It seems that 90% of the time, sequels suck. In the case of Stage West’s California Dreaming 2: The Beat Goes On, not only does this show match the stellar California Dreaming from earlier this year, but depending on your musical taste, you might argue that the sequel actually surpasses the original!
Featuring over seventy songs with “The California Sound” from the late 60’s through to present day, California Dreaming 2 is more of a “theatrical concert” than traditional theatre. Many of the same cast members from the first show have returned, and the vocal talent of the 14 guys and girls on stage is second to none.
“It is really exciting to be back. The first show was so much fun with great material to sing and the chance to let the audience reminisce, it made me look forward to coming back,” Michael Torontow, who starred in both shows, told GayCalgary.com. “It was like Christmas, getting to find out what songs we were going to sing. It’s not like a regular musical where you go ’Ok, I am playing Joseph.’ In a lot of ways it’s a better gig.”
Torontow sat down with us along with Michael Lomenda, also an alumni from the original show, and Syreeta Molsberry, who is making her Stage West debut. For Molsberry, any concerns about coming into an already established cast were quickly erased.
“These are some of the greatest people I have ever had the chance to work with. There is great energy and a lot of support and fun. Going into rehearsals we had no idea what we would be doing and it was a new experience. It is very collaborative and everyone helps each other out and makes it grow. It is such an ensemble, a team where everyone is giving their all. You feel like you are on a sports team, everyone wants to do their best to nail it every game,” she said. “I didn’t realize how many of the cast were together in the first show but there was no sense of being left out. It has been cool coming to work for Stage West as well, I haven’t been able to take the opportunity before.”
Lomenda talked about the rehearsal process. The cast had literally two weeks to learn the songs and choreography and be ready for previews. All in all, a stressful but fun time for the cast members.
“It was more intense than the first show because we came in to new songs. This show changes on a regular basis, numbers get cut or the order gets changed, there are costuming changes and adding choreography. When you build a show from scratch it is more intense than restaging a show like California Dreaming. What is cool about this process is we all want this show to be good. At times there are cuts for the greater good of the show, its not because of the way you sing it but the pacing of the show. Everyone has a great showcase in the show, individually and collectively.”
“During the rehearsal process they put together CD’s of songs. They had other songs that they had considered, which didn’t make the cut. So you would say ‘I wish that was in the show,’” added Torontow. “As it is we have over 70 songs in the show. If we did as many songs as we wanted we’d be doing a 24 hour show.”
There is no way to single out any one performer, the cast and show is that strong. However there are some definite highlight performances, including a goosebump-inducing Carpenters set where you swear Karen Carpenter is on stage. Then there’s a fun “cowboy set,” and a hilarious rendition of Dr. Hook’s Cover of the Rolling Stone. The second set is even better, kicking off with the entire cast doing an energetic version of Starship’s We Built This City and continuing with songs by Journey, Heart, Hall and Oats, and the Bangles. Don’t Stop Believing and Kristen Peace’s cover of Crazy on You were killer! The girls get the chance to shine in a stunning set featuring Bonnie Raitt, Kim Carnes, Jewel, Sheryl Crow, an outstanding Tina Turner, Janet Jackson and En Vogue. The Michael Jackson tribute is an absolute show stopper as well. Keith White performs Jackson, but Lomenda got the thrill of a lifetime as a dancer for Thriller.
“I grew up with Micheal Jackson’s Thriller album. When I was five years old I was dancing around in my living room with the gloves and the hat wishing I could one day do that number. Now I am dancing in it, which is so cool!”
The buffet dinner before the show was excellent as expected, with the red curry calamari salad, beef au poivre, and the moist and delicious chicken teriyaki as highlights. For Christmas they also have turkey and honey-dijon ham. Naturally you can just skip all of that and head to the dessert table, with assorted cakes and pies, and the warm dessert – chocolate ravioli – which was certainly an interesting taste and texture.
California Dreaming 2 is a great show for all ages. The cast draws energy from the crowd, so clap and sing along and enjoy the songs we all grew up on. Whether you’re 20 or 50, there’s music that will bring back fond memories, or make you remember why you loved a song. It’s a perfect show for the holidays.
“A relaxed rock revue show like this is great for the holidays, the audience knows the tunes and it is like being at a concert. This show has a bit more audience interaction. You break that ’fourth wall‘ and really involve them in the show,” said Lomenda. “I think the older crowd still appreciates the more current songs, but it is smart to do newer songs so that Stage West can attract a younger crowd that maybe doesn’t come out to this kind of theatre, while remaining true to our core audience. I think they are very successful at it.”
Stage West Dinner Theatre Presents
California Dreaming 2: The Beat Goes On
November 17, 2005 – February 12, 2006
727 - 42 Avenue S.E.
Phone: (403) 243-6642
