[NoHo Arts District, CA] – A NoHo Arts theatre review of All Roads Theatre Company’s (ARTCO) world premiere production of The Music That Makes Me Dance: The Songs Of Jule Styne, the first-ever musical revue compiling the songs of Jule Styne.
The phenomenal new musical review, The Music That Makes Me Dance, recently had its world premiere at the El Portal Theatre in NoHo.The show features the music of the legendary Jule Styne and because of his extraordinary talents, the show contains arguably some of the best songs ever written. Styne wrote many of the best classics from the American songbook. Songs you have heard all your life and probably had no idea that they were written by the same magical man.
The show was created by Scott Thompson and Fred Barton whose love for Styne’s artistry is clearly apparent. How they were able to make a selection from the hundreds of beautiful songs Styne wrote over the years is beyond me. And yet, somehow the songs they chose were magically made to be performed together!
The cast was a mix of Broadway veterans and L.A.-based entertainers, and they were all absolutely incredible. Heavenly voices, phenomenal dancers, and the absolute best musical theatre skills you could find anywhere.
The stage at the iconic El Portal is not huge. And once you add the size of band this production was lucky to have, full of incredible musicians and a ton of brass, what’s left of the stage might seem a daunting prospect to some. However, under the creativity and guidance of Scott Thompson, the performers made the stage feel as big as anything on Broadway, and with the bonus of the more intimate 350 or so seats of this theatre, the audience really had the best of both worlds!
Every single second of this brilliant show is packed with truly unforgettable performances! The dancing, the electricity between the performers, the charisma, the artistry…all timeless and just incredibly good. There are little routines between each number, small moments where we travel with the cast to the world in which these songs exist. This is not one long procession of songs, not at all.
The Music That Makes Me Dance is nuanced and thoughtful, funny and poignant, heartfelt and truthful. The performers create their own unique roles within the songs they sing, and it is this detail and precision, as well as their superb skill, that make this show as successful and memorable as it is.
The English-born Jule Styne wrote songs like, Don’t Rain on My Parade, Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend, Everything’s Coming up Roses, Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow, and one of my absolute favourites, Make Someone Happy. He won an Oscar for Three Coins in a Fountain and a Tony for Hallelujah Baby! He is in the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the American Theatre Hall of Fame, as well as being a recipient of a Drama Desk Special Award and a Kennedy Center Honors.
Scott Thompson’s love for Jule Styne began early, and to be able to produce a show honoring a true hero of his must be a dream come true for him. With the assistance and permission of the Jule Styne Estate, The Music That Makes Me Dance brings these wonderful songs to a new audience 120 years after Jule Styne’s birth. I’m waiting impatiently for the movie version!!! Maybe after the Broadway run??
The Music That Makes Me Dance is a joyful journey through one man’s incredible career. It reminds us how music can change us, help us fall in love, forgive and grow as emotional, musical, creative human beings. What better homage is there than the swelling of a heart to a simple, poignant tune sung with all the passion these perfect singers bring.
Bravo to all!!! More please, ARTCO. You can find out more about The Music That Makes Me Dance on ARTOC’s website: https://allroadstheatreco.org
The Cast
The Actors Equity cast of Broadway headliners includes: Anneliese van der Pol (Television’s That’s So Raven and Broadway’s Beauty and the Beast, Vanities), Nick Adams (Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, A Chorus Line, La Cage Aux Folles), Lana Gordon (Hadestown, Chicago and last year’s ARTCO’s critically acclaimed World Premiere Production of ONE FOR MY BABY), Angel Reda (Chicago, Wicked, The Cher Show), Rhett George (Memphis, Sweet Charity), Neil Starkenberg (Mamma Mia!, Mrs. Doubtfire), and introducing Michael Zampino (a member of All Roads Theater Company’s Training Program for Kids).
The Creative Team
Scott Thompson (Producer, Director, Choreographer); Fred Barton (Producer, Musical Director, Arranger); Jeramiah Peah (Producer, Managing Director); Robert Levinstein (Production Stage Manager), Stephen DeAngelis (Casting Director); Joel Daavid (Set Designer and Technical Director); Erica D. Schwartz (Costume Designer); Rafi Nalbantian (Sound Designer); Bouket Fingerhut (Prop Designer); Chasen Greenwood and Barb Erfurt (Associate Choreographers); Joy Bodin Pacifici (Production Assistant); Larry Saperstein (Key Artwork); Ann Potenza and Pegge Forrest (El Portal Theatre) and Steve Moyer Public Relations (Press Representative).
All Roads Theatre Company (ARTCO) is a not-for-profit 501 (c) (3) organization with a mission of producing professional plays, musicals, concerts and new works, in venues of all sizes in the Los Angeles area, and beyond. ARTCO is also dedicated to providing educational outreach, arts training and theatre appreciation for students of all ages through classes, workshops, performance opportunities, and interactive experiences relating to the company’s professional productions.