Theater Review: Pines' U.S. music tour
For a toe-tapping tour of America's music that goes from the Republic's earliest days ("Yankee Doodle Dandy") then tours the country "From the great Atlantic ocean to the wide Pacific shore" ("Wabash Cannonball"), visit Pines Dinner Theatre's dazzling "Celebration USA," continuing through July 6.
Director and choreographer Oliver Blatt's concept comes to life in a non-stop medley of patriotic favorites melded with new material written by Blatt and Stacy Bechtel. Original music is by Blatt, Jason Michael and Bechtel and original lyrics are by Blatt and Michael. Stacy Bechtel is credited as music director.
Stacy B. Yoder and Joshua Neth's "Good Ol' Mountain Dew" evokes memories of high-spirited Appalachian folks' moonshine.
Amber Blatt's strong singing voice and talented acting catches the spirit of musically touring the country with "He's a Travelling Man."
Neth and Shane Fischetti croon a tune about "the Bowery" that takes the action to New York City circa 1912.
The musical Americana tour continues its look at the Gilded Age as Yoder laments the fate of girls who marry old men for money in "A Bird in a Gilded Cage."
Yoder and Blatt even treat the audience with a spirited can-can dance.
The five-member cast join together on several songs and seamlessly weave a tapestry that celebrates American music through history.
The women get into their flapper dresses as they move into the 1920's with "I'm Just Wild About Harry" featuring Yoder's wonderful voice.
The flapper dresses come in handy for a musical tribute to the idea that the "rich get rich and the poor get poorer."
Neth has a great voice that stands out as the cast does a clever nightclub number, "I Ain't Got Nobody," that features each member taking a lead voice during the course of the song.
Amber Blatt's great dancing skill is evident throughout the revue, but is especially fun in her routine for "Swing It."
The music ensemble of Stacy Bechtel, piano and saxophone; Nathan Druckenmiller, guitar, fiddle and banjo, and Steven Cramer, drums, is a delight to watch and hear.
The combo rolls from background to center stage on a movable dais and do rousing versions of "Rolling in My Sweet Baby's Arms" and "Wabash Cannonball."
The talented instrumentalists back this whirlwind tour of musical America from "sea to shining sea." The fast-moving show is wrapped up with a nod to local culture with "The Pennsylvania Polka."