April 09, 2019 at 03:43AM
A Cappies review of the performance of Bring It On The Musical at Northwest High School on Friday, March 29, 2019.
By Maddie Gold, Woodrow Wilson High School
GERMANTOWN, MD — If there was a real spirit stick to be won, Northwest High School's energetic cast of "Bring It On" would take it home by a landslide! Based on the classic 2000s movie, "Bring It On," was musically adapted by Tom Kitt and Lin Manuel Miranda, and premiered in Atlanta, Georgia in 2011. The story follows the life of Campbell and the world of competitive cheerleading as she faces high school mean girls and comes to find her real friends in an unlikely place: a school without a cheerleading squad. The incredible cast of "Bring It On" used their spirit to embody transformations of friendship, identity, and ambition, and truly looked like they were having fun while doing it.
For a show requiring copious amounts of excitement and energy, the ensemble exhibited mastery in their abilities to bring the story to life. Most notably, the ensemble of Jackson High engulfed the stage in charismatic energy as they danced and welcomed Campbell to their school. Leading the group was Danielle (Darah Davidson), the driven, fierce leader of the school's hip-hop crew. Davidson proved to be an incredibly well-rounded performer, as her strong, dynamic voice matched her style and rhythm as a dancer.
From the moment the show started, Campbell (Sanna Izmirlian) commanded the stage with her comfortable presence and carried the development of the plot. She was remarkable in staying consistent with her vocals and energy throughout the show, a hard task for someone with that much stage time. Pairing well with her character was Randall (Christopher Polio), Campbell's love interest at her new school. Polio's chemistry with Izmirlian allowed for effective and heartwarming scenes, and infused meaning into the show. Polio was aided in this by his voice, as his smooth belts left the audience enchanted.
The cheerleading squad of Truman High fueled the show with its helping of mean and manipulation. Skylar (Jamie Shegogue), the popular girl on the team and Campbell's competitor in being captain, stood out for her wicked humor and over the top mannerisms. She portrayed the stereotypical mean girl vey well and put her own spin on it with her wide vocal range and attentiveness to detail in her reactions. In contrast, Bridget (Adele Williams), the unpopular girl who also gets transferred to the new school, blossoms throughout the show. Putting it all out there, Williams was phenomenal in providing a different source of comedy for the show. She stayed committed to her character, keeping her high energy constant, and allowing for growth in the story.
The technical elements of the show were just as dazzling as all of the cheerleading. The integration of modern technology into the show made it not only more entertaining, but more relatable to watch as an audience member. The use of the screen to show the characters googling and face timing added something new to the typical idea of live performance. In addition, the impressive lighting of the show helped to define and strengthen each scene, as the background would change colors based on the school and mood.
Northwest High School's cast of "Bring It On" filled the stage with their energy and enthusiasm, and left the audience wanting more. They proved that there is more than one way to show a little spirit.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Patch.
A Cappies review of the performance of Bring It On The Musical at Northwest High School on Friday, March 29, 2019.
By Maddie Gold, Woodrow Wilson High School
GERMANTOWN, MD — If there was a real spirit stick to be won, Northwest High School's energetic cast of "Bring It On" would take it home by a landslide! Based on the classic 2000s movie, "Bring It On," was musically adapted by Tom Kitt and Lin Manuel Miranda, and premiered in Atlanta, Georgia in 2011. The story follows the life of Campbell and the world of competitive cheerleading as she faces high school mean girls and comes to find her real friends in an unlikely place: a school without a cheerleading squad. The incredible cast of "Bring It On" used their spirit to embody transformations of friendship, identity, and ambition, and truly looked like they were having fun while doing it.
For a show requiring copious amounts of excitement and energy, the ensemble exhibited mastery in their abilities to bring the story to life. Most notably, the ensemble of Jackson High engulfed the stage in charismatic energy as they danced and welcomed Campbell to their school. Leading the group was Danielle (Darah Davidson), the driven, fierce leader of the school's hip-hop crew. Davidson proved to be an incredibly well-rounded performer, as her strong, dynamic voice matched her style and rhythm as a dancer.
From the moment the show started, Campbell (Sanna Izmirlian) commanded the stage with her comfortable presence and carried the development of the plot. She was remarkable in staying consistent with her vocals and energy throughout the show, a hard task for someone with that much stage time. Pairing well with her character was Randall (Christopher Polio), Campbell's love interest at her new school. Polio's chemistry with Izmirlian allowed for effective and heartwarming scenes, and infused meaning into the show. Polio was aided in this by his voice, as his smooth belts left the audience enchanted.
The cheerleading squad of Truman High fueled the show with its helping of mean and manipulation. Skylar (Jamie Shegogue), the popular girl on the team and Campbell's competitor in being captain, stood out for her wicked humor and over the top mannerisms. She portrayed the stereotypical mean girl vey well and put her own spin on it with her wide vocal range and attentiveness to detail in her reactions. In contrast, Bridget (Adele Williams), the unpopular girl who also gets transferred to the new school, blossoms throughout the show. Putting it all out there, Williams was phenomenal in providing a different source of comedy for the show. She stayed committed to her character, keeping her high energy constant, and allowing for growth in the story.
The technical elements of the show were just as dazzling as all of the cheerleading. The integration of modern technology into the show made it not only more entertaining, but more relatable to watch as an audience member. The use of the screen to show the characters googling and face timing added something new to the typical idea of live performance. In addition, the impressive lighting of the show helped to define and strengthen each scene, as the background would change colors based on the school and mood.
Northwest High School's cast of "Bring It On" filled the stage with their energy and enthusiasm, and left the audience wanting more. They proved that there is more than one way to show a little spirit.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Patch.
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