Vive El Zorro!

We (Frank, Sarah, Caleb, and I) went to see Zorro, the Musical! at Hale Centre Theatre last night.

Wow!

 

We didn’t purchase season tickets to Hale this season. Zorro was the only show that I was particularly interested in. I’m not a fan of Oliver!, and I can take or leave the stage version of The Sound of Music (although it turns out that I know several people involved in that production, so I might choose to go see it after all).

What a show! I’d gotten rave reviews from Bekah, Hannah, and Dinah, who’d all seen it shortly after it opened. We know one of the young men that is playing Zorro. But I still wasn’t totally prepared for how good it really is. I don’t know why not— Scarlet Pimpernel, Beauty and the Beast, Tale of Two Cities, 1776, Aida—just to name a few of the amazing productions at Hale Theatre.

But this show has a great back story. Hale Centre Theater, in West Valley City, Utah presented the U.S. premier of Zorro, the Musical. It originally opened in London’s West End and has played in major houses in Paris, Moscow, Amsterdam, Tokyo, Seoul and Shanghai. Hale Theatre flew some of the production crew to Amsterdam to see the production there, as part of the preparation for producing it here. The coolest part of the story is how contact was made with John Gertz, who happens to be the producer of the two Zorro movies staring Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, and  to owns the rights to anything ‘Zorro’ worldwide. Mr. Gertz brought the European producer, Willem Metz, to see Hale’s production of  A Tale of Two Cities”. Mr. Metz was impressed, and he admitted that he “is not easily impressed” . The next day, after a tour of the theatre, and a discussion of Hale’s capabilities when it come to sword choreography, illusion work, Flamenco guitar and Flamenco dancing, Mr Gertz said, “How would you like to do the U.S. Premiere of ‘Zorro’? It will be something you can tell your grandchildren about!” Following HCT’s eight-week run of “Zorro,” the original London production of the musical will play at the Alliance Theater in Atlanta and at the Ahmanson in Los Angeles and will then embark on a 90-week tour beginning in 2013, including a three-month stay on Broadway.

We had a fun moment when Zorro first appeared on stage. The role is double cast. We specifically wanted to see the Thursday night cast because we know Derek Smith. He graduated from WJHS between Jacob and Abby. We’ve enjoyed him in productions over the years—starting with Joseph at WJHS. Now he’s all grown up and saving California. His vocals were great and his timing and humor were delicious.

My favorite production number, by far, was Bamboleo—

(I learned after the show that it’s originally recorded by the (Gipsy Kings): wild and colorful, and Gypsy!  The solo numbers were great also. Sarah happened to know one of the Flamenco dancers, from her ward at BYU. We agreed that his next gig should be Dancing with the Stars, as a pro, teaching has-been actors and athletes how to dance.

There are only two days left in the Hale Production—today and tomorrow. If you can beg, borrow or steal a ticket, GO. If not, well, better luck next time!