Hi! Drama

Nov. 8, 2017

Playwright: Dorothy Marcic
Director and Choreographer: Kangas Erickson
Executive Producer: William Franzblau
Music Direction/Vocal Arrangements: Zachary Ryan
Original Musical Arrangements: Phil Hinton
Scenic & Lighting Design: Josh Iacovelli
Costume Design: Cynthia Nordstrom
Production Stage Manager: Robert Levenstein

CAST

Jana Robbins as Janet
Haley Swindal as Samantha
Traci Blair as Eden
Aneesa Folds as Rosa

If you are looking for a stereotypical, “male bashing”, vengeful show-this is not the show for you! THIS ONE IS FOR THE GIRLS is the exact opposite of that. And, you may just want to stand up and sing along with the talented cast of four!

College Professor, Janet (Jana Robbins) finds herself hurt and perplexed when her current beau (and colleague) dumps her for a perky young coed. So, being the academic she is, she enlists three of her students Traci Blair as Eden, Haley Swindal as Samantha, and Aneesa Folds as Rosa) in a therapeutic style survey. She invites them to share their experience in
relationships with her, in hopes of unlocking the problem she has been experiencing in her relationships. Through a series of snappy vignettes, the show’s “girls”perfectly showcase the empowerment they have gained through their experience in their former relationships leading them to discover that they have quite a bit in common when it comes to handling
the roller coaster ride of dating.

There are numerous reasons to like the show. The cast is spectacular as they melodically complement each other and you can see that they are having a great time! Each music selection (Zachary Ryan and Phil Hinton) is not only appropriate to the specific “story” that is being told, usually it is well-known (in a good way, not in a “not that song again” way). A couple of the many, many fun festive moments in the show are during “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” and “If I Knew You Were Coming I’d’ve Baked a Cake”.

It is not all happy-go-lucky singing and dancing. There are equally wonderful moments of those heartbreaking ballads of discovery that the one you love is not the person you thought (“You Don’t Own Me”, “Stand by Your Man) which may stir up those painful memories of disappointment and angst.

The costume (Cynthia Nordstrom), set, and light (Josh Iacovelli) changes are not extravagant, yet set the perfect tone for the story being told.

There are lots of delightfully and deliciously melodramatic moments, such as the scene where Samantha (endearingly played by Ms. Swindal) is “waiting on the call” from the her date.

THIS ONE’S FOR THE GIRLS is great fun and during the show you may find yourself not knowing whether to laugh or cry, which I think is the real reason to love going to the theatre.

HAPPY FACE

St. Luke’s Theatre
308 West 46th Street
(btw 8th and 9th Avenues)
NYC
Remaining Performances
Friday at 8:00 pm
Saturday at 2:00 pm
Run Time: 88 minutes (no intermission)
Closes December 30, 2017.
Tickets: $75.00
Telecharge 212-239-6200 or www.ForTheGirlsTheMusical.com