Theater Review: 'The Cher Show' Tour at Waterbury's Palace Theater

Review by Nancy Sasso Janis

“The Beat Goes On”

The Big League Productions, Inc. production of the Tony Award-winning “The Cher Show a new musical” has taken to the stage at the magnificent Palace Theater in Waterbury.

The jukebox musical covers the life story of the global icon that is Cher. The cast includes three female performers embodying the title role in the decades of her career. However, they do not cover the role like a relay race, instead interacting throughout the two acts as a quasi Greek chorus. The concept might be a bit cumbersome at first, but it smooths out as the scenes progress.

The tour is directed by Casey Hushion. Choreography designed by Antoinette DiPietropolo ranged from subtle to eye popping for the production numbers like “Dark Lady” and “Bang Bang.”

Morgan Scott returns for year two to play the character dubbed “Star,” the eldest version of Cher of the 1980s and 90s. Scott does very well with the role throughout the show, the version of Cher with hindsight. This is the role that led Broadway’s Stephanie J. Block to a Tony for Lead Actress in a Musical.

Catherine Arialle returns for year two in the tour in the role of “Lady,” the middle-career and statuesque Cher in the 1970s, but on opening night the role was played by understudy Claire Marshall. As the pre show announcement was made of the substitution, the cast members could be heard cheering her on. Marshall did an outstanding job covering the role in her national tour debut.

Ella Perez also returns for a second year to take on the youngest version of Cher (dubbed “Babe,”) beginning when Cher was just 16 years of age and portraying her in the 1950s and 60s. The fabulous wigs designed by Roxanne De Luna help keep them straight.

Frankie Marasa 5th plays Sonny Bono in his national tour debut. He sounds (and looks) so much like Bono that the first time he sang (in “I Got You Babe,”) the opening night audience applauded.

Kristin Rose Kelleher gets to play Cher’s single mother Georgia Holt throughout the show, as well as the iconic Lucille Ball in one scene. The actress gives a wonderful performance in both wonderful supporting roles in her national tour debut. Tyler Pirrung is back for another season of the tour to cover the fabulous costume designer Bob Mackie, director Robert Altman and Frank.

Zack Zaromatidis returns to the tour to take on the role of the long-haired Gregg Allman, and also plays John Southall. Brooks Andrew steps out of the ensemble to play the role of bagel maker Rob Camilletti. Swing Alli Bossart had the opportunity to cover the roles normally played by Marshall.

Ensemble members became a long list of supporting roles, with Jonah Nash fierce as Mackie’s assistant and Emma Jade Branson dancing beautifully as the Dark Lady featured dancer.

The book for the show was written by Rick Elice ("Jersey Boys," "Peter and the Starcatcher,) with the music that is performed written by a long list of composers. Sonny Bono wrote some of the duo’s first hits, but songwriter Diane Warren has several songs on the long music credits list. One audience member felt that the script did not adequately cover the stage fright that Cher experienced.

The ever-changing set design by Kelly James Tighe sets the scene for the important parts of Cher’s career with some very effective lighting designed by Charlie Morrison, especially for the scenes with all three incarnations of the star. The video design by Jonathan Infante and Kelly James Tighe enhances many of the scenes. Sound design by Daniel Lundberg worked well, if a bit too loud at times.

Sarah Wussow served as musical director, conducting the orchestra from behind keyboard 1. The orchestra sounded great, especially Tim Schilling and Emmett Sher on their guitars. The songs included in the two acts, mostly presented in chronological order, are what fans would expect, as well as one Disney surprise.

The costumes for the tour are stellar. There are a plethora of costume changes, all of them fabulous. The original Broadway and tour costumes were designed by the iconic Bob Mackie, who is charmingly included in the script. Expect tons of sequins and feathers on the Mackie creations, many of whom are recreations of actual designs worn by Cher. One of the musical numbers is in essence a fashion show of costumes.

“The Cher Show” is a feast for the eyes and the ears, featuring spectacular costumes and wonderful vocal performances of some of Cher’s best work. Her fans who remember the trajectory of her varied career will enjoy this life story that is punctuated with the music that made her famous. It is funny at times, heart wrenching at others and often honest. The performance runs two and a half hours.

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Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theater reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues, and she posts well over 100 reviews each year. She became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle in 2016. Her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted in the Naugatuck Patch as well as the Patch sites closest to the venue. She is also a feature writer and theater reviewer for the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper. Her weekly column IN THE WINGS and theater reviews appear in the Thursday Weekend section of the newspaper.