‘HEAD OVER HEELS’: Taylor Iman Jones & the company. Photo: Joan Marcus

HEAD OVER HEELS
Songs by The Go-Go’s
Based on The Arcadia by Sir Philip Sidney
Conceived & Original Book by Jeff Whitty
Adapted by James Magruder
Music supervision, orchestrations & arrangements by Tom Kitt
Choreographed by Spencer Liff
Directed by Michael Mayer
The Hudson Theatre
141 West 44th Street
(855) 801-5876
www.HeadOverHeelsTheMusical.com

By Scott Harrah

Being an aging Generation X member and a longtime Go-Go’s fan, I was initially thrilled when I heard about Head Over Heels, thinking it would be a fun chronicle of the ups and downs of Belinda Carlisle, Jane Wiedlin, Kathy Valentine and the rest of the L.A. all-female rock group from the 1980s. When I later realized the show is a jukebox musical featuring Go-Go’s music and a story based on Sir Philip Sidney’s obscure Elizabethan story The Arcadia, my expectations were low indeed. A tale set in a mythical land with a royal family facing the threat of its beloved “beat” sounds like an absurd premise for a jukebox musical showcasing the iconic hits of the most successful female rock band ever, but naysayers and skeptics beware: The show grows on you if you simply go along with it and accept it for nothing other than the mindless, splashy entertainment it is.

Brought to us by musical supervisor Tom Kitt, choreographer Spencer Liff, book writer Jeff Whitty and director Michael Mayer–the creative team behind such Broadway blockbusters as Hedwig and the Angry Inch and American Idiot, Spring Awakening and Avenue Q—Head Over Heels is a mixture of a 17^th century romance with gender-bending characters that often speak in Shakespearean iambic pentameter.

The plot revolves around the King of Arcadia, Basilus (Jeremy Kushnier) and Queen Gynecia (Rachel York) reigning over an ancient kingdom, along with their younger daughter Philocea (Alexandra Socha). The younger princess is romantically involved with a shepherd, Musidorus (Andrew Durand). Their older daughter Pamela (Bonnie Milligan) has a secret. The kingdom’s future is threatened when the non-binary Pythio, the Oracle of Delphi (Peppermint), unleashes a prophecy of doom.

Such Go-Go’s classics as “We Got the Beat,” “Vacation,” “Our Lips Are Sealed,” “Turn to You” and “Lust to Love,” along with the Belinda Carlisle solo hits “Mad About You” and “Heaven is a Place on Earth,” are woven into the wacky narrative of changing genders, revolution in the monarchy and sexual discovery.  The story’s humor is sometimes riddled with corny visual puns, such as the choreography for “Mad About You” when dancers are dressed as sheep. Get it? Ewes.

The show is a colorful mess, thanks to winning period costumes by Arianne Phillips and Spencer Liff’s frenetic choreography.

Some of the cast members are also refreshing. Jeremy Kushnier, Andrew Durand and Rachel York give good but mostly serviceable performances, and Peppermint as Pythio primarily serves up the boilerplate camp that made her (or they?) famous on “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” The true standouts here are the winning Bonnie Milligan as Pamela, the brash and zaftig young princess who gets many of the laughs, as well as Taylor Iman Jones as her gal pal Mopsa. Both Ms. Milligan and Ms. Jones are a sheer delight whenever they are onstage.

In comparison to some of the dreadful jukebox musicals recently, from the inane Escape from Margaritaville (featuring Jimmy Buffett songs) to the factually challenged Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, Head Over Heels is a vast improvement for the genre. Perhaps an escapist tale with Go-Go’s songs, full of characters exploring nonconformity and sexual freedom, is exactly the tonic needed in these troubled times.

Edited by Scott Harrah
Published August 3, 2018
Reviewed at August 2, 2018 press performance.

‘HEAD OVER HEELS’: Rachel York & Jeremy Kushnier & the company. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘HEAD OVER HEELS’: Peppermint (center) & the ensemble. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘HEAD OVER HEELS’: Tom Alan Robbins & Jeremy Kushnier. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘HEAD OVER HEELS’: Andrew Durand & Alexandra Socha. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘HEAD OVER HEELS’: The ensemble. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘HEAD OVER HEELS’: The company. Photo: Joan Marcus

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THEY GOT THE BEAT: (Left to right) Kathy Valentine, Charlotte Caffey, Jane Wiedlin, Belinda Carlisle and Gina Schock of The Go-Go’s attend a celebration of Broadway’s new musical ‘Head Over Heels’ at Bowery Ballroom on January 29, 2018 in New York City. The musical will open on Broadway in July 2018 after a run in San Francisco. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Head Over Heels)

Head Over Heels

New Musical Featuring the Songs of Pop Icons

The Go-Go’s

New Video: “Finding the BEAT”

Click here to watch or see below

Pre-Broadway Engagement Opens

San Francisco’s Curran 2018 Season

April 10, 2018 – May 6, 2018

Ahead of Opening at Broadway’s Hudson Theatre

Thursday, July 26, 2018

Performances Begin Saturday, June 23, 2018

Broadway Tickets On Sale Now

www.HeadOverHeelsTheMusical.com

SAN FRANCISCO – Previews begin tonight, Tuesday April 10, at the Curran Theatre (445 Geary Street) for Head Over Heels, the new musical comedy featuring the iconic songs of The Go-Go’s – the most successful female rock band of all time. Prior to its Broadway bow, Head Over Heels will play a limited engagement through May 6, 2018 (opening night is Wednesday, April 18).

Head Over Heels will officially open on Broadway at Hudson Theatre (141 West 44th Street) on Thursday, July 26, 2018 (performances begin Saturday, June 23).

An inspired mash-up of posh and punk, Head Over Heels is an unpredictable, Elizabethan romp about a royal family that must prevent an oracle’s prophecy of doom. In order to save their beloved kingdom, the family embarks on an extravagant journey wrought with mistaken identities, jealous lovers, sexual awakening, scandal and self-discovery, where everything (and everyone) is not quite what it seems.

The Company

The principal cast of Head Over Heels features Andrew Durand (Spring Awakening), Taylor Iman Jones (Groundhog Day), Jeremy Kushnier (Cirque du Soleil Paramour), Bonnie Milligan (Kinky Boots tour; Broadway debut), Peppermint (“RuPaul’s Drag Race”; Broadway debut; the first trans-woman actress to create a principal role on Broadway), Tom Alan Robbins (The Lion King, original cast), Alexandra Socha (Spring Awakening) and Rachel York (Disaster!).

The Head Over Heels ensemble is Amber Ardolino (Hamilton), Sharon Catherine Brown (Dreamgirls), Yurel Echezarreta (Aladdin), Lisa Finegold (Rock of Ages), Brian Flores (Pippin tour; Broadway debut), Ari Groover (Holler If Ya Hear Me), Tanya Haglund (Chicago tour; Broadway debut), Arica Jackson (Waitress tour; Broadway debut), Gregory Liles (Broadway debut), Gavin Lodge (Annie), Samantha Pollino (Hot Feet), Justin Prescott (Cirque Du Soleil Paramour), Tanner Ray Wilson (Cats, 2017 revival) and Ricardo Zayas (Hamilton).

The Go-Go’s

The Go-Go’s (members Charlotte Caffey, Belinda Carlisle, Gina Schock, Kathy Valentine, Jane Wiedlin) have presided over an amazing three-decade reign as high pop priestesses. From their very first show, The Go-Go’s wrote and played their own songs, offering five feisty role models for a generation of ready-to-rock girls and guys. The internationally-loved pop hit makers helped cement the foundation of the early ‘80s pop-rock sound.

Making their Broadway debut as songwriters, The Go-Go’s said, “Head Over Heels is a celebration of love in all its forms, joyful, fun and full of heart, driven by the songs that for decades have been making people jump from their seats and dance.”

Head Over Heels features 17 of The Go-Go’s iconic hit songs including “We Got the Beat,” “Get Up and Go,” “Cool Jerk,” “Vacation,” “Our Lips Are Sealed,” “Lust to Love,” “Head Over Heels” and Belinda Carlisle’s solo hits “Mad About You” and “Heaven is a Place on Earth.”

Creative Team

From the visionaries that rocked Broadway with Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Next To Normal, American Idiot, Spring Awakening and Avenue Q, the Head Over Heels creative team is led by Tony Award-winning director Michael Mayer with musical supervision, orchestrations and arrangements by Pulitzer Prize and Tony winner Tom Kitt and choreography by Emmy and Drama Desk nominee Spencer Liff. Head Over Heels was conceived and has an original book by Tony winner Jeff Whitty and is adapted by James Magruder. Head Over Heels is based upon The Arcadia by Sir Philip Sidney. The creative team also includes scenic and puppet design by Tony Award nominee Julian Crouch, costume design by Academy Award and Tony Award nominee Arianne Phillips, lighting design by four-time Tony Award winner Kevin Adams, sound design by Tony Award nominee Kai Harada and projection design by Andrew Lazarow. Casting by Jim Carnahan Casting. Kimberly Grigsby serves as Musical Director. Lisa Iacucci is Production Stage Manager.

Producing Team

The producing team is Rick Ferrari, Donovan Leitch, Christine Russell, Gwyneth Paltrow, Louise Gund, Hunter Arnold, Tom Kirdahy and Jordan Roth.

Carole Shorenstein Hays, Scott Sigman, Robert Kravis, Vikram Chatwal, Carrie Clifford, The John Gore Organization and Mara Sandler are co-producers. Julie Boardman serves as Associate Producer and 101 Productions, Ltd. serves as Executive Producer.

Ticket Information

Broadway tickets are available via TheHudsonBroadway.com, by calling (855) 801-5876, or in-person at Broadway’s Hudson Theatre (141 West 44th Street). Visit www.thehudsonbroadway.com for full performance schedule. Ticket prices range from $69 to $169. Group discounts are available for groups of 10 or more through Broadway Inbound by calling 866-302-0995, or online at www.broadwayinbound.com.

SF tickets are available via sfcurran.com. Ticket prices range from $29 to $175. Visit www.sfcurran.com for full performance schedule. Tickets are also available as part of Curran’s 2018 season offering at sfcurran.com/subscribe. Subscriptions run $116-$744 and include tickets to four productions: Head Over Heels, Soft Power, Taylor Mac’s Holiday Sauce and Dear Evan Hansen.

Production History

The world premiere of Head Over Heels took place at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (Bill Rauch, Artistic Director; Cynthia Rider, Executive Director) and was developed with the support of New York Stage and Film and Vassar’s Powerhouse Theater, summer 2016.

Online & Social Handles

Online: www.HeadOverHeelsTheMusical.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HOHmusical

Twitter: @HOHMusical | Instagram: @HOHMusical | #HeadOverHeels

Broadway’s Hudson Theatre

Hudson Theatre, the oldest and newest theatre on Broadway, originally opened in 1903 by Henry B. Harris with a production of Cousin Kate, starring Ethel Barrymore. After 114 years, the landmark venue was restored to its former glory as a Broadway playhouse by Ambassador Theatre Group (in association with Millennium Hotels and Resorts) and it re-opened in February 2017 with Sunday in the Park with George as the 41st Broadway venue.

A Sneak Video Peek at Head Over Heels

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