{"id":16930,"date":"2015-03-20T19:49:15","date_gmt":"2015-03-21T02:49:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forallevents.com\/reviews\/?p=16930"},"modified":"2015-03-20T19:50:03","modified_gmt":"2015-03-21T02:50:03","slug":"title-of-show-by-jeff-bowen-and-hunter-bell-belrose-theatre-san-rafael-ca-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forallevents.com\/reviews\/title-of-show-by-jeff-bowen-and-hunter-bell-belrose-theatre-san-rafael-ca-2\/","title":{"rendered":"[Title of Show] by Jeff Bowen and Hunter Bell, Belrose Theatre, San Rafael CA"},"content":{"rendered":"

Reviewed by Suzanne and Greg Angeo<\/strong><\/p>\n

Members, San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Phillip Percy Williams, Abbey Lee, Amanda Morando, Fernando Siu<\/p><\/div>\n

More Fun Than a Barrel of Monkeys in Speedboats<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The intimate space at the historic Belrose Theatre has seen many productions in its 50-plus years, but [Title of Show], produced by Marin Onstage, is quite possibly one of the best. Not your typical showbiz insider tale, this engaging, lively musical is a show all about itself, a true story about the quest for theatrical fame and glory.<\/p>\n

Jeff, Hunter, Heidi and Susan \u2013 they\u2019re all friends who share a love of theater, especially musical theater. They decide to write an original musical about themselves writing an original musical and submit it to The New York Musical Theatre Festival for consideration. Much to their amazement, they are selected. It premiered at the 2004 Festival and went on to a run off-Broadway and finally, to Broadway in 2008 and a Tony Award nomination.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a pleasure to see talent that\u2019s bigger than the stage it\u2019s presented on. At the Belrose, each cast member is stand-alone star material: Phillip Percy Williams<\/strong> as Hunter, Fernando Siu<\/strong> as Jeff, Amanda Morando<\/strong> as Heidi (who also provides excellent music direction) and Abbey Lee<\/strong> as Susan. Piano player\/accompanist Larry is played with joyful exuberance by Justin Pyne.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The high point of the show: a jazzy but sobering number, \u201cDie Vampire Die!\u201d explains that anything or anyone that says \u201cyou\u2019re not good enough\u201d are vampires that drain your creativity, but the biggest vampire of them all is the vampire of despair, the one inside your head. Truly moving stuff. \u201cFind a Way Back to Then\u201d is beautifully sung by Morando, a gentle ballad about returning to what really matters.<\/p>\n

While director Carl Jordan<\/strong> was doing online research for a cabaret act, he happened across some songs from [Title…] and fell in love with the show; he knew he had to do it. He hand-picked the cast and turned down some really good people in his search. He was looking for, and found, four triple-threat performers with the skill to be leads and still have the ability to blend as an ensemble. Jordan’s meticulous direction leaves nowhere to catch your breath, with every moment filled with action.<\/p>\n

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Clockwise, top left-Phillip Percy Williams, Fernando Siu, Amanda Morando, Abbey Lee<\/p><\/div>\n

The cast is chock-full of recent award-winners: Williams is fresh off his recent San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award for Best Principal Actor in a Musical for \u201cReturn to the Forbidden Planet\u201d; Morando was featured in the ensemble. It was also directed by Jordan, who won the SFBATCC Award himself for Best Overall Production for that show. Another SFBATCC award-winner is Lee, who was recognized as Best Featured Actress for her gloriously spicy turn in \u201cVictor\/Victoria\u201d. In a neat tie-in, Belrose Theatre founder and local legend Margie Belrose<\/strong> has also just received the SFBATCC Jerry Friedman Award for Lifetime Achievement<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Original video projections and vivid, animated graphics created by Robert Nelson<\/strong> contribute to the offbeat humor and keep the momentum building. Over the twelve briskly-paced scenes there are nice bits of off-script business. It\u2019s an innovative, fast-moving and entertaining production. Each individual performer harmonizes beautifully; the well balanced arrangements are absolutely marvelous. The presentation shows true devotion to the actor\u2019s craft, an honest presentation of a real-life story in song and dance.<\/p>\n

Where: Belrose Theatre<\/strong><\/p>\n

1415 5th<\/sup> Ave., San Rafael CA 94901<\/strong><\/p>\n

(415) 448-6152 \u2013 Marin Onstage<\/strong><\/p>\n

www.marinonstage.org<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

When: Now Through March 28, 2015<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Saturday Matinee at 2 p.m.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tickets: $10 – $25<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Reviewed by Suzanne and Greg Angeo Members, San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle More Fun Than a Barrel of Monkeys in Speedboats The intimate space at the historic Belrose…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"yasr_overall_rating":0,"yasr_post_is_review":"","yasr_auto_insert_disabled":"","yasr_review_type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-16930","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-greg-suzanne-angeo"},"yasr_visitor_votes":{"stars_attributes":{"read_only":true,"span_bottom":"