‘THE CHER SHOW’: Stephanie J. Block (center) & cast. Photo: Joan Marcus

THE CHER SHOW
Book by Rick Elice
Directed by Jason Moore
Choreographed by Christopher Gattelli
Neil Simon Theatre
250 West 52nd Street
(877-250-2929), www.thechershowbroadway.com

By David NouNou

There is so much to enjoy in The Cher Show that it is a shame they couldn’t get it absolutely perfect, and there is a valid reason. The major difficulty is Cher is a living legend with a career that has spanned almost 55 years. You get to see her ups and downs, her hits and her misfires but throughout it she has always seemed to be the most resilient person in show business. The woman has led 100 lives and it is impossible to compress all of it adequately into a two-and-a-half-hour format.

There are three ladies playing Cher: Star, the older Cher magnificently portrayed by Stephanie J. Block. Lady, the young adult Cher admirably played by Teal Wicks, and Babe, the starter Cher simulates a young Cher. There is always a problem when your central character is portrayed by three different actresses; case in point the abysmal Summer: The Donna Summer Musical. Whereas that musical bio was offensive and inaccurate in so many ways, this show aims to deliver the goods and please. However, like that show, it is very difficult to sustain interest in three people portraying different stages of a diva’s life. One can capture the look, one can capture the sound, or one can capture the essence. An incredible feat but Ms. Block meets all the requirements.

Rick Elice’s book attempts to encapsulate this legend’s lifetime but ends up being a bit schizophrenic. It is clever, smart and witty but also comes to a screeching halt in scenes when the three Chers are talking to each other and giving each other advice at different stages in their respective lives. It would have worked so much better if just older Cher commented/narrated about the different stages of her life and didn’t interact with the other two but merely observed and commented while the other two played their parts and finally the three would merge as one triumphant, legendary Cher.

When there is an extensive songbook as voluminous as Cher’s, it is difficult to juggle a musical to fit historically with the songs that the artist did in a proper chronological order. A lot will drop by the wayside, some will be marginalized, and then you have ballads that bring you down from the euphoric high from the previous scene. Believe me, there are many gleeful scenes; to mention just a few the Bob Mackie fashion parade is a show-stopping eye popper. “Dark Lady,” a song usually song by Cher, is given to Sonny (Jarrod Spector), Cher’s first husband and Svengali and Greg Allman (Matthew Hydzik), her second husband, as a sing-off on who will ultimately win Cher back, but the real dazzler in the number is the dancer Ashley Blair Fitzgerald; she’ll have you jumping out of your seat.

All the highlights are here: the songs, her mother Georgia Holt (Emily Skinner) who imbues her daughter with confidence, the men in her life Sonny Bono, Gregg Allman, and even Rob “the bagel boy” Camilletti (Michael Campayno), the costumes, the glitz and the boys. There is something to be enjoyed by everyone.

Another major problem here is the pacing. For every showstopping number, it quickly fizzles into the trio of women talking to each other and ultimately a dirge ballad is sung, thus bringing the proceedings down and you have to climb back up. The problem here is Jason Moore’s direction. Usually Mr. Moore (who directed such Broadway hits as Shrek and Avenue Q) is always on top of things, but the narrative and execution here needs fine-tuning. Why? When dealing with a blockbuster story about such an icon, the unfolding of the plot must always be concise and should never be allowed to lag. Go big or don’t bother. He had the wonderful choreographer Christopher Gattelli to assist him and a great ensemble of dancers at his disposal that could have kept the proceedings sparkling all night long.

Besides Bob Mackie’s costumes, there is the indomitable Stephanie J. Block. The woman shines in her best musical performance to date. Just go see the show, overlook the weak spots and be prepared to be dazzled.

Edited by Scott Harrah
Published December 7, 2018
Reviewed at December 6, 2018 press performance.

‘THE CHER SHOW’: (left to right) Teal Wicks, Stephanie J. Block & Micaela Diamond. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘THE CHER SHOW’: Jarrod Spector & Micaela Diamond. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘THE CHER SHOW’: Jarrod Spector & Teal Wicks. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘THE CHER SHOW’: Jarrod Spector as Sonny Bono. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘THE CHER SHOW’: Micaela Diamond & cast. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘THE CHER SHOW’: Michael Berresse as Bob Mackie. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘THE CHER SHOW’: The cast. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘THE CHER SHOW’: The cast. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘THE CHER SHOW’: The cast. Photo: Joan Marcus

Cher performs onstage with the cast of ‘The Cher Show’ on opening night at Neil Simon Theatre on December 3, 2018 in New York City. Photo: Jenny Anderson/Getty Images for The Cher Show

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COSTUMES OF AN ICON: Bob Mackie’s fabulous designs for Cher. Mr. Mackie is creating costumes for the upcoming, Broadway-bound ‘The Cher Show.’  Image: Bob Mackie/The Cher Show

BROADWAY-BOUND ‘THE CHER SHOW’ ANNOUNCES DESIGN TEAM

Legendary Costume Designer Bob Mackie

Set Designers Christine Jones & Brett Banakis

Lighting Designer Kevin Adams

Sound Designer Nevin Steinberg

Performances Begin at the Oriental Theatre in Chicago on June 12

***

New York, NY – March 14, 2018—Producers Flody Suarez and Jeffrey Seller announced today the design team for The Cher Show including legendary costume designer and longtime Cher collaborator Bob Mackie. The Cher Show, the new musical based on the life and career of the iconic singer and actress, will have its pre-Broadway world premiere in Chicago with previews beginning on June 12, 2018 at the Oriental Theatre and its Broadway debut at the Neil Simon Theatre in fall 2018.

Rounding out the creative team are nine-time Emmy Award winning costume designer Bob Mackie, Tony-Award winning set designer Christine Jones (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and American Idiot), set designer Brett Banakis (The Glass Menagerie), Tony Award-winning lighting designer Kevin Adams (Hedwig and the Angry Inch and American Idiot), and sound designer Nevin Steinberg (Hamilton and Dear Evan Hansen). The newly announced design team joins book writer Rick Elice (Tony Award-winning best musical Jersey Boys), director Jason Moore (Tony Award-winning best musical Avenue Q), Tony Award-winning choreographer Christopher Gattelli (Newsies), and Tony Award-winning orchestrator, arranger and music supervisor Daryl Waters (Memphis) in bringing the new musical to the stage.

Recognized for her influential contributions to music, film, television, fashion, and popular culture, the Grammy, Oscar, Golden Globe, and Emmy award-winning entertainer’s life story will be brought to the stage in the new musical featuring her beloved chart-topping hits.

The Cher Show is based on the life of Cherilyn Sarkisian La Piere Bono Allman or as her friends call her, Cher! The kid on a tricycle, vowing to be famous. The teenage phenom who crashes by twenty. The glam TV star who quits at the top. The would-be actress with an Oscar. The rock goddess with a hundred million records sold. The legend who’s done it all, still scared to walk on stage. The wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend. The woman, looking for love. The ultimate survivor, chasing her dream. They’re all here, dressed to kill, singing their asses off, telling it like it is. And they’re all the star of The Cher Show.

The new musical is produced by Flody Suarez (What’s New Pussycat) and four-time Tony Award-winner Jeffrey Seller (Hamilton).

The Cher Show will begin performances at Chicago’s Oriental Theatre (24 W. Randolph) on June 12, 2018 for a limited engagement through July 15, 2018. Individual tickets will go on sale Friday, March 23. For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

Casting will be announced at a later date. For more information, please visit TheCherShowBroadway.com.

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