Dish-Houston

 BY DISH CONTRIBUTOR: COURTNEY PEARCE

While walking into Bring It On: The Musical at The Hobby Center, I couldn’t help but wonder, “How would this world of cheerleading translate onto the stage, let alone into a musical?” Doubts were removed with the first song! The on-stage story was a blend of the first two movies with a little spin of its own. Music was by Tom Kitt and Lin-Manuel Miranda, who also provided the lyrics with Amanda Green, blended well with the humorous script of playwright Jeff Whitty. Surprises abounded with the mix of pop and hip-hop numbers blending seamlessly with the story line.

This was a story of two rival high schools, each in it to win it, of course, at the National Cheerleading competition is the base of the typical teen angst story line that includes making friends, losing friends, and finding out what is really important in the end.

The main players of the show are up and comer, Taylor Louderman, who plays Campbell, and Adrienne Warren, who plays Danielle. These two leading ladies shake it and had the pipes to go with it! What voices! Wait until see Louderman in her leprechaun number!

The two characters who really stole the show, however, are Ryann Redmond, who plays Bridget, and Gregory Haney, who plays La Cienega. Redmond’s character is the school mascot who isn’t given a second look, but blossoms when she is moved to Jackson High. It’s there that becomes a gorgeous “sex kitten” THE prime choice! Redmond’s vocals are a highlight of the show. Haney, who is one fierce diva, delivers her witty lines and fierce dance moves to perfection and these are just a few reasons her character shines in the spotlight.

The gravity defying cheerleaders in the show were selected in collaboration with Varsity, a global leader in competitive cheerleading. The stunts right on, not too over the top, which can be the case in movies, but just enough to get the theater ohh-ing and ahh-ing over their baskets and flips. The on stage tumbling made a huge impact and, as expected, the dance choreography intermingled with the cheer routines was flawless.

Overall, Bring It On exceeded all expectations. Thinking there couldn’t be a comparison to the movie, the stage show left me smiling and laughing. It’s only here until February 5^th so I highly recommend high kicking it over to that box office fast!