MtFest UK 2019

MtFest was a two week musical theatre festival, running from the 11^th to the 23rd February 2019. The events took place in the studio at The Other Palace showcasing 45 minutes of eight new workshops musicals to a public audience, produced by the Amazing Paul Taylor Mills. As well as workshops it had an hour slot every evening where Paul held a session called a Night Cap. A night cap was an informal late night small concert series. These informal and intimate solo concerts took place in the studio of The Other Palace where it was an opportunity for an audience to get to know more about some of the eminent musical theatre stars. By doing this through the songs they choose that shaped and changed them to songs they may never get to sing and songs from up and coming new work. Some night cap performers included: Luke Bayer, Sophie Isaacs, Nathan Amzi, Rob Houchen and Jordan Luke Gage.

One of the workshops that I was fortunate to be able to see was: But I’m A Cheerleader. The cast of this was one of the best for a workshop line up. Most of the workshops featured some ArtsEd third year students who showcased their talent among some of the greatest west-end stars. Cast list included: Jessie Angell* (Kimberly/Hillary), Bronté Barbé (Megan), Luke Bayer (Clayton), Tom Dickerson* (Joel), Carrie Hope Fletcher (Graham), Jodie Jacobs (Mary), Ben Forster (Larry/Mom), Emily Hammond* (Sinead), Matt Henry (Mike), Jonathan Hermonza-Lopez* (Andre), Stephen Hogan (Lloyd/Dad), Connor Lewis* (Dolph) and Jamie Muscato (Jared/Rock). (Names with a * were the Guest student performers).

This cast itself drew so many people into the show giving it a push for an audience. By having people like Carrie, Jamie and Luke in a show together, it really draws people in, especially it did with me, to see how it would work and seeing a cast like that is amazing.

The show itself is based off a late 90s teen movie called But I’m A Cheerleader. The film and Musical is the story of Megan, who is an American high school cheerleader who believed that she has the perfect life. She excels with high grades in school and cheerleading is her passion. Megan has a handsome football-playing boyfriend (Jared), despite the fact that she isn’t that crazy about him. Then she is surprised by her friends and family when they suspect her of being a lesbian which results in her being sent to ‘True Directions’, a rehabilitation camp to set her ‘straight’. At this camp, while being under set strict rules and under the guidance of the headmistress called Mary Brown, Megan meets Graham, a rebel like tomboy who shows her exactly what her ‘true direction’ is. But I’m A Cheerleader: The Musical is a coming‐of‐age comedy about sexual awakening and self‐realization. Book and Lyrics by Bill Augustin and the Music by Andrew Abrams. Directed and story by Jamie Babbit and screenplay by Brian Wayne Peterson.

I saw the last show they put on which was 20^th February at 7pm. I was extremely excited to see the show after the hype and positive feedback I had seen on social media about the previous 3 shows. I also was very excited to see how they had produced a creative adaptation from such a good film into a musical. Seeing performers such as Carrie Hope Fletcher, Bronté Barbé, Luke Bayer, Jamie Muscato in another role that isn’t on the west end or something they have done before such as Heathers and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie.

The way Jamie Muscasto played the role of Jared reminded me of Kurt and Ram (Kram) from Heathers a high school jock footballer player keen on having a girlfriend. His song with Kimberly, played by ArtsEd student Jessie Angell, was about the two characters voicing their concerns and contemplating whether they had done the wrong thing by sending Megan to the True Directions and that maybe she is not a lesbian after all. Jamie’s vocals are just insane, after seeing him as JD in Heathers a few times I already knew how talented he is and seeing him in a diverse role as a high school jock and the role of Rock which was very contrasting. Jessie was a stand out for me, she was able to switch in and out of two very different roles, Kimberly and Hillary, switching between an American and Australian accent. These contrasting characters were able to showcase her talent. I really loved the way she portrayed both girls and her voice is amazing and can’t wait to see what she does next.

As well as that, Bronté Barbé and Carrie Hope Fletcher as Megan and Graham are truly amazing. Bronté’s voice is just beautiful and she plays Megan really well, the innocent aspects of the character is brought through in the show and the songs that she sings, her voice fits the role perfectly. Bronté is also one of the loveliest people I have met. For Years I have been in ore with Carrie of everything she does, she is one of the most talented people I have had the opportunity to watch. Seeing Carrie in Heathers was beautiful (no pun intended) and it was so good to be able to catch her in something new such as a workshop. Graham is a badass character and I love the fact that she doesn’t/isn’t going to let anyone change the way she is and this is such an important message to express. It shows that people can be and should just be themselves; the line in a song that Carrie sings expresses this ‘people are who they are and it seems so obvious to me’ showing that people are just who they are and that true directions should not change them. Carrie is insane and watching her perform so close was amazing and filled me with so much love and support.

The roles of the camp students were played by Luke Bayer accompanied by some more guest performers from ArtsEd. Jonathan who played Andre and Tom who played Joel were really good, it is always great to see new artists in roles showing who they are as a performer and these students will go far. Their voices are amazing and they are also such lovely people, can’t wait to see what they do next. As well as that Emily Hammond played the role of Sinead, she was a smaller role and I felt that she could of been given more of a chance to show an audience who she is, she was so good in the show and I hope she goes far.

The musical follows a part of the story of the relationship between Dolph and Clayton played by West-End star Luke Bayer and ArtsEd student Connor Lewis. I really liked the small snippet we got of both characters and how they feel for each other. Clayton works in retail and is into fashion where as Dolph is a varsity rugby player in school. They both are there to follow the rules of ‘True Directions’ however they start to have some feelings for each other. It was amazing to see Luke Bayer in a show again after coming out of a West End run playing Alternate Jamie in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. Luke for me is a stand out performer at the moment and I see him going far in the industry. His voice is utterly beautiful and I always love to hear him sing. In this show he brings a comedic presence as well a serious side when things go wrong for his character such as when Clayton and Dolph get caught being together, the scene after is so cute where both characters are saying goodbye to each other as they get sent elsewhere for their actions. Luke is such a lovely person and is ever so talented and cannot wait to watch and show my support for whatever he does next in the future.

Following on from this, Connor Lewis, another student performer has such a stand out voice. His solo song has so much power and is wonderful to listen to. I could hear him sing for ages. The connotations of the song comes across that it is about Dolph having now found himself and being able to true to him and because of Clayton he now knows his ‘true direction’. Overall, to be able to watch up and coming talent on stage is something I really love and cannot wait to hear what the future holds for them.

The whole cast was incredible people like Matt Henry, Stephen Hogan, Ben Forester and Jodie Jacobs brought the workshop together. From the feedback out there on social media and the love the show got, I really hope we see it again sometime as a full run as it is what it deserves.

MtFest Uk 2019 was a wonderful event that Paul Taylor Mills should be very proud of what he has achieved. Bring on MtFest UK 2020.