The Riverside High School Theater will present the musical, Mame starting tonight-March 22 in the high school auditorium. A cast and crew of over 100 students from the school district will participate in the production directed by Brent Rodgers. This is the 62ND Anniversary of Theatre at Riverside.
Today’s review is part three in a three-part series about Mame. Previous stories featured cast Q&As.
Mame is simply a must see!
From the amazing cast, to the catchy musical score, to the delightful dance numbers, to the colorful costumes, to the cool vintage vibe of the sets, it is clear that the cast and crew at Riverside put in an abundant amount of work and passion to bring the community an award-worthy show!
Mame is a vibrant and heartwarming musical that follows the life of Mame Dennis, a larger-than-life, free-spirited woman living in New York City during the early 20th century. The story is set against the backdrop of societal changes, and it’s filled with humor, wit, and a series of uproarious adventures. I knew before going to see Riverside’s production that I was in for a treat with Morgan Myers at the helm as Mame (you might remember her as Morticia in Riverside’s production of The Addams Family Musical). Myers is known for her wit, her amazing voice, and how she dives into the characters she plays. It’s truly breathtaking to see. Myers has such a flawless connection on stage with her younger counterpart Patrick, played by Dominic Basile. Myers is simply wise beyond years and nails her stage presence. In all honesty, I am sad that she is a senior and this will be her last performance on the Riverside stage! Basile holds his own among his older peers. His voice is pure and he understands and crafts his character in such a way that provides a wonderful level of crowd appeal.
The show begins with Mame’s life turning upside down when she is unexpectedly appointed the guardian of her young nephew, Patrick. At first, Mame’s extravagant, bohemian lifestyle seems entirely incompatible with the responsibilities of motherhood. Her world of wild parties, glamorous friends, and risky investments is in stark contrast to the practical, conservative values of Patrick’s late father’s family, who have very different ideas about how the boy should be raised. Despite the cultural clash, Mame takes on the challenge of raising Patrick with a sense of freedom and love, determined to show him the joys of life, art, and personal expression. The first ensemble is lively with music and choreography that draws the audience in and leads up to Myers and Basile developing the characters’ connection overtime.
Along the way, Mame has a series of romantic relationships including with Beauregard Jackson Pickett Burnside the true definition of Southern Gentleman, played by Corban Knight (you might remember him as Lurch in Riverside’s production of The Addams Family Musical) and financial ups and downs, but her unshakable optimism and commitment to living life to its fullest remain at the heart of the story. Knight brings Beauregard Jackson Pickett Burnside alive with his on point accent and chivalrous demeanor. His on stage presence demands attention. You simply can’t help but want him and Mame to find their happy ever after.
Mame also has a dear friend Vera, played by Ainslee Freshcorn, who nails the part of Vera. She brings comedy and a big dose of drama to the part. She’s brassy and funny all in the same breath. And at the side of Mame is Agnes Gooch, the nanny, played by Molly Linville (who played Grandma Addams in in Riverside’s production of The Addams Family Musical). Linville masters the role and all of its challenges. Then there is Ito, Mame’s houseboy, played by Like Grodson. Grodson is funny and is certain to be a crowd favorite.
Mame’s personality and resilience become a force that inspires those around her, and in the end, the show celebrates the importance of individuality, the bond between Mame and Patrick, and the joy of living life on your own terms. Mame is known for its exuberant musical numbers, including the iconic “If He Walked Into My Life,” “Mame,” and “We Need a Little Christmas,” all of which capture the spirit of the show’s themes of independence, family, and the transformative power of love and joy.
This is a show you don’t want to miss!
Complete Cast List: Alexa Anderson, Toni Baker, Dominic Basile, Brian Beige, Xander Bell, Sam Blatchford, Bud Blythe, Chloe Boots, Wyatt Burry, Kelsey Bush, Allison Catalano, Ryleigh Clyde, Abby Cook, Roman Cummings, Jianna Curcio, Joelle Curcio, Miryssah Dabney, Kora Deasey, Addison Drake, Stevie Drake, Becca Dugas, Chase Emerick, Jasmine Ewing, Mary Frazer, Corrina Freed, Ainslee Freshcorn, Ian Funkhouser, Luke Grodson, Austin Haley, Izzy Hall, Jacob Hall, Hannah Hart, Natalie Holler, Haylie Holtom, Donovan Hunter, Madison Jakubowski, Corban Knight, Jordan-Michelle Koon, Alex Koon, Jada Lemanski, Kyah Lemley, Harper Lewis, Sydney Lewis, Molly Linville, Andy Locke, Megan Lutz, Owen Maddix, Kaiden McDowell, Quentin McKinney, Emily Miller, Morgan Myers, Andrew Paff, Shane Parker, Ryleigh Parks, Lyra Pflugh, McKayleigh Reid, Andre Rippy, Peter Ruggeri, Madison Runyan, Anastasia Ryan, Drew Schlosser, Ace Sharer, Cheyenne Smith, Cameron Swesey, Jonah Tritt, Eilyana Vete, Tristan Weaver, Aurora Weaver, Hailey Whipple, Julia Wright, Scott Zellem, Elisabetta “Kip” Zona.
Don’t miss the show:
- Tonight-7:30 p.m.
- Friday March 21-7:30 p.m.
- Saturday March 22–7:30 p.m.
All tickets for these performances are $12.00 and can be purchased HERE.
If you have questions, email the Producer at brodgers@rbcsd.com.
Mame is presented through special arrangement with Concord Theatricals.
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