(Cover Photo: The CAST of the musical "THE CHER SHOW" now playing at the Hanover Theatre in Worcester, MA. through February 16, 2025. Photo Credit: Meredith Mashburn Photography)

By Kevin T. Baldwin

METRMAG Reviewer

# 774-242-6724  

“I feel like a bumper car. If I hit a wall, I'm backing up and going in another direction. And I've hit plenty of walls in my career. But I'm not stopping.” 

                                                                                -  Cher

The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts

Presents the Musical

"THE CHER SHOW!"

Written by Rick Elice

Directed by Casey Hushion

Choreographed by Antoinette DiPietropolo

Music Supervisor - Kristin Stowell

Musical Director - Sarah Wussow

Vocal, Song, & Incidental Music Arrangements – Daryl Waters  

Executive Producer - Daniel Sher

ORIGINAL BROADWAY AND TOUR COSTUME DESIGN BY BOB MACKIE 

Cast Includes: Morgan Scott as “Star,” Catherine Ariale as “Lady,” Ella Perez as “Babe,” Frankie Marasa 5th as “Sonny Bono,” Kristin Rose Kelleher as “Georgia Holt/Lucille Ball,” Tyler Pirrung as “Bob Mackie/Robert Altman/Frank,” Zack Zaromatidis as “Gregg Allman/John Southall,” Brooks Andrew as “Rob Camilletti,” Mason Derreck Lewis as “Lee/Top Of The Pops Host,” Kirstin Angelina Henry as “Bridget,” Catherine García as “Colleen,” Kevin Michael Buckley as “Phil Spector/Sid The Censor/Male Et Reporter,” Mark Tran Russ as “Infomercial Director/Digby The Writer,” Hans Mueh as “Steve The Scribe,” Neftali Benitez as “Bob Mackie’s Assistant,” Emma Jade Branson as “Dark Lady,” Sydney Rose as “Female Et Reporter,” Studio Singers: Iraya Catalina, Grace Crugnale; Girl Group: Grace Crugnale, Claire Marshall, Sydney Rose; Dave Clark Five: Neftali Benitez, Kevin Michael Buckley, Chase McCall, Hans Mueh, Mark Tran Russ.

Ensemble: Neftali Benitez, Alli Bossart, Emma Jade Branson, Kevin Michael Buckley, Samantha Butts, Iraya Catalina, Grace Crugnale, Catherine García, Kirstin Angelina Henry, Mason Derreck Lewis, Claire Marshall, Chase McCall, Hans Mueh, Sydney Rose, Blaise Rossmann, Mark Tran Russ.

Understudies: For Star - Claire Marshall, Kristin Rose Kelleher, For Lady - Claire Marshall, Grace Crugnale, For Babe - Kirstin Angelina Henry, Catherine Garcia, For Sonny Bono - Kevin Michael Buckley, Hans Mueh, For Georgia Holt/Lucille Ball - Alli Bossart, Claire Marshall, For Bob Mackie/Robert Altman/Frank - Mason Derreck Lewis, For Bob Mackie/Frank - Blaise Rossmann, For Robert Altman - Chase McCall, For Gregg Allman/John Southall - Chase McCall, Hans Mueh, For Rob Camilletti - Mark Tran Russ, Hans Mueh, For Dark Lady - Sydney Rose.

Swings: Alli Bossart, Blaise Rossmann 

Additional Creative Team:

Set Design - Kelly James Tighe; Lighting Design - Charlie Morrison; Sound Design - Daniel Lundberg; Wig Design - Roxanne De Luna; Technical Supervisor - Anthony Lopez; Tour Press & Marketing - True Marketing, Wendy J. Connor; Casting Director - Alison Franck, C.S.A.; Dance Music Arrangements - Zane Mark and Daryl Waters;  Costume Coordinator - Janine Loesch;  Video Design - Jonathan Infante, Kelly James Tighe;  Associate Producer - Sophie Whitfield; Dance Music Arrangements - Zane Mark and Daryl Waters General/Company  Management - Big League Productions, Zach Krohn, Owen O’Brien; Dance Captain - Mason Derreck Lewis; Assistant Dance Captain - Alli Bossart.

Performances:

February 14, 2025 through February 16, 2025 

(Contact Box Office for Exact Times) 

Presented at the Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, 2 Southbridge St., Worcester.

TICKETS:

For More Information:  877-571-SHOW (7469) info@thehanovertheatre.org

BUY TICKETS

COVID 19 PROTOCOLS

Contact Venue for Most Updated COVID-19 Safety Protocols and Information.

Stand up and salute as the hits just keep on coming when the national tour of the Rick Elice musical "THE CHER SHOW" hits the Hanover Theatre stage this President's Day weekend!

An electrifying tribute to one of the fiercest entertainers ever to step into the spotlight, "THE CHER SHOW," with a book by Rick Elice that tells us CHER's story using songs CHER performed throughout her career. 

Tired of jukebox shows? Too bad. This is one. But it is a terrific one, in part thanks to the script and elevated production values but, most of all, thanks to the collective performances by its cast.

And I defy anyone attending this show to find a spot in the house where some folks in the audience aren't singing along (unabashedly loud at times) to the many iconic tunes featured in the musical.

"THE CHER SHOW" is staged in such a clever way as to feel like a "CHER" television special - to embody and tell the entertainer's personal story and life's journey. 

In the unique storytelling experience, the part of CHER is shared by three performers. The three interact with each other and help each other out at various points.

(Photo:  The CAST of the musical "THE CHER SHOW" now playing at the Hanover Theatre in Worcester, MA. through February 16, 2025. Photo Credit: Meredith Mashburn Photography)

The musical was developed in 2017 in New York City. The world premiere was held in Chicago in 2018, and "THE CHER SHOW" officially opened on Broadway by the end of that year. 

"THE CHER SHOW" continued on Broadway until 2019, ending after 34 previews and 296 regular performances.

"THE CHER SHOW" won Tony Awards for Stephanie J. Block as CHER (Lead Actress in a Musical) and for Bob Mackie (Costume Design for a Musical).

Our guide for the evening is the first performer, who also plays CHER during the 1980s and 1990s and goes by the name "Star" (Morgan Scott).   

Immediately, one may notice Scott does not bear a striking resemblance to the entertainment icon that is CHER. 

Scott as "Star" introduces each person from CHER's life as if they were a "guest star" on her special.  

However, the show, as directed by Casey Hushion and choreographed by Antoinette DiPietropolo, is not intended to be about CHER impersonations.

Thanks to Scott's impressive take on the iconic performer, the above approach successfully brings forth that emotional journey in commendable fashion.

Sharing the stage with Scott is another performer, who goes by the moniker "Babe" (Ella Perez), portraying CHER in the 1950s and 1960s as young Cherilyn Sarkisian's career begins to blossom.

Perez is undoubtedly the most powerful singer in the trio of this musical, nailing all of the songs in which she is featured.

Perez as "Babe" latches onto naiveté and exuberance the younger CHER had as a child, living without a father figure for most of it. 

Yet, the absence was offset as the younger CHER found herself being guided in those earlier times by an equally brave and unrelenting mother, Georgia Holt (Kristin Rose Kelleher).

Kelleher, with a remarkably powerful voice, brings a vivacious quality to Holt and then later portrays another entertainment icon, Lucille Ball, who would wind up giving CHER some important life advice at a crossroads. 

Also, kudos to CHER and bookwriter Elice for giving a nod to Lucy by arguably giving the iconic Lucille Ball THE funniest line in the show. 

(Video: "THE CHER SHOW" now playing at the Hanover Theatre in Worcester, MA. through February 16, 2025. Courtesy Hanover Theatre)

During these earlier days, we also see how the 16-year-old Cherilyn, who shortened her name to "CHER" would meet and fall in love with struggling songwriter, Sonny Bono who, at the February 14th performance, was superbly played by Frankie Marasa 5th.

Marasa's portrayal of Bono feels a bit like he is playing the man as a parody, a cartoonish figure.

However, as soon as he and Perez start singing the duo's signature song, "I Got You Babe," everything changes. 

In that moment, again as written by bookwriter Elice, Marasa immediately conveys to us that Bono was not a cartoon image but rather an accomplished writer, singer, entertainer and, most importantly, like CHER, a flawed yet remarkable...and very real...human being.

That is the best part overall of "THE CHER SHOW" - it celebrates the life of CHER but does not overly sweeten things. 

Whatever happens on stage really feels like moments of a true story and not something sanitized for our viewing pleasure. 

Many will feel this "bluntness" - a combination of emotional honesty that occasionally has an uncomfortable frankness many have come to expect from CHER - all laid out in front of us...and we would expect nothing less from CHER.

What some may find unexpected is an equally inherent vulnerability, an openness and willingness by CHER to be there for others, usually at great disservice to herself.

(Photo: Morgan Scott turns back time in the musical "THE CHER SHOW" now playing at the Hanover Theatre in Worcester, MA. through February 16, 2025. Photo Credit: Meredith Mashburn Photography)

The final performer in this triumvirate is called "Lady" (Catherine Ariale) who recalls CHER's more turbulent career and life during the 1970s. 

Arial as 'Lady" might have the most difficult job of all presenting the combative side of CHER as the entertainer, at peak television stardom, gets "man-handled" by Bono and other powerful men in a very male-dominated entertainment industry.

Through multiple rises and falls, Arial convincingly brings forth that side of CHER that didn't just roll with the punches. 

CHER threw a few punches, as well, and each time she came back, she came back stronger and stronger.

The interactions between the trio of CHER's showcases a beautiful teamwork bond which successfully tells us CHER's story. 

The chemistry between Scott, Perez and Arial throughout the show is rock solid.   

The technical elements associated with "THE CHER SHOW" are all impressive - lighting and sound combined with creative projected imagery all help propel CHER's story forward.

Hands down, though, the costuming by the one and only legendary costume designer Bob Mackie is, by itself, worth the price of admission. 

The parade of Mackie-designed quintessential signature gowns and other outrageous outfits are all on glorious, mind-blowing display.

Just as he did last year at the Boch Center Wang Theatre in Boston, Tyler Pirrung is a fun ball of energy portraying Bob Mackie (showing great diversity by countering later as famed director "Robert Altman” who critically guides CHER through a pivotal acting career choice...while disregarding his own critically poor choice making "Popeye").

(Photo: Tyler Pirrung as "Bob Mackie" with the CAST of the musical "THE CHER SHOW" now playing at the Hanover Theatre in Worcester, MA. through February 16, 2025. Photo Credit: Meredith Mashburn Photography)

The plethora of musical highlights includes hits such as "The Beat Goes On," "If I Could Turn Back Time," "Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves," "Bang Bang," "I Found Someone" and many, many more, all interwoven into the story and knocked out of the park by the mesmerizing trio of Scott, Perez and Arial.

The ensemble in this show is completely electrifying, tasked with dozens of arduous, incredibly quick costume changes throughout the two-and-a-half hour musical.

We also meet CHER's other significant loves, rock legend Gregg Allman (Zack Zaromatidis) and then up-and-coming actor Rob Camilletti (Brooks Andrew), but neither relationship sparks as resoundingly or feels as impactful as the one CHER had with Sonny. 

Whether that is fact, fiction, or just an artistic choice is all speculation and irrelevant to this wonderful musical presentation. 

The important thing is that CHER knows the truth.

That said, Marasa and Zaromatidis are given a terrific moment to shine together in the scrappy number, "Dark Lady," supported by the dynamic dance ensemble.

(Photo: The CAST of the musical "THE CHER SHOW" now playing at the Hanover Theatre in Worcester, MA. through February 16, 2025. Photo Credit: Meredith Mashburn Photography)

In the end, though, "THE CHER SHOW" isn't really about the men behind CHER.

"THE CHER SHOW" is about CHER and, as such, we need to ask ourselves if we walk away from the show having learned more about this artist than we knew going in.

Knowing full well the obsession some have with CHER, for them I would say that is quite doubtful. 

They would boast they know more about CHER than CHER knows about CHER.

For the rest of us, though, "THE CHER SHOW" does allow us some time to get to know not just the journey undertaken by young Cherilyn Sarkisian but the ongoing journey still travelled by the often imitated but never duplicated one and only CHER.

"THE CHER SHOW" continues at the Hanover Theatre in Worcester through February 16th, 2025. 

Coming up next in the Hanover Broadway Series will be the hilarious "CLUE: LIVE ON STAGE" beginning April 4, 2025.

For tickets and more information, contact Hanover Theatre at # 877-571-SHOW (7469) or via email at info@thehanovertheatre.org

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Approximately two hours, 45 minutes with one intermission

Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA) 

@MetrmagReviews

@Theatre_Critics

ABOUT THE SHOW

Superstars come and go. 

CHER is forever. 

For six straight decades, only one unstoppable force has flat-out dominated popular culture - breaking down barriers, pushing boundaries and letting nothing and no one stand in her way. 

"THE CHER SHOW" is the Tony Award®-winning musical of her story, and it’s packed with so much CHER that it takes three women to play her: the kid starting out, the glam pop star, and the icon. 

"THE CHER SHOW" is 35 smash hits, six decades of stardom, two rock-star husbands, a Grammy®, an Oscar®, an Emmy®, and enough Tony Award-winning Bob Mackie gowns to cause a sequin shortage in New York City, all in one unabashedly fabulous new musical that will have audiences dancing in the aisles!

For More Information:  877-571-SHOW (7469) info@thehanovertheatre.org

BUY TICKETS

ABOUTHANOVER THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

Worcester Center for Performing Arts is a registered not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, which owns and operates The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts. All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

HANOVER THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

2 Southbridge Street

Worcester, MA. 01608

# 877-571-SHOW (7469) 

info@thehanovertheatre.org