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Music Across America by Youth Summerstock Theatre  It’s National Lampoon’s Vacation meets The
Partridge Family in Youth Summerstock Theatre’s original revue Music
Across America written and directed by Barry Bosworth. Although
instead of a psychedelic bus or a big, ugly station wagon, this family is
keeping it cozy inside of a Yugo – one of those little blue numbers with the
plaid upholstery option. That’s going to take this family of four from the East
Coast to San Diego – a family consisting of Brandon Hitson as a
charmingly goofy dad reminiscent of Clark Griswold, Amanda Maples as the
consummate soccer mom, and Mark George and Chelsea Vexland as the
squabbling siblings in the backseat.
This fun, music- and dancin’-filled trip across America features about two dozen classic rock and country-western hits, most of them built into the script in purposely cheesy ways. The family of four start out with some California Dreamin’, their entry into the southern states is marked by Elise Gomez belting out Song of the South, some legal entanglements land us in a Jail House Rock led by Patrick Woodland, an overnight stay in a cemetery results in a Monster Mash led by an amusing Gina Goodman as Frankenstein’s wife, the son (Mark George) can’t wait to meet the California Girls, and of course all that driving is going to leave the Yugo in critical need of a Car Wash. Other big hits of the revue include Mother (Amanda Maples) and Daughter (Chelsea Vexland) Stop(ping) in the Name of Love, the highly talented Danielle Holbach cutting loose with Proud Mary, and Stephanee Asch’s disco-ish Bye Bye Blackbird. A stop in a karaoke country bar results in the family members alternatively embarrassing each other as they solo it with the Son’s Your Cheatin’ Heart, the Mother’s Crazy, the Father’s Good-Hearted Woman, and the Daughter’s Sweet Home Alabama, while cowgirl Leah Lyons sang God Bless Texas and Danielle Holbach returned as a waitress to serve up Man, I Feel Like a Woman. Each of the two acts end with big, entertaining numbers put on by the entire ensemble, the first act closing with Shake Rattle & Roll and the second act with a huge homespun finale written by local Steve Goward called the San Diego Song – a patriotic sendoff to the our local beauties and attractions that make San Diego County the place to live.Performed July 14 - 27, 2004.
~ Cast ~
Father: Brandon Hitson Mother: Amanda Maples Son: Mark George Daughter: Chelsea Vexland Caroline: Leah Lyons Darcy: Gina Goodman Cindy Lou/Country Diva: Elise Gomez Dockworker Soloist: Danielle Holbach Dance Ensemble: Danae Goward Stephanee Asch Nicolette Goward Sarah Gross Jailhouse Elvis/Vegas MC: Patrick Woodland Boris: Gina Goodman Igor: Stephen Johnson Bye Bye Blackbird Soloist: Stephanee Asch Carwash Soloist: Sidney Franklin Little Girl: Leslie Montag Waitress: Danielle Holbach Young TX Girl: Leah Lyons Tornado Survivor: Carson Cooper Chorus/Company: Shannon Brewer Karly Brumley Heather Circle Andrea Clare Carson Cooper Zoey Darby Katie Habib Stephen Johnson Leslie Montag Director: Barry Bosworth Choreographer: Chrissy Burns Musical Direction: Brian Hammond Set Design: Olga Worm Costumes: Teri Brown Stage Manager: Stephanee Asch, Katy Habib |