The Observer, January 28, 2005
Volume XXXVII, Issue 15
Movin' Out moves into Playhouse Square
Joining the work of two legends, Movin' Out took Broadway by storm when it premiered in October of 2002 and is singing and dancing its way into Cleveland. The show was conceived by Twyla Tharp, known for her unconventional couplings of dance and music styles. Movin' Out is essentially a story of friendship and love set to the music of Billy Joel. There's no dialogue in the show; the story is told through the sheer power of Joel's music and Tharp's choreography. Movin' Out features 24 of Joel's classics, including the title song, "Big Shot," "Uptown Girl," and "We Didn't Start the Fire."
Movin' Out was nominated for 10 2003 Tony Awards, with Tharp and Joel winning for choreography and orchestrations respectively.
The show revolves around five young friends in the 1960s. The show opens with "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant", which lays the groundwork for two of the main characters; Brenda and Eddie: high school sweethearts, prom king and queen, married and divorced young. Their friend Tony makes his move on the newly available Brenda as Eddie watches in "Summer, Highland Falls." Meanwhile, James and Judy seem the perfect couple and are looking to wed. The seemingly inseparable friends are torn apart by the Vietnam War. The men go off to fight and only Eddie and Tony return from the war.
In the second act, the characters adjust to post-war life. Tony and Brenda eventually get back together to the tunes of "Big Shot" and "Shameless". Eddie doesn't take to civilian life as well. He struggles with depression, drugs, and troubling dreams until a chance meeting with Judy brings him back to reality.
Unlike most musicals, the actors never sing; a nine-member onstage band – complete with a singing, playing "piano man" – provides all the music while a troupe of 18 dancers tells the story with their bodies.
Movin' Out opens at the Palace Theatre at Playhouse Square Center on Feb. 8. Catch it quick thought, because it'll be Movin' Out of town on Feb. 20. Tickets are available through the Playhouse Square Box Office or Ticketmaster and range from $32.50 to $77.50. The University Program Board will be selling discounted tickets to the Feb. 17, 7:30 p.m. show in the near future,;keep an eye on your inbox for details.
