Flashdance: The Musical

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Flashdance: The Musical and KC Starlight Theatre

Leg warmers, torn shirts, teased hair, stone-washed jean skirts worn with colored tights, leather jackets, and big hair... Flashdance: The Musical serves as a veritable 80s time capsule. Last night, my younger  sister and I attended the opening performance of Flashdance at Starlight. I am more than ten years older than my sister - I was an 80s kid, she a 90s kid. That in mind, it was interesting to compare our perspectives of the show... she asked at one point if the "I Heart NY" shirt worn by Jimmy was wrong for the period - thinking it made its debut after 9/11. I was there to inform that no, it was an 80s fashion statement (the logo debuted in 1977) that regained popularity after 9/11- we had fun throughout the show comparing different perspectives for two different generations. We weren't the only sisters enjoying last night's performance - an audience comprised mostly of women there to reminisce and enjoy a great summer Girls' Night Out.

Flashdance: The Musical

• July 9 - 14 at 8 p.m. Buy Tickets online
• Starlight Theatre. Driving directions to Starlight Theatre and Parking Information for Starlight.

For all those girls who grew up watching the dance flick at slumber parties, it is sobering to think that Flashdance the film is celebrating its 30th Anniversary this year. The film was the breakout performance for Jennifer Beals and introduced the world to 80s classic songs like Maniac, I Love Rock and Roll, Gloria, and What a Feeling. The urban fairytale pushes boundaries as Pittsburgh steel mill worker Alexandra (Alex) Owens (played by Jillian Mueller) works nights at a dance club performing "flashdances" and aspiring to train at the prestigious Shipley Academy of Dance. For an urban girl, these are big dreams and not easily attainable. That is until her boyfriend and boss' grandson, Nick Hurley (played by Matthew Hydzik), bribes the dance studio to consider her (behind her back). This is the necessary plot twist to test their romance and her talent as an ingenue. Does she have what it takes to become a real dancer?

The musical maintains the themes and threads of the movie, but alters many aspects of the plot as well  - Jeannie, Alex's friend, becomes Gloria (portrayed by Kelly Felthous) and rather than a figure skating dance, performs Gloria in a dance routine during her pivotal plot segment - as her character is heroically rescued by boyfriend Jimmy and Alex as she approached the fateful decision to become a stripper. 

The costumes and sets for the show are solid and creative - leaving me with 80s flashbacks all night long. The story, however, was not as seamless. The plot was choppy at times, missingg character development and failing to build solid foundations for relationships. Those new to the story will be surprised when Alex puts her neck on the line for friends who are barely introduced as friends at all. Likewise, the romance between Nick and Alex seemed rushed. The storytelling was not as fluid as the film. I felt that the musical assumed familiarity with the film or frequent referencing of the synopsis in the program. This was my greatest disappointment in the production. Flashdance is a story that captivated a generation - the "outrageous idea that maybe a girl working in a steel mill who dances in a cabaret could somehow really become a professionally trained dancer if she believed it could happen. Oh, and find true love along the way with her boss, the hunky steel mill owner." ~ Denton Yockey, President and Executive Producer.

While the story resonates strongly with audiences, it is undeniable that most fans are there for the music and the dancing. So, what about the dancing? My sister is a dancer, and she was impressed with the choreography. The dancing was solid and the variety was tremendous - ballet, hip hop, flashdances, and cabaret. Some of the routines did not seem to be as impressive as the film - particularly the finale and the water dance. It is important that audiences remember that for the film Jennifer Beals had not one, but an impressive FOUR stand-ins for the most complex dance sequences which were filmed and cut and recut with many people performing segments of one dancer's solo - it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, for one dancer to replicate that level of difficulty on stage. That said, the dances were outstanding for a stage production.

The familiar songs were fun flashbacks, and the 16 new songs fit the musical well and maintained that 80s feel... my favorite new song being Jimmy's, "Where I Belong" an upbeat tune with a Billy Joel style. Hannah's Answer was a beautiful solo for Alex's mentor Hannah, played by Jo Ann Cunningham. And the duets Dealbreaker and Here and Now performed by Alex and Nick were both beautifully performed with certain 80s feels, the former being compared to Pat Benatar's Heartbreaker.

Flashdance: The Musical is a fun, upbeat, and well-performed musical revisit of the 80s fairytale a generation came to know and love - recommended for a Girls' Night Out or Date Night with tickets starting as low as $10.

Tips for Starlight Theatre:

• Keep Hydrated and cool: You may bring 1 sealed bottle of water per guest into the theater. Complimentary water stations are located at the North and East Guest Relations. Water misters are placed throughout the theater for guest convenience. And, Starlight has drinking fountains throughout the theater. You may also want to bring a fan too keep cool.
• This Show is NOT for Children: From Starlight, "Oh What A Feeling…but maybe not for everyone. This show contains mature content and strong language which may not be suitable for all ages. Flashdance has a sexy vibe, but the story is largely a fairy tale, a glamorous wish-fulfillment pop fantasy for teen girls on what being an adult is like. It might be a great opportunity to point out to your teen that working in a dance club is not as glamorous as it may appear to be in the musical." 
• Preshow Tours: Arrive early and get a free, behind-the-scenes look at Starlight and learn about Starlight’s rich history in Kansas City. Tours begin before each performance at three convenient times: 6:30 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Patrons interested in touring Starlight Theatre should report to the top of the theater behind Terrace Section 1 to begin their facility tours.
• Interpreted Performances: Saturday performances at Starlight Theatre are described for the blind and visually impaired by Kansas Audio-Reader Network. Devices for this service are available at the Audio-Reader table behind Terrace Section 2. Sunday performances at Starlight Theatre are interpreted for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. Two interpreters are positioned on stage, house right. Patrons can view the interpreters from sections 4 and 6 of the Orchestra and Plaza sections. Deaf and hard-of-hearing patrons may purchase tickets by calling the Kansas Relay Center at 800.766.3777 or Relay Missouri at 800.735.2966. 
• Assisted listening devices: Assisted listening devices are available free of charge for every performance. Visit the Ovation gift store and leave your driver's license in exchange for one of the listening devices. Following the performance, please return the device to the store and pick up your ID.
• Courtesy shuttles: This summer six-passenger shuttles patrol the main parking areas, providing assistance for those who most need it.
• Wheelchair assistance: Wheelchair assistance is available from all gates to the guest's seating location and back to the gate point after the show.
• Emergencies: An EMT is on Starlight premises for all events and can be reached by radio through any of the contacts noted above. 
• Preshow Dining: A delicious dinner buffet is offered before the show. Learn more about preshow dining.