There’s no medicine to cure this sickness. It’s spreading quickly, and rumor has it that only flared jeans, disco balls, and groovy dance moves can make the fever subside. The Saturday Night Fever, that is, which opened last weekend at Alhambra Theatre & Dining.
Fans of the classic 1977 movie can expect all the elements they loved in the film, everything from stressful familial expectations to the blazing dance competition at the 2001 Odyssey discotheque, life as an Italian-American in Brooklyn, and even the complicated relationships between a band of young friends.
Much like the film, the jukebox musical moves the plot along through solo and group numbers set to classic Bee Gees songs such as Stayin’ Alive, Night Fever, You Should Be Dancing, Tragedy, and more. Even the stage itself is an homage to the ‘70s-era discotheque, complete with a light-up checkered dance floor, a twirling disco ball, and colorful, flashing lights. Actors and actresses sport colorful wardrobes with flashy prints, voluminous hairstyles, and the ever-popular bell-bottomed jeans. Many guests in the crowd also sported similar ensembles, down to the chunky boots and flash suit jackets.
Christopher Michael Milligan takes on the role of Anthony ‘Tony’ Romero, a character on the cusp of adulthood caught in a whirlwind of a high-stakes dance competition. Charity Walton portrays Stephanie Mangano, an ambitious young woman striving to rise above her Brooklyn roots by competing with Tony in the dance competition for a hefty cash prize.
Rachel Ann Kocher plays Annette, Tony’s over-eager former dance partner with an unreciprocated crush, while Zakary Clausell-Santos, Christian Leigh, Johnny Flannagan, and Joey Deshler bring Tony’s group of friends to life as Bobby, Gus, Double J, and Joey.
Chef DeJuan Roy tapped into several Italian and ‘70s classics for the dinner menu, with appetizer choices of Italian Wedding Soup or chopped salad. For an entree, guests can choose between braised short rib, chicken Parmesan, herb chested haddock, or cheese ravioli primavera mariana. Dessert provides the option of a chocolate chip cannoli or a slice of citrusy Harvey Wallbanger Cake.
While most Alhambra shows reach 90% or more sold-out before opening night, Saturday Night Fever was already 100% sold-out well before opening night on August 21.
If you missed your chance to experience the boogie, there’s still time to secure tickets for Alhambra’s next show, Meet Me in St. Louis, which will run from October 1 — November 8.
