More Theater Monday - A Class Act

We were given complimentary tickets to A Class Act for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own. 

What: A Class Act 

Where: Theatre Row

             410 W. 42nd St. 

             New York, NY

Who: Recommended for Ages 15 and Up

When: Through February 20, 2022

A Chorus Line is one of the most well-known musicals of all time. Most people are very familiar with Michael Bennett and Marvin Hamlisch and their respective roles in its creation. However, they may not be as familiar with another crucial contributor to this beloved show, Edward Kleban. It was Kleban who wrote the words to Hamlisch's music. Kleban, unfortunately,  died young, and other than A Chorus Line his body of work in the American musical theater was limited. However, despite this, his contribution to musical theater is vast and far-reaching. He not only was a teacher at the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theater Workshop for many years, but in his will he established the Kleban Foundation which awards the Kleban prize in musical theater, a $100,00 grant given to the most promising librettist and lyricist in American musical theater. To date, the award has been received by such theater luminaries as Gretchen Cryer, Jason Robert Brown, Lisa Kron, and Joe Iconis among others.

A Class Act is a musical based on Kleban's own story. Its score is made up of a collection of his own songs from never-produced musicals. They are for the most part charming, catchy, and delightful and make you wonder what might have been. J2 Spotlight Musical Theater's current production of A Class Act is equally charming. The acting, singing, and dancing are also equally delightful. 

The show is not completely a light happy musical, however.  There are some darker parts to the story aside from Kleban's early death, particularly his struggles with his mental health.  Yet this only makes his story more relatable particularly in light of the past few years when many people have struggled with their own mental health due to the effects of the pandemic. In any case, this show, J2 Spotlight Musical Theater's first since before the Covid-induced theatrical shutdown, is a promising start to their season and definitely worth seeing.

For more about J2 Spotlight Theater Company's production of A Class Act or to purchase tickets for the show, go to www.j2spotlightnyc.com/a-class-act

And that's our view. Tune in tomorrow for Tips for Tuesday.

Photo credits: All A Class Act production photos by Russ Rowland