The Broadway musical BRING IT ON THE MUSICAL (2011), a Tony award Best Musical nominee based on the film of the same name that came out in 2000, is currently having its Australian Premiere season at NIDA, well timed for the school holiday season.
The musical brought together some of the freshest creative minds then on Broadway. The show features an original story by Tony Award winner Jeff Whitty (Avenue Q), music and lyrics by Tony Award-winning composer Lin-Manuel Miranda (In The Height), music by Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning composer Tom Kitt (Next To Normal), and lyrics by Broadway lyricist Amanda Green (High Fidelity)
A vibrant cast of 27 young performers bring their creation spectacularly to life performing high voltage songs and dance- including rap, breakdancing and aerial stunts. Through the show we see them performing in elaborate routines, and tumbling and flipping across the stage- singing the body electric as the great American poet Walt Whitman described it.
At the show’s start we hear her sing of her longstanding dream of becoming head cheerleader of the Truman High School. After achieving her goal—defeating her mean-girl, very confident rival Skylar, Campbell begins drilling her team for the national championships at a summer cheer camp.
Then Maxwell’s Silver Hammer comes down, and just as the school season begins, she receives a letter announcing that because of redistricting, (an American thing), she is forced to attend Jackson High, a nearby school in a far rougher neighborhood. Even worse news is that Jackson does not even have a cheerleading squad!
Despite this enormous setback Campbell doesn’t give up on her dreams. She starts a cheerleading squad, forms an alliance with headstrong and hardworking Danielle and manages to get a squad together for the ultimate competition, the National Varsity Championships. Will Campbell and her new squad be able to go all the way?!
Alexandra Lewtas gives an assured performance as the eminently well adjusted Campbell. Jaime Hadwen plays a good villain as the highly competitive and bitchy Eva who has taken over as the cheerleader captain at Campbell’s old school and becomes her nemesis. Kat Hoyos has a dynamic stage presence as her strong willed ally, Danielle. Jessica Van Wyk is a lot of fun as the supremely confident Skylar. Henry Moss does some nice work as Campbell’s love interest, Randall. The ensemble cast are all high energy and give good support.
The main creatives who have brought this show to Australia for the first time and who deserve a lot of credit for putting on such a professional production are Director Rod Herbert, Musical Director Anne-Maree McDonald, Choreographer Tracey Rasmussen, and Stunt Choreographer Melissa McKenzie.
Recommended as great school holidays entertainment BRING IT ON, a Supply Evolution production, is playing the NIDA theatre, 215 Anzac Parade, Kensington until Thursday 9th July. The remaining performance times are Sunday 28 June @ 8pm, Wednesday 1st July @ 2pm & 8pm, Thursday 2nd July @ 8pm, Friday 3rd July @ 2pm & 8pm, Saturday 4th July at 2pm & 8pm, Sunday 5th July @2pm, Monday 6th, Tuesday 7th, Wednesday 8th, Thursday 9th July @ 2pm Prices: from $49 (groups of 10 +) to $59 Bookings: 132849 or www.ticketek.com.au.