This month’s short run of Star Machine, a Playhouse Square/Baldwin Wallace University collaboration, was also the show’s world premiere. With music and lyrics by brothers Gideon Temple and Hank Temple, book by Hollee and John Temple, and direction by Richard Biever, it takes a serious—yet often funny—look at breaking into show business.
The straightforward story follows vocal performers Jaz (a vivacious Nadia Richardson) and her sister Nikki (a compelling Avery Fahey). Briefly we see them wandering through various career paths until at last they decide to join forces and compete in Star Machine.
And then things take off.
We learn that Star Machine, a glitzy multi-episode soap-opera style production, runs aspiring artists through their paces before deeming one as that round’s loser and kicks them into the garbage. The compelling MC, Star Machine maven Bugsy (a glam and ruthless Julia Martini) oversees events as the contestants dwindle and each vies for survival.
No surprise, even though the others show talent, our girls become top finalists. And then, they must decide what they really want.
Choreographer Carol Schuberg allows the cast to dance up a proverbial storm, and the multi-talented Baldwin Wallace students take advantage of the opportunity. Even the “losers” are winners. Costume designer Inda Blatch-Gelb gets a special award from me, especially for the brightly patterned men’s suits that scream “Watch me; I’m so cool.” Yep.
The engaging ensemble cast includes Cameron Brayboy, Alexis Castro, Sophia Davison, Noelle Duncan, Coletta Hempstead, Gabriel J. Hill, Colleen Longshaw Jackson, David Keller, Reese Manuel, Nijah Soleil, Kaleb Pickett, Dakota Renteria, Henry Robinson-Dorn, Sofia Leigh SanGiovanni, Connor Schenke, Libby Serber, Caleb Smith, Adam Thompson, Siena Worland, and Eleanora Ward.
Members of the band, conducted by music director Gideon Temple, include Hank Temple, Reece Clements, Dylan Arner, Simon Schlenker, and Nate Schiavone.
Bottom Line: To call Star Machine “lively” might be the understatement of the season. It’s a musical that cleverly parodies (and just plain has fun with) the “show business is a competition” mentality as seen in America’s Got Talent or The Voice. Yes, it needs a bit of refinement (cutting and tightening episodes), but it’s well on the way to winning the real show biz Star Machine (and Hello Broadway!).
[Written by Laura Kennelly]
