Disaster!
Act3 Playhouse
through August 24, 2019

This one is not a Mary Poppins musical; but is a musical comedy about a guy who builds a floating casino and disco club to be moored at a pier in Manhattan. It’s the late 1970’s when the guys were wearing bell bottoms and music rocked. Jason Meinhardt comes on as Tony Delvecchio, the street-wise honcho. He has two problem visitors.  Marianne (Kate Johnson) who is a reporter looking into various probable problems onboard the casino; and a professor who styles himself as a disaster expert, played by Stephen DeVillers.

It’s the opening night for the floating casino and the characters gather to gamble and dance, unaware of impending natural disasters, and the building’s lack of safety measures compounds these catastrophes. The professor, Ted, alleges the casino’s structure was built on a fault line, which causes earthquakes and more natural disasters.

For a small company this is very large and energetic show with a cast of 16 plus a live band of 5. Characters are dancing, screaming, running, singing and trying to figure out what lies ahead for them as they encounter problems from the fault line on which they are partying. A young waiter, Chad (Kyle Larkins) exudes energy like a tornado as he runs through songs, steps and relationships. He was once engaged to Marianne.

A couple of oddballs draw you in as Sister Mary (Alexandria McMath) a nun who has to figure out if she should save some quarters for orphans, or try the slots for a bigger bag of alms for them; and a singer, Levora Verona (Christy Robinson), who shows up hoping she can hit the stage on the ship and launch a career recovery.

You probably know Shirley & Maury (Tiffany Jarman Jansen & Jim Dailey). They live next door to you and have been a couple since the start of time. The show is directed by Spencer G. Stephens with music under the baton of John-Michael d’Haviland. And all the fast paced moves were choreographed by Johnna Barrett Mitchell.

They work through 34 numbers, in whole and sometimes just parts. You won’t recall most numbers, but know the beat. A few like I am Woman and I Will Survive are two you’ll still hear these days. So put on your bell bottoms and Nehru jacket and head to Sandy Springs where the theatre is right behind Trader Joe’s. More info at Act3Productions.com Note that this is a small house and selling out, so if you snooze. . . .