BRING IT ON: The Musical Reviews

Today is Wednesday, August 1, marking the official opening performance of Bring It On: The Musical, the new muscular, pop-fueled musical inspired by the popular film franchise about rival cheerleading teams, at the St. James Theatre. The Broadway engagement is the culmination of the national tour, which launched last fall in Los Angeles. It began previews July 12 for a run through October 7. Andy Blankenbuehler directs and choreographs the musical, which has musical supervision by Alex Lacamoire. Bring It On: The Musical features a book by Jeff Whitty, and music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Tom Kitt, and Amanda Green.

Here's how producers bill the work: "In Bring It On: The Musical, the high-stakes world of competitive cheerleading is intertwined with cutthroat high school politics to tell the story of Campbell, the heir apparent to the head cheerleader at Truman High School. Campbell is at the top of the cheerleader pyramid and she has it all — a strong squad, a doting boyfriend and a straight path to the national championships. Her entire life has been dedicated to honing routines and staying within the strict rules and guidelines, but when a surprise letter arrives, Campbell's world is thrown upside down."

I've missed these threads, Limelight Mike. Here comes a new season!

We have this tonight and less than 3 weeks until Chaplin begins previews. Then before we know it, the fall season is upon us. Time is flying! I can't wait.

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I saw the national tour of Bring It On when it came to the Cadillac Palace in Chicago. I enjoyed it for the most part, except when the spot lights would shine directly into the audience faces. It was so bright that my boyfriend got a migraine from it. I liked the characters a lot, and the music was good enough that i would buy the cast recording should it be released.
I agree that the cheerleading routines early in the show were far more impressive than in the final scene.

AMNY - Positive

'As you'd expect, it features unbelievable displays of acrobatics and gymnastic abilities, including but not limited to young girls being flipped high in the air.

But it also proves to be a surprisingly well-crafted, highly enjoyable, feel-good musical with appealing characters, catchy R&B and rap songs, fierce hip-hop choreography and very funny dialogue packed with social media jokes.'

http://www.amny.com/urbanite-1.812039/theater-review-bring-it-on-the-musical-3-5-stars-1.3876080

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Associated Press is mixed/positive.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/theater_dance/review-bring-it-on-is-an-infectious-romp-if-not-very-groundbreaking-musical/2012/08/01/gJQAf9oHQX_story.html

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Updated On: 8/1/12 at 08:25 PM

Talkin' Broadway is up.

http://www.talkinbroadway.com/world/BringitOn.html

Backstage is up.

http://www.backstage.com/bso/reviews-ny-theatre-broadway/ny-review-bring-it-on-the-musical-1007723752.story

The New York Times is mixed to positive.

"It’s when the cast members drop the bonding and the mean-girl bitching to take part in Mr. Blankenbuehler’s exciting cheerleading routines, arranging themselves into dazzling human starbursts, that “Bring It On” really brings something fresh to the ever-expanding roster of shows aimed at the teenage demographic. The precision and daring with which they fling themselves into the air and engage in breathtaking runs of back flips across the wide St. James stage give the musical a real kick. Even those with dark memories of the plastic perfections of cheerleaders may find it impossible to resist an encouraging cry of “Go team!”"

http://theater.nytimes.com/2012/08/02/theater/reviews/bring-it-on-the-musical-at-st-james-theater.html

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USA Today is positive!

http://www.usatoday.com/life/theater/reviews/story/2012-08-01/bring-it-on-the-musical/56668332/1

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Congrats to the cast and crew for the mainly positive reviews!!

How was the New York Times Review published before the opening night performance even finished? Is it a common thing for reviewers to not go to opening night and write a review of a preview performance? Very sketchy.

A press night two or three days before the official opening has been the norm for quite some time now.

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