By Emma Bynes
@emma_bynes4
The Fuller Arts Center at Springfield College was filled with music, dancing and meaningful performances last Friday and Saturday for Best of Broadway’s Fall Revue. A revue, which the club performed, is a performance that features multiple songs from different shows or performances.
Leading off this year’s show — the first act showcased selections from musicals such as “Beetlejuice,” “Mean Girls,” and popular favorites like “Hamilton.” The very first song performed from the revue was “One Short Day” from the hit musical and upcoming movie “Wicked.” Sophomore students Ana Hutchinson and Ashley Welch were featured in the number as Elphaba and Glinda, respectively, and prepared the audience for both their own show as well as the movie’s release on Friday, Nov. 21.
The remainder of the first act was extremely upbeat and even if an audience member was not a fan of musicals, they could certainly appreciate popular Disney songs like “Did I Mention” from the movie “Descendants” and “Fabulous” from “High School Musical 2.”
Then came one of the most powerful moments of the entire performance — the entire cast came together to sing “Let the Sunshine In” from the musical “Hair.” This specific song featured meaningful protest signs made individually by each member of Best of Broadway. The performers held up their signs and shared their chosen message during the closing number of the opening act — leaving the audience in suspense for what was to come next.
Following the brief intermission, act two opened with the opening number of a newer musical, “The Great Gatsby”, titled “Roaring On.” First-year student Lio Mansur portrayed the character of Nick Carroway during the number and captured the audience’s attention very quickly. Transitioning into more classic pieces of theater like “Little Shop of Horrors” and “Grease” that audience members loved, the second half of the performance continued act one’s upbeat theme.
Darker numbers quickly followed the initial surge of the more idealistic musical selections. One of these songs, “Money” from “Cabaret”, which was performed by Zachary Wildman, transitioned into a more mature second half of music. Then Hutchinson, Taylor Petroski, Jewel Hunter and Emma Rae Hanna performed “A Million Dreams” from another movie musical — “The Greatest Showman.”
“We have a strong cast this year that are willing to fight and work for this production,” said one of the co-directors, Jia Jarrell. “Everyone worked so hard and the performance was all student run — with amazing choreographers and my co-director [Petroski].”
With the performance coming to a close, Best of Broadway gave their seniors an opportunity to step into the spotlight and sing “I Wish I Could Go Back to College” from “Avenue Q.” This special and intimate song followed seniors and certain underclassmen singing “When I Grow Up” from “Matilda.” The graduating members of the club got their opportunity to shine during the Fall Revue as well as begin their goodbyes to friends and classmates.
After this emotionally charged performance, the entire cast once again came together to sing “Under The Sea” from Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” and say goodbye to the applauding audience. “The Little Mermaid” is the club’s spring musical and can be seen next semester in Fuller Arts Center on March 5, 6 and 7.
Photo by Emma Bynes/The Student