BUDDY: THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY
BDT STAGE: OCT. 21 – JAN 28
Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, was written by Alan James. It played the Victoria Palace Theatre in London’s West End for twelve years from 1989 until 2004 and was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Musical.
Paul McCartney, who owned the rights to Buddy Holly’s music, was a major supporter of this production.
Charismatic BRETT AMBLER, wearing Buddy’s signature black eyeglasses, and wielding his Fender Stratocaster guitar, is a knock-out as the pioneering singer/songwriter. Reprising his tour de force in 2015, Ambler stuns with his rock n roll singing and guitar playing.
The performances by Brian Murray as the Big Bopper and Alejandro Roldan as Ritchie Valens are so powerful, you’ll feel as though you’ve been transported to one of their mega-popular concerts of yesteryear. Jackson’s “Chantilly Lace” and Roldan’s “La Bamba” are both mind-blowing rock n roll ear-candy!!!
The acting and singing of Anna Maria High will steal your heart!!! As the Apollo’s M.C. and soloist, this lady’s brassy belting style in “Hound Dog” and “True Love” will take your breath away. Her smooth, sexy delivery of “A Sunday Kind of Love,” enchants.
As The Crickets, Eric Elson, Chris Warren, and Aaron Szindler provide the perfect right harmonies and instrumentation to back up Ambler’s Buddy.
Karen Gonzales makes an impressive BDT Stage debut as Buddy’s wife, Elena.
The ensemble, which includes many veterans of previous shows, as well as newbies whose stars are just rising, is superb. Chock-full of your favorites from past BDT shows, you can expect to see such audience favorites as: Alicia K. Meyers, Tracy Warren, Scott Severtson, Bob Hoppe, and Brian Cronan.
In her BDT Stage debut, Alissa Spooner did a terrific job with the choreography! Exhilarating to say the least, her work in the second Act is reminiscent of the dancing on Dick Clark's “American Bandstand,” but with a heightened sense of stylization and pulse-pounding excitement. If the dancing this choreographer elicits from this cast doesn’t make you want to get out of your seat and start to boogie, you may not have a pulse.
Casting the show impeccably, Director Wayne Kennedy leads us as audience from Buddy’s rockabilly roots, through his struggles with the recording studios, to the zenith of his rock n roll career.
Kennedy also gets credit for the excellent sound design!
Likewise, Music Director Neal Dunfee and the outstanding BDT Stage orchestra, on view and onstage in the final scenes of Act Two, are in top form!
What could be better as scenic design than having a juke box glowing with neon colors created by M. Curtis Grittner framing the proscenium for this juke box musical?
As usual, Brett Maughan’s lighting design dazzles!
At its best in the shimmering wardrobe created for Anna Marie High, the ever-amazing, award-winning Linda Morken’s costume design is spot on in its authenticity.
Tom Quinn’s nostalgic projections enhance the show immeasurably.
Some of the great Buddy Holly tunes that you’ll hear are: “Oh, Boy,” “Peggy Sue,” “That’ll be the Day,” “Well, All Right” and “Not Fade Away.”
NOT TO BE MISSED!
For tickets call 303-449-6000
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