ABBA. Tina Turner. Carole King. Neil Diamond. Cher. The Temptations. Alanis Morrisette. Jimmy Buffett. Queen. Franki Valli. Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, Alicia Keys, and The Go-Gos. All of these artists have something In common: individually, their songs have served as the score to Broadway musicals that have either been autobiographical or plugged into a fictious plot.
The latter is the case for Huey Lewis and the News with the new Broadway musical The Heart of Rock and Roll, which recently opened at the James Earl Jones' Theater. It far exceeds expectations. Admittedly, the announcement of a new musical in the works based on Lewis’ music was received with as much enthusiasm as an Instagram posting of a plain bagel. This is no slight to the Grammy winning band that filled the 1980s airwaves with yacht rock earworms. But an entire show based on the catalogue?
Bookwriter Jonathan A. Abrams and Story Creator Tyler Mitchell must have known that collective eye-rolls would ensue over the material—and they worked it magically in their favor by putting together a flat out, undeniably cute story that quite literally pops like a champagne cork. Is it a far-fetched plot? Yes. Have we seen it before? Yes. Does it matter? Not at all.
Director Gordon Greenberg, who mastered the art of fun a few years ago with Broadway’s Holiday Inn, helms a production that leans full tilt into its own campiness and silly sensibility. At the same time, The Heart of Rock and Roll is indeed still beating, wearing its heart on its sleeve. What makes it so endearing is that it knows exactly what it is and knows not to take itself too seriously. In many ways, it is reminiscent to Rock of Ages, a show from recent years that burst onto the scene, integrating the music of many heavy metal bands. It was so over the top, but everything simply worked. The same applies to The Heart of Rock and Roll.
Hearthrob Corey Cott leads the cast as Bobby, a blue-collar employee who works at a packaging factory. After losing his job, he gains the confidence to win the heart of the boss Stone’s (John Dossett) daughter, Cassandra (McKenzie Kurtz) in a scheme that leads him to crashing a work event, stealing Cassandra from her preppy beau, Tucker (Billy Harrigan Tighe) and proving to his ex-boss that he’s got the goods. His friend and Human resources director, Roz (Tamika Lawrence) aids in his scheme. Along the way, he attempts to grab an account from Fjord (Orville Mendoza), the President of a huge, Swedish home goods store resembling IKEA.
Lawrence steals the show with her top-notch vocals and an impeccable comic delivery and the rest of the cast is unified in acting style and tone.
Walkmans, crimped hair, mullets, and neons all make an appearance, providing a hefty dose of nostalgic catnip to the Gen X crowd—and anyone else seeking escapist .
Choreographer Lorin Latarro has cemented her status as Broadway’s “go-to” for dance. Act II opens with a cheeky throwback evoking Richard Simmons’ Sweatin to the Oldies that will surely be an amusing nostalgic memory. Latarro’s moves are always engaging, seldom repetitive, and thrilling to watch. The busy choreographer is also represented on Broadway this season by The Who’s Tommy. In both cases, the theater world is fortunate to have her.
Huey Lewis’ music is already as hard hitting as a plastic spoon, but music arranger Brian Usifer has made it even more theatrical and lush with some fine arrangements.
This season, audiences have been given numerous and high quality revivals, shows based on literature that have been middling, or pieces that exist to raise social awareness. Heart of Rock and Roll does none of that and instead, rests in the fact that sometimes, it’s not a bad idea to check your brain at the door and open your heart to a night of absolute joy. In fact, as Lewis sang (by the way of The Impressions), “It’s All Right. Have a good time.”
The Heart of Rock and Roll is now playing on Broadway at the James Earl Jones Theater 138 W. 48th St., NYC. For tickets and information, click here.: heartofrocknrollbway.com
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