embraceable evening” that the audience is
sure to remember.
by Brad Miller of South
Lakes
--------------------------------------------------
W. T. Woodson has got rhythm
in their performance of Crazy for You. Written by Ken Ludwig featuring music by
Ira and George Gershwin, Crazy for you opened at the Shubert Theatre on
Broadway on February 19, 1992 and originally ran for 1,622 performances. That
same year it won for Best Musical at the Tony Awards.
Crazy for You follows Bobby
Child, played by Terry Barr, as an underestimated dancer who goes out West and
falls in love with the domineering owner of a failing theatre, Polly Baker,
played by Ann Marie White. There he attempts to do the seemingly impossible:
bring in the famous Zangler Follies dancers from New York to help save the old
theatre in the middle of Deadrock, Nevada.
In high school, it is hard
to find triple threat performers. However, Woodson has two: Terry Barr and Ann
Marie White. Both performers sang, tapped, and acted their way to the audience
hearts, as well as each other’s hearts. The chemistry of the two actors exuded
from one another, which was a rarity in the production for couples.
The supporting roles had
just as much talent as the leading players. Particularly the sensible Tess,
played by Sara Miller, and ditsy Patsy, played by Laurel Steuernagel, provided
comic relief but also created significant characters although their limited
stage time. Some distinguished actors include Irene Roth (played by Cassy
Byrne), Mrs. Lottie Child (played by Britt Goodman), and Everett Baker (played
by John Wassel).
The ensemble cast
contributed to the liveliness of the show with its untiring energy. The
ensemble was strong in numbers while soaring through the music with beautiful
harmonies. Each member of each ensemble had their own distinct character which
added to the production. One notable ensemble was a cowboy trio (played by Kirk
Dennison, Luke Savoca, and Matt Savoca) who handled impressive harmonies.
The ambitious student
choreography by Ann Marie White led to few problems with the ensemble as a
whole, however, the raw energy of cast made up for the lost choreography. The
stunning, realistic set easily transported the audience from the hustle and
bustle of New York City to a sleepy Western town. Some sound problems,
including static microphones and under-enunciated words, were evident early on,
but things improved as the show progressed.
While there were a few shaky
voices and diction problem, none of these difficulties detracted from the
production’s overall look. The combined energy and comic ability of the entire
cast of Woodson’s Crazy for You made for a solid show.
by Lucian Restivo of South
Lakes
--------------------------------------------------
Dancing cowboys, funny
flappers, a drunken Hungarian, and his twin, who’s not really his twin, who
loves a girl, who loves the German, only it’s his twin, trying to win her
heart. Confusing? Not really.WT Woodson will break it down, in their production
of Crazy for You.
Crazy for You, by Ken
Ludwig, won many Tony awards including Best Costume Design, Best Choreography,
and Best Musical in 1992. The plot starts out with Bobby trying to convince his
mother of his interest in dancing over banking. Bobby’s fate changes, when his
mother demands him to deliver the foreclosure notice to the Gaiety theatre in
Deadrock, Nevada. There he meets Polly,
the love of his life. To try and prove his love, Bobby will try to save Polly’s
theatre.
A dynamic duo, and near
triple threat, Bobby and Polly, played by Terry Barr and Ann Marie White, acted, sang, and danced their way into our
hearts. Together they were phenomenal.
Bobby (Barr) did great work as himself and when pretending to be
Zangler, in which his German accent was delivered with diction and clarity.
Polly (White) made the change from a lonesome Tomboy, who wont be held down, to
being vulnerable with love, to being crazed with passion, to being depressed,
and finally to being happy all within the show. What made the transitions so
good was that the changes were subtle and were reactions from within the scene
making her emotions believable. On top of starring along side Barr, White also
choreographed the entire show. From the flappers, to the dancing cowboys,
everyone was entertaining.
The performing aspects were
good, but behind the scenes seemed to have some trouble. Although symbolic and
pretty, a couple of light cues were late, and the singing was sometimes hard to
hear due to the dancing with body mics. The set was nice and easy to move,
which allowed the stage crew to make quick set changes. Also the orchestra was
on-stage, which brought the music out into the house. It was interesting how
they were incorporated into the set. The
best technical part of the show was the props and effects combined with stage combat.
The cuckoo clock collapsing after being shot, or the glass bottle breaking over
the men’s heads were done so well the effects were shocking.
A wild ride of love and
passion WT Woodson is all about being Crazy for you.
by Molly Palmer of South
Lakes
--------------------------------------------------
In a classic convergence of
1930s America's prim, classy east and its plain, rough west, Crazy for You
offers insight into the mixing cultures of the United States during the Great
Depression through song, dance, and a touching love story that branches over
half a continent. Money and profit conflict with dreams and ideals, but, in the
denouement, love conquers all and the magic of theater ultimately prevails.
The show tells the story of
young theater enthusiast from New York, Bobby Child, who finds himself in
Nevada on business, where falls in love with a vacant auditorium, a western
girl, and a cast of dedicated cowboys and cowgirls whose hard work and
surprising talent bring dreams of his own theatrical production to life.
WT Woodson High School's
production of Crazy for You was impressive in many aspects of the musical
theater: although the show suffered slightly from problems with annunciation
and technical mishaps, it featured strong vocalists across the board,
outstanding dances with multiple tap numbers, and energetic ensembles whose
consistent characterizations brought huge dance numbers to life on the Woodson
stage.
The show was stolen,
however, by lead actor Terry Barr, who proved himself to be quite the triple
threat: strong vocal, dancing, and tap skills complemented a fine sense of
comedic timing and ability to emote, creating the effect of an energetic and
lovable young man from the city.
Featured characters also
added immensely to the show. Although at times a few featured actors would rush
through their lines, making the plot slightly difficult to follow, the featured
cast made up for it in a number of comic situations that elicited an extremely
positive reaction from the audience. One
of the strongest featured actors was Jasper Hollins in the role of Lank; his
comedic timing and somewhat violent, slightly psychotic expressiveness drew
laughter from the audience on numerous occasions.
Ensembles in general were
very energetic and cohesive, and played an enormous role in creating the grand
sensations of the large dance numbers. The girls were particularly impressive
vocalists and equally impressive dancers and tappers. Of the men, three
characters stood out very clearly: three of the male ensemble members sang in a
barbershop quartet, doing an excellent job of maintaining two or three part
harmonies at various points throughout the show.
Technically, the show had
highs and lows. Sound was a strong
aspect of the show; despite a few microphone issues, there were a number of difficult
sound cues that were executed exactly in sequence with the events on stage. The
lighting, while generally well-run, had issues particularly with the spotlight,
which was sometimes distracting from the
stage action.
Woodson's Crazy for You
brings culture, class, style, and simplicity to the stage in an energetic show
full of talented singers and outstanding dancers. Things are looking up on the
stage at Woodson High School, and their show is an experience that shouldn't be
passed up.
by Riley Keenan of South
Lakes
--------------------------------------------------
“Crazy for You” was first
staged on Broadway in 1992. Unlike most musicals, this show and its plot line
was written around the songs as opposed to the songs being created to support
the plot. This aspect makes the plot line difficult to understand at times,
however the audience can catch on quickly.
From New York City’s theatre
district to the small western town of Deadrock, Nevada, the audience follows
Bobby Child (Terry Barr). Bobby’s passion is dance, and following his dream, he
gets the idea to open a theater is Deadrock, in the hopes that it will be a
great success. Lo and behold, Bobby falls in love with a local girl, Polly
Baker (Ann Marie White)- and ends up getting himself in quite a mess in order
to win her affection. This hopelessly optimistic show, filled with twists and
turns showcases some of Ira Gershwin’s greatest songs.
The Woodson player gave a
fantastic performance of Gershwin’s “Crazy for You.” Although the plot line is
lacking in meaning, more depth was brought to it as this production of “Crazy
for You” was dedicated in memory of the “fellow thespians and neighbors” who
lost their lives in the Virginia Tech tragedy. All cast members gave great
energy and effort to this musical, which they should be very proud of.
Ensembles such as the Follies Girls and the Cowboy Trio helped to make up for
lacking areas. Overall, job well done!
by Kate Page of St. Albans
& Nat'l Cathedral
--------------------------------------------------
Your
cowboy-turned-chorus-kid jumps too high.
You awaken from a swoon on a saloon floor to see the girl of your
dreams. The Bavarian impresario you were
impersonating meets you in a bar while you’re impersonating him and you’re both
too drunk to care. All perfectly good
reasons for everyone in the vicinity to start dancing – at least in the world
of “Crazy Foy You”. The cast of the
production at W.T. Woodson High School merrily throw themselves into the
cartoonish mayhem and classic music for a frothy, spirited evening.
“Crazy For You” is a
nostalgic musical adaptation of the 1930 musical “Girl Crazy”, first staged in
1992. Ken Ludwig’s book serves as a
frame on which to hang the catalogue of songs by George and Ira Gershwin. The story tells the madcap tale of a wealthy
Manhattan boy in the 1930s who craves the dancer’s life, and finds himself
trying to save a small-town theater from foreclosure by putting on a show using
local cowboys and friendly showgirls.
Simultaneously, he tries to win the hand of the independent theater
owner, Polly, by impersonating Zangler, whose famous New York Follies Bobby
wants to join. The requisite hilarity
ensues, punctuated by plenty of songs.
As Bobby Child, Terry Barr
proves himself a classic leading man who can dance with elegance, sing with
clarity, and perform comedy with a deft hand.
His strong voice is often able to overcome the sound problems besetting
the show, though other actors are often obscured.
Anne Marie White plays Polly Baker with grit and
cheer. Jasper Hollins also
impresses, in his turn as
the scheming Lank Hawkins. He has a
clearly defined, vivid character – some of the other minor characters lack that
quality. The Cowboy Trio, consisting of
Moose (Kirk Dennison), Sam (Luke Savoca), and Mingo (Matt Savoca), contribute
both likeability and spot-on harmonies to the proceedings.
Most of the strongest songs
are the big ensemble numbers, such as the infectious “Slap That Bass”. In this song and others, the long stretches
of dance in Anne Marie White’s sharp choreography are well-executed, if not
always in unison.
Bobby asks in song “Shall We
Dance?”. Woodson’s production of “Crazy
For You” answers yes . . . for any reason.
by Kat Funkhouser of St.
Stephen's & St. Agnes
--------------------------------------------------
On Saturday afternoon, W.T.
Woodson performed the classic play Crazy for You by George Gershwin. The lead
actor and actress excelled in their dancing, singing, and acting, and the up-
beat tap dancing ensemble helped make the play be an all around feel good play.
Crazy for You begins in New
York City where aspiring dancer Bobby Child (Terry Barr), is stuck in the
banking business. Child’s mother sends him to Bedrock Nevada to foreclose on an
old theater. When out west, Child meets Polly Baker (Ann Marie White) and falls
quickly in love with her. As soon as she finds out Child is a banker though,
she gets extremely angry with him. Desperate for her love, Child dresses in
disguise as popular producer Bela Zangler. Polly falls in love with Zangler
only to find out that Zangler and Child are the same person. Child leaves
Nevada because Polly felt used and frustrated. Eventually, Polly accepts her
love for Childs and they both reunite and love each other once more.
Bobby Child (Terry Barr) is
an excellent tap dancer, singer, and actor. He can be utterly comic, or can
convey the deep pains that love can cause. His versatility, vocal range, and
wonderful stage presence make him an invaluable asset to this play.
Polly Baker (Ann Marie
White) also is a strong vocal, acting, and dancing performer. She beautifully
portrays the feeling of being torn between lovers, the persistence of a
business woman, and the sensitivity to express her feelings. Her exceptional,
pitch perfect vocals make the play speed by.
The tap dancing ensembles
were incredible. The sheer number of people was enormous and to have them all
tapping and moving around at the same time was remarkable.
The sound and lighting were
inconsistent in the play. Sometimes the
lights were not on cue and spotlights were
not focused on the right people. The microphones faded in and out.
In the end though, Woodson’s
Crazy for You is toe tapping, catchy, and charming play worth to go see!
by Lena Witek of St.
Stephen's & St. Agnes
--------------------------------------------------
WT Woodson’s Crazy For You-
May 5, 2007
Although it is not a well
known title, Crazy For You is a musical including several well known songs.
Written by Ken Ludwig, the show opened in the Shubert Theatre on Broadway in
1992; it was met with 1,622 initial performances. The musical tells the story
of New Yorker, Bobby Child, who is sent to Deadrock, Nevada, to complete a
business deal. Upon arrival to the small, western town, Bobby meets Polly. The
two immediately fall for each other, but their new love becomes forbidden love
after Polly realizes that Bobby came to the town to buy her theater. Several
songs and dances later, the couple realizes that they are meant to be together.
WT Woodson’s production of
Crazy For You was creative on all levels. Costumes were uniform in that the
actors and actresses had fun with the western theme. The sets were versatile
and seemed to be easily controlled during set changes. But, the most impressive
part of the show was the two lead performers. First Polly and Bobby had great
chemistry on stage together. Individually, Ann Marie White’s Polly Baker was a
cute performance that also displayed the actress’s singing talent. The
actress’s dancing talent could also be seen throughout the entire musical in
that she choreographed it. Terry Barr’s Bobby Child was believable, but the
comedic relief was introduced when Bobby disguised himself as Bela Zangler. It
was at those moments that a person could easily see how much fun it was for the
actor to play the Hungarian producer and for his fellow actors to play off of
him. Jasper Hollins’ Lank Hawkins also added to the comic relief in that he
always did the same fake laugh that people could expect and love at the same
time. The cowboy trio, the Follies Girls, and many others only added to the
performance’s charm and character.
Crazy for You was a great
success. The only room for improvement was in the sound aspect of the show; it
was difficult to understand some of the actors at times. Aside from that, the
musical was the perfect way to laugh your way through an afternoon.
by Rebecca Pfister of St.
Stephen's & St. Agnes
--------------------------------------------------
Dancing and banking have
never seemed to mix well, but in Crazy For You, performed at W. T. Woodson High
school on May 5, 2007, they’ve never mixed better. Blending together an assortment of the Wild
West, New York, love, and theater, W. T. Woodson pulled off a great musical.
Crazy For You is the story
of Bobby Child (Terry Barr), the son of a banker that has always wanted a life on the stage. When his mother, Lottie Child (Britt
Goodman), sends him off to Deadrock, Nevada, to foreclose a bank, he thinks
he’s never going to live the life of his dreams. However, he meets a girl in Deadrock – Polly
Baker (Ann Marie White). He falls in
love with her and tries to save her family’s theater by dressing up as a famous
director, Zangler Lackey, without her knowledge. Polly falls in love with his disguise, but then
the real Zangler shows up in Deadrock.
Chaos ensues.
Barr and White had great
chemistry in the leading roles. Their
emotion was believable and strong; both could have been considered a “triple
threat” – great at acting, singing, and dancing. Zangler was a great character as well,
perfectly uncaring. His song with Barr,
in which both were drunk and Barr was dressed up as Zangler, was
hilarious. Kudos to the "Cowboy Trio"
as well - Moose (Kirk Denningson), Sam (Luke Savoka), and Mingo (Matt Savoka). The three bantered and sang happily together
- they stayed in character throughout the entire musical.
The choreography in the
musical was ambitious, although it distracted some of the actors from their
lines. The set in itself was
outstanding, too. It’s amazing how one
stage can hold New York and Deadrock, Nevada at the same time.
Although there were some
sound and lighting problems, the performance was sound. A round of applause for the W. T. Woodson
drama department for a great performance.
by Alix Penland of Stone
Bridge
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They say that love is a
chemical imbalance, and because of that imbalance people are known to do
strange things. Some act so illogically
that many would call their actions crazy.
In W.T. Woodsons production of George Gershwins musical Crazy for
You people were driven so mad by love
that they were willing to fight for a failed theater just for a chance at
happiness.
Forced into a job that is
not his dream, Bobby Child leaves the
hustle of the city to go to a small dusty mining town in Nevada on bank
business. However, not everything is
bad; in this town that society seems to have pretty much forgotten Bobby finds
not only love, but also a second chance at his dream, and happiness. The only problem is his bank is about to foreclose his newfound love's
theater, and once she finds this fact out things look bleak for Bobby. However, a clever plan and a clever disguise might be
his chance and succeeding.
W.T. Woodsons production of
Crazy for you was a play that worked because things ran smoothly. Using everything from interesting set pieces
to props, the cast incorporated them into the show in creative ways. At one point the entire ensemble of the
Follies girls came out of a moving extention of the set made to look like a
car.
Terry Barr played the part
of Bobby Child rather well. He had such an energy throughout the show
that one can only imagine he would be tired after the show. Its refreshing to see someone so enthusiastic
into putting on a show, and that
enthusiasm clearly showed in his performance.
The female lead Ann Marie White played the part of Polly Baker, was someone of talent. Its hard to sing, its hard to act, and its
hard to dance, and its especially hard
to do all three at the same time. But
somehow each of the leads were able to pull it off.
No show should rely only on
its leads. The show must succeed as a
whole in order to do well. In this shows
case the leads were wonderfully supported by a large ensemble. There were the Follies Girls who filled out
many dance and song numbers. They gave
the show a larger more energetic feel to it.
There was also a group of singing cowboys who added another aspect to
the show.
Everything was situated on a
wonderfully designed set that had to be changed and rearranged numerous
times. The stage crew kept the show
moving smoothly by making sure that the set changes were done quickly and
efficiently. The sets were also
creatively and efficiently designed.
Being set in three different settings kept things looking consistently
interesting, as well as allowing the actors to incorporate the different sets
into their movements.
The show has an important
point to it though. How much would you
be willing to risk for love and dreams?
Do you settle into the ordinary and accept defeat after a few setbacks,
or do you fight for what you want? The
charming dance numbers and catchy songs left me crazy for Crazy for you.
by Ian Revere of Wakefield
School
--------------------------------------------------
In bright blue sparkling
dresses with matching feathered hats eleven Follies Girls piled out of a
four-door car, following Bobby Child’s lead. But he wasn’t crazy for them,
those girls were just his friends. At W. T. Woodson High School, it’s all about
love. It’s all about being Crazy for You.
Young Bobby Child leaves
bustling New York City for Nevada to foreclose on a building for his mother,
which seems simple enough. But matters become more complicated in Nevada when affection
grows, especially since the affection is only one-sided. But instead of giving
up Polly Baker, Bobby brings to Nevada everything he could possibly need to win
over the girl’s heart: showgirls in tap shoes, a white tuxedo, a fake
moustache, and a plan.
As Bobby Child and Polly
Baker, Terry Barr and Ann Marie White lead the show, each character being a
“triple-threat,” needing to be able to act, sing, and dance. White not only
starred, but also choreographed the dance numbers and Barr not only was the
banker from New York, but also an impersonator of a Hungarian choreographer.
The showgirls, either in New
York of Nevada, were energetic and enthusiastic. Individually, they kept the
same personalities and as a group they kept the same attitude throughout the
show. The cowboys accentuated to contrast between life with and without Bela
Zangler (real or faux), their lives changing from slow and waiting for some
excitement to arrive, to energetic dancers with the show girls, who once again
are hit with lethargy when they are left without a show to put on.
The set, designed by
Woodson’s Tech Theater Class, was large and complicated, but the stage crew
(Margaret Gertzog, Tina Lydon, Lizzi Reams, and Victoria Zelvin) managed it as
efficiently as possible. Props and effects, designed by Kevin Gray, were
amusing, well placed and well executed, including a bottle shattering to pieces
over someone’s head in a fake bar brawl.
Despite some sound problems,
and some problems with musical timing, Crazy for You at Woodson was an
energetic and fun show to watch.
by Julia Falcon of Wakefield
School
--------------------------------------------------
W.T. Woodson put on a
hysterical version of the Gershwins' 1922 musical, Crazy for You. Bobby Child
(Terry Barr) is a wealthy New York banker whose mother (Britt Goodman) would
rather have him carry on with the family business than take up dancing in the
Zangler Follies. Bobby, the would-be performer, ironically sets off to Nevada
to foreclose an old theatre for his mother. He expects an escape, but doesn't
expect to be charmed by the western belle that is Polly Baker (Ann Marie
White). She is the girl who just happens to own the property he means to
foreclose, the Gaiety Theatre. With the help of his Follies Girls and a Zangler
disguise, he embarks on a mission to save the Gaiety Theatre and win Polly's
heart.
Barr and White were striking
lead actors able to command large dance numbers with their exceptional singing
and tap dancing skill. In fact, Woodson's entire company sang with strength and
clarity. Their duo work throughout the show and in "Shall We Dance?"
was captivating.
Woodson's entire cast
maintained a high energy level necessary for such a dance-heavy and
comedy-heavy musical. The Follies Girls danced with vigor, especially in big
numbers like "I Got Rhythm," handling the exacting choreography by
Ann Marie White. Impressive performances came from Woodson's male ensemble as
well, especially the Cowboy Trio (Luke Savoca, Kirk Dennison, and Matt Savoca).
Their stunning harmonies in "Bidin' My Time," "Bidin' My Time
(French Reprise)," and other songs were the perfect antithesis to their
lovably befuddled characters.
Woodson's sound team (Collin
Rosenbluth and Daniel Whitehead) worked with precision timing, supporting stage
antics such as a gunfight with hilariously timed sound queues. Other effects
and props (Kevin Gray) aided actors in their comedic bits, as was the case in
the bottle-smashing gunfight in Lank's Saloon. Amazing sets designed by the
Woodson Tech Theatre Class encompassed four different locations--from the
streets of NYC to the rustic hills of Nevada. The ensemble took full advantage
of the set's deep spaces and levels. The stage crew (Margaret Gertzog, Tina
Lydon, Lizzi Reams, and Victoria Zelvin) moved these monumental set pieces on
and off like it was nothing.
Woodson's Crazy for You was
an exciting show packed with talented performers. Who knows what Woodson Drama
might tackle next?
by Ariel Herman of Westfield
--------------------------------------------------
Who could ask for anything
more than what WT Woodson High School gave during their rendition of “Crazy For
You”?
A classic American musical
“Crazy For You” follows around the character Bobby Child who desperately wants
to be a dancer. Through mishaps, mistaken identities, and a few close calls the
boy gets the girl and the small town is saved.
Bobby Child was portrayed
wonderfully in that he actually had dancing talent, and extremely overbearing
people in his life, specifically his mother and fiancée. The tension between
those two characters was also portrayed very well. Bobby, dealing with these
tensions and unrequited love did a marvelous job of playing the city slicker
while still connecting to the other characters enough to fit in. The girl he
falls for, Polly Baker (Ann Marie White), also did a beautiful job. She tackled
some complex moments of confusion while not making the quick transitions into
the “happy go lucky” smiling tone too abrupt.
Ann Marie White was also the
choreographer. The choreography was complex and executed very well. Despite the
fact ensemble members were at varying levels of dancing experience, they still
made a cohesive group.
Other ensembles that stood
out were the cowboy trio of singers. They sang beautifully.
Lank and Everett Baker both
had very consistent characters. Lank had the ability to keep a very straight
face despite the hilarity going on on stage. And Everett always made people
laugh with his reminiscing moments of his late wife. Patsy was also very good.
Even though some set pieces
seemed dangerous at times, the stage crew made very effective and relatively
quick transitions.
by Sarah Pike of Westfield
--------------------------------------------------
“It’s got rhythm, it’s got
music” as W.T Woodson’s proved in their recent performance of “Crazy for
You”. The show really couldn’t have,
“asked for anything more” than the delightful singing, well choreographed
dancing, and enjoyable storyline that pervaded the show from start to finish.
Set in the 1930s, “Crazy for
You” tells the story of Bobby Child, an aspiring New York performer who finds
himself forced to travel west to foreclose a rundown theatre in Deadrock,
Nevada. The big city boy gets caught up
with some dancing cowboys, showgirls, a belligerent saloon owner, and a wealthy
theater owner whom Bobby has been impersonating. Through romance and friendship, Bobby learns
what’s really important in life and decides to stay with the town, and the girl
he has fallen in love with.
The show's lead , Bobby
Child (Terry Barr) showed a great contrast of the awkwardness of his character
and a smooth melodic voice. His
counterpart Polly Baker (Ann Marie White)
managed to portray a sweet innocence to her character, and make some
difficult solos look easy through the talent and confidence of her voice.
The supporting cast had
every bit of the enthusiasm of the leads.
Lank Hawkins (Jasper Hollins) the angry saloon owner had great intensity and Bela Zangler (Mathew
Esherick) portrayed a quirky German impressario
who was easy for Terry Barr to parody.
The ensemble was perhaps the
highlight of the show. The male ensemble
in particular was excellent, and made the transition from talentless cowboys
into talented performers seamlessly. The
sound of the ensemble as a whole was enjoyable to listen to, but the
performance of the trio of male ensemble singers (Kirk Dennison, Luke Savoda
and Matt Savoca) really stood out and they were able to sing a harmony that
wasn’t as prominent in other parts of the show.
The lighting (Nick
Mattheisen) was fairly generic, but had no serious drawbacks due to an unlit
stage or missed cue. The sound and
acoustics of the theater were difficult to control, but the actors could still
be heard most of the time. The set however,
was by far the best technical aspect of the show. A multidimensional and authentic looking
saloon was beautifully crafted, and giant flats were constructed to rotate
between a New York skyline and a spaghetti western ghost town. The large and potentially difficult scene
transitions were also executed with surprising skill and efficiency by a
talented stage crew.
Overall W.T Woodson’s
production of “Crazy for You” was strong in every field of the performance. If
W.T. Woodson was crazy for a show that the audience would love to watch,
listen, and laugh along with, they certainly succeeded.
by Stephen Hatch of
Westfield
--------------------------------------------------
If sparkles made the show,
W.T. Woodson's production of Crazy for You would have it made. Fortunately, the
sparkle was in the feet of every cast member as well as many of the show's
costumes .
Crazy for You, the Broadway
musical that swept the 1992 Tony Awards (Best Musical, Best Costume Design,
Best Choreography), features some of George Gershwin's best-known songs such as
"Someone to Watch Over Me" and "Embraceable You." Bobby
Child (Terry Barr), a theatre-crazed banker's son, is sent to foreclose on a
theatre in Deadrock, Nevada. There, he discovers the love of his life, Polly
Baker (Ann Marie White), the theatre owner's daughter, and disguised as famous
director Bela Zangler, puts on a show to save the theatre and win Polly's love.
Bobby/Zangler enlists the help of his New York City cronies, the Follies Girls,
who work for the real Zangler. Yet matters complicate when Bobby's ex-fiancee
Irene (Cassy Byrne) arrives, followed by the real Zangler (Matthew Esherick) in
pursuit of his actresses.
Terry Barr as Bobby was
convincing as a lovesick fool. His constant stumbling evinced laughter from the
audience. Ann Marie White exhibited a keen understanding of Polly's tough,
self-contained character. In their scenes together, both used movment well to
illustrate distance and connection between them. White, in particular, placed
her hands in her pockets to show Polly's hesitation. Yet not even this awkward
position could minimize her skilled dancing. When Polly does let herself go in
"Embraceable You," her declaration of love for who she thinks is
Zangler, but is really Bobby, White let all her strength flow into her rich
alto.
The energy in the show
really developed from the uniform strength of the female and male ensembles.
The large supporting cast added to the opulence of the show and filled the
entire stage. The choreography for the show, also done by White, was ambitious,
and generally well executed. The cast made ample use of space to show off their
tap dancing skills in numbers from "Slap That Bass" to "I Got
Rhythm." Some potentially interesting characters fell a little flat, or
were difficult to understand, which took away from what could have been some
very funny aspects of the show.
Woodson's production met the
bright, glitzy requirements of Crazy for You. A significant amount of costumes
were student-made, and the glitter in the Follies Girls' skirts set the tone
for the afternoon.The sets were quite intricate, ranging from a New York City
backdrop to the inside of a saloon to a miniature theatre. One comic gag
involves the Nevada cowpokes shooting off their guns in the saloon. Not only
were the shot sound effects well timed, but the shattering of one unfortunate
cuckoo clock coincided admirably with the shot aimed its way. In between
scenes, the roving set pieces were changed in such a way that there was fear
they might crush their eager movers.
W. T. Woodson contrived to
make a large and sometimes confusing show as charming and lighthearted as it
was meant to be. Certainly everyone should be quite crazy for their fast,
enthusiastic tap dancing.
by Miriam Laufer of Wootton
--------------------------------------------------
A spunky gal. A lovesick
dancer. A happy ending. These aspects are only a few of W.T.
Woodson's successful production of George Gershwin's "Crazy For You."
The show's book, which was
written around Gershwin's many musical numbers, swept the Tony's in 1992. The plot focuses on Bobby Childs, an aspiring
dancer who wants to make it big. When he
can't be a dancer in New York with Bela Zangler's follies, Bobby's mother makes
him work on his banking career by going to Deadrock, Nebraska. Bobby ends up falling madly in love with
Polly Baker and decides to try and help her save her theater. Bobby, however, disguises himself as Zangler
in order to win her affection. Polly
ends up falling in love with Zangler, instead of the real Bobby, which creates
much excitement and comedy.
W.T. Woodson's production of
"Crazy For You" was a long, yet energized show. The cast, which ranged from cowboys to
showgirls, always maintained their characters with enthusiasm. The ambitious choreography, student-directed
by Ann Marie White, was very impressive, especially since every member of the
cast was involved in tap dancing numbers.
Terry Barr, who played Bobby
Childs, used his comedic timing effectively, and easily switched between the
opposite characters, Bobby and Zangler.
Not only did Barr have an notable voice, but his dancing stood out at
well. Ann Marie White, who played Polly
Baker, had a beautiful voice that rang clear above the chaotic energy that is
“Crazy for You.” White’s graceful
dancing was a highlight of the production and was incorporated into the large
group dance numbers.
Jasper Hollins, as Lank
Hawkins, the owner of the saloon next door to Polly’s theater, also had
effective comedic timing and had the audience laughing throughout the
production. Laurel Steuernagel, who
played the character Patsy, was a highlight of the show. Although not central to the musical’s story,
Steuernagel took on exciting character choices and was always fun to
watch.
Woodson’s stage crew moved
efficiently and effectively throughout the entire show. Although, the microphone system on the
actor’s was sometimes more of a hinder than a help, this aspect wasn’t
distracting from the show’s overall upbeat tempo. The many costumes changes, especially by
Polly and the Follies, were fun and fit the time period well.
W.T. Woodson’s production of
“Crazy for You” not only had impressive technical aspects, but had a cast that
was enthusiastic and energized. The
catchy numbers left everyone saying “I Got Rhythm!”
by Chloe Berk of Yorktown
--------------------------------------------------
With strong vocalists and
high energy, W.T. Woodson’s Crazy for You was a shining musical.
The story follows an eager
young dancer named Bobby (Terry Barr), who falls in love with a cowgirl living
in Nevada. Although engaged to another
woman, Bobby decides to help Polly, the cowgirl (Ann Marie White), save her
theatre. What ensues is a comedic plot
of mistaken identity and mismatched love interests.
The ensemble comes together
in upbeat songs and dances (although the choreography seems overwhelming to the
players). Dressed in period clothing
that must be changed quite quickly, the group of Zangler’s Follie’s played the
giggling dancer crowd well, while the contrast was the group of
rough-and-tumble cowboys, who clean up to help save their town. Among the standouts was the actress who
played Patsy. Her high-pitched voice and
ditsy characteristics were exaggerated just enough without going over the
top. Every time there was an ensemble
song, this actress was one to watch.
Although it’s difficult to
believe their relationship, Terry Barr and Ann Marie White bring their
professional voices into the mix.
White’s solos are among the high points of the show, while Barr’s drunk
scene with Bela Zangler was amusing.
The running crew is to be
commended on this arduous project.
Sliding large flats at high speeds in between scenes, the techies were
efficient and smooth. The set, too, had
several pieces that were unusual, one of which being an old car made of wood,
from which spring dozens on Follies, much to Bobby’s delight.
It was easy to go crazy for
Crazy for You.
by Julie Haberstick of
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