CRAZY FOR YOU -- Wabasha-Kellogg High School

music & lyrics: George and Ira Gershwin
book: Ken Ludwig
director: Cris Medina
choreographer: Laura Flicek
music director: Mary Brelsford
costumer: Cheryl Davidson
cast: Sarah Bignell, Aislin Bright, Jami Fonfara, Jan Jurutka, Panad Phiwbang, Maew Pongsawan, Kerry Powers, Greg Schumacher, Sarah Smith, Ben Buckmaster, Michael Johnson, Gabe Loechler, Brooke Nelson, Rachel Norgrant, Emily Seifert, Patrick Slaughter, Chelsea Smith, Dylan Braun, Ryan Bronner, Vicky Hoff, Jessica Hust, Natasha Irish, Thomas Smit, Sara Straskowski, Jacob Fancher, Becca Garrigan, Shannon Garvin, Don Hoff, Nolan LaRocqueKatie Leisen, Jon Smith, Eli Walgrave, Logan Christenson, Kyle Hemmingsen, Luke Smit, Dylan Thoeny, C.J. Bailey, Dominique Jones, Nic Schmit

"The New Gershwin Musical" featuring some great Gershwin songs.

Hoofer wannabe, Bobby, is sent to Deadrock, Nevada to foreclose on a theatre on behalf of the bank run by his controlling mother. In Deadrock, Bobby falls in love with the theatre's owner, Polly.

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I love this musical. I saw the national tour production in San Francisco and the Broadway production. The musical is just fantastic and the story is simple, as a classic musical should be.

This high school production proved to be VERY well done. The amount of singing and dancing, performed by all was remarkable. That as many young men were cast, all of them singing and dancing, was a real nice treat. Michael Johnson as "Bobby" did a remarkable job. He often struck me as a Jimmy Stewart type.

The male voices definitely carried the show -- unusual for a high school. Only Sarah Bignell as "Polly" had much to sing, but her voice didn't carry as well as most of the men. The female chorus was weak. Fortunately the male chorus had more of the singing.

In typical fashion (for a high school production), there were the students who were totally engaged throughout, but there were also those who didn't seem to understand the idea of staying in character and looked flat-out bored when on stage and not singing or dancing. However, thr over-all production value of the entire show was quite good and the students (and adults who worked on the performance) did a fantastic job.

There is still hope for theatre, judging by these young students.

Kudos.