Suggest credit changes
SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK LIVE!
Common info
WRITER
LYNN AHRENS/BOB DOROUGH/SCOTT FERGUSON/DAVE FRISHBERG/KYLE HALL/GEORGE KEATING/KATHY MANDRY/GEORGE NEWALL/TOM YOHE
DIRECTOR
MARJORIE SCHOEMANN
PRODUCER
DRAMATISTS THEATRE
PRODUCTION COMPANY
ALLEGRO PRODUCTIONS
Summary
Education Rocks
THEATER REVIEW
Education Rocks (Theater Review)
by Russ Bickerstaff Shephed Express
June 14, 2007
Originally conceived and produced in the early 1970's, SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK has had remarkable longevity for a series of musical, animated, educational shorts. A little more than ten years ago, the series was immortalized in a wildly successful Off-Broadway musical review, which saw a number of productions popping up all over the country in the mid- to late-'90's. Allegro Productions closes its inaugural season with a production of the musical (through June 17).
It features a cast of four lead actors accompanied by a small army of no less than nine children of various ages. Kids at nearly every different stage of youth, from a variety of different backgrounds, take the stage with adults, making for a diverse vocal sound that caries the production quite well. The rather large cast floods Allegro's tiny stage, performing 15 of the 46 SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK songs. The children are led by teacher-performers Janelle Ganske and Angel Johnstad, joined by Joshua Parkes, reprising his role of Joe from the first Milwaukee production of the revue ten years ago.
This production is done on the cheap, with casual costuming and a prop bed. The choreography is a bit of a mess in the rhythmic frenzy of the crowd swarming around such a small stage. The energy generated here, however, is pleasantly infectious, and there are some really great moments. High school freshman Lydia Eiche shows considerable vocal talent as lead in a number of songs in the second act, including "Figure Eight" and "Interplanet Janet." Halfway into the first act, elementary school student Kamilah Lay stands on the prop bed and sings a soulful rendition of "Sufferin' Till Suffrage" as the rest of the cast (nearly all of whom are older than her) sing backup. All of her words may not ring out with perfect clarity, but Lay sings with impressive soul for such a young girl.
Schoolhouse Rock Live! is a fine finale to Allegro's premiere season. The spirit of the production is simply amazing.
THEATER REVIEW
Education Rocks (Theater Review)
by Russ Bickerstaff Shephed Express
June 14, 2007
Originally conceived and produced in the early 1970's, SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK has had remarkable longevity for a series of musical, animated, educational shorts. A little more than ten years ago, the series was immortalized in a wildly successful Off-Broadway musical review, which saw a number of productions popping up all over the country in the mid- to late-'90's. Allegro Productions closes its inaugural season with a production of the musical (through June 17).
It features a cast of four lead actors accompanied by a small army of no less than nine children of various ages. Kids at nearly every different stage of youth, from a variety of different backgrounds, take the stage with adults, making for a diverse vocal sound that caries the production quite well. The rather large cast floods Allegro's tiny stage, performing 15 of the 46 SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK songs. The children are led by teacher-performers Janelle Ganske and Angel Johnstad, joined by Joshua Parkes, reprising his role of Joe from the first Milwaukee production of the revue ten years ago.
This production is done on the cheap, with casual costuming and a prop bed. The choreography is a bit of a mess in the rhythmic frenzy of the crowd swarming around such a small stage. The energy generated here, however, is pleasantly infectious, and there are some really great moments. High school freshman Lydia Eiche shows considerable vocal talent as lead in a number of songs in the second act, including "Figure Eight" and "Interplanet Janet." Halfway into the first act, elementary school student Kamilah Lay stands on the prop bed and sings a soulful rendition of "Sufferin' Till Suffrage" as the rest of the cast (nearly all of whom are older than her) sing backup. All of her words may not ring out with perfect clarity, but Lay sings with impressive soul for such a young girl.
Schoolhouse Rock Live! is a fine finale to Allegro's premiere season. The spirit of the production is simply amazing.
SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK LIVE! 'S CAST
