[NoHo Arts District, CA] – A NoHo Arts theatre review of Knot Free Productions’ Pump Up the Volume, making its Los Angeles premiere at the Hollywood Fringe Festival 2025.
Perfectly brilliant is the one phrase that kept coming into my mind as I sat in the audience at the Hudson Theatre and throughly enjoyed Pump Up the Volume.
The mostly young cast was superbly talented and exuded such charisma that the audience was won over, including myself, before the first number’s final note was played. The magic of this show is not just the fantastic music composed by Jeff Thomson and Jeremy Desmon, who also wrote the book and lyrics, but also lies with the amazing talent of this cast. This priceless combination delivers the perfect alchemy of a hit show with a great future. I must also shine a spotlight on the director, Dave Solomon, for keeping the show’s energy level at a constant high.
Based on the 1990 film of the same name (written and directed by Allan Moyle), this staged musical version of Pump Up the Volume brings current and timely elements of teen angst and authoritarian issues that are as true today as they were back in the 90s. Mark Hunter/Hard Harry, played by a captivating Anthony Norman, is the new comer in town who opens a small radio station that speaks directly to a hungry audience of teens who are under the tyranny of the local school authority.
The brilliance of this musical is amplified by the talent of a true ensemble cast that gives the audience a real sense of time, place, as well as their own individual emotional connection to the story. Each and every member of this cast was not only utterly believable, but they were completely committed to their characters.
Backing up this wonderful show was the band. Headed by Ben Ginsberg, (composer and keyboards), Cody Cadena (bass/guitars), Melanie Medina (guitars), and Will Nicholson (drums), these musicians proved without a doubt how important it is to have a live band on stage.
As magnificent as the cast playing the students, I must give a special shout out to the cast of grown ups! The incredible voice of Michele Ragusa (Cresswood) and Robert Mammana playing Mark’s father, Lt. Hunter, with a quiet strength that brought a sense of reality to the relationship.
All the songs were wonderful and memorable and I found myself humming certain songs in the car on the way home, just couldn’t get them out of my head…in a good way! The production team deserves an award for each and every one of them for providing the environment for this show (lighting design is by Matt Richter, costume design is by Ann Closs-Farley, sound design is by Veronika Vorel, and prop design is by Jenine MacDonald. The production stage manager is Nico Parducho. Casting is by Michael Donovan, CSA, and Richie Ferris, CSA.
Do yourself a favour and run, don’t walk, and see this show. Amazing, Brilliant, Touching, and very entertaining. I can see this incredible, heartrending and toe-tapping show absolutely heading to Broadway and the West End! Bravo!!!
Tickets:
https://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/12179
When:
Pump Up the Volume Dates & Times:
Friday 6/6 at 8pm
Saturday 6/7 at 8pm
Sunday 6/8 at 3pm
Friday 6/13 at 8pm
Saturday 6/14 at 2pm and 8pm
Sunday 6/15 at 3pm
Where:
The Hudson Theatre
6539 Santa Monica Blvd, Hollywood 90038
Pump Up the Volume Cast
The cast also features Robert Mammana (Les Misérables), Emily Ann Pember, Michele Ragusa (Young Frankenstein, Urinetown, Ragtime, Titanic, Flying Over Sunset), Darcy Rose Byrnes (LA’s Reefer Madness–LADCC Award nomination), Jasiana Caraballo (Cindy & The Disco Ball), Aaron Gibbs (Damn Yankees), Amanda Angeles (Into the Woods), Bryan Munar (Hadestown National Tour), Will Riddle (MTW’s The Buddy Holly Story), Luz Rodriguez (Little Shop of Horrors), Madison Miyuki Sprague (Desperate Measures), and Tarrick Marcel Walker (BroadwayWorld’s Next On Stage Top 10).
Pump Up the Volume Team
Lighting design is by Matt Richter, costume design is by Ann Closs-Farley, sound design is by Veronika Vorel, and prop design is by Jenine MacDonald. The production stage manager is Nico Parducho. Casting is by Michael Donovan, CSA, and Richie Ferris, CSA.
https://www.knotfreeproductions.com
****
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