For someone who loves physical action, dance, gymnastics and high-flying acrobatics (like me), the cheerleader musical Bring it On(libretto by Jeff Whitty, music by Tom Kitt and Lin-Manuel Miranda, lyrics by Amanda Green and Lin-Manuel Miranda, based on the movie by Jessica Bendinginder), is a joy and a thrill. The characters are all stereotypes, and it’s hard to be concerned with their “problems,” but these are the best acrobatic cheerleaders in the world in a well-produced staging with an imaginative, complex set by David Korins full of terrific slide projections by Jeff Sugg and brilliant lighting by Jason Lyons.
The cast are all amazing – they sing, they dance, they’re comedic, they fly through the air.
Plot: ambitious cheerleader (the beautiful and super-charismatic Elle McLemore, who should get a supporting-actress nomination) arranges for the transfer of her rival (the excellent singer/dancer/actress Taylor Louderman) to another school-- a black one – Ooooohhhh! And what do you think happens? They even put in a bit of hip hop too, and a bit of a romance between Louderman and the good-looking, fine singer Jason Gotay.
The story is contrived and sometimes defies logic, but cheery, fun-filled, spectacular physical action, directed and innovatively choreographed by Andy Blankenbuehler, carries this very entertaining show.
