Disaster! A 70’s Disaster Movie… Musical!
Based on J.M. Barrie’s Novel
By Seth Rudestsky and Jack Plotnick
Additional Material by Drew Geraci
Directed by Lon Barrera
Produced by Grand Prairie Arts Council
Audience Rating: PG - highly stylized depictions of violence, mild language
Run Time: 2 hours 15 min, including one 15 min intermission
Accessible Seating: Available
Hearing Devices: Not Available
Sensory Friendly Performance: Not Available
Production Sound Level: Comfortable Volume
Noises or Visuals to Prepare For: Blurred movement, flashing lights
Reviewed by Jenny Wood
Grand Prairie Arts Council’s production of Disaster! A 70’s Disaster Movie… Musical! is a sudsy, campy sequence of earworms and easter eggs presented with sincerity and warmth. Over the course of a single evening, patrons of a high-end casino riverboat docked outside Manhattan fall victim to an unhinged sequence of disasters.
Presented in Grand Prairies’ Uptown Theatre, Artistic Director Lon Barrera and his team have developed not just a super fun two hour ride, but an overall great evening at the theatre.
To start, for a show where many might opt for backing tracks, GPAC utilized a live band led by Music Director/Conductor Kristen Spires. This allowed popular refrains to be tailored to the performers’ voices in a way that kept the songs familiar but allowed for individuality and surprises.
The energy of the ensemble as a whole made clear that everyone was having a good time, but of particular note among the Principal Cast: Rachel Ramos’ portrayal of Levora Verona - a Disco Queen travelling with her “darling” dog - and Briana Berk as the slots-addicted Sister Mary Downy. The roles of Ben and Lisa Noelle are split between Joseph Haraldson and Amrynn Wood, but not in the way you’d expect and – no spoilers, but – this plot line had some of the best-executed prop comedy I’ve seen in a minute.
My party of four had a fabulous time riding the waves with the cast of Disaster!, and this was in no small part due to the Front of House staff and GPAC’s various audience experiences throughout the location. Will Call transactions were quick, volunteers selling raffle tickets were friendly but not pushy. At intermission, concession service was split into sections creating impressive efficiency. After the show, there was a photo-op for audience members on the front sidewalk.
An all-inclusive cruise with white glove service, for sure.
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