"Bandstand" - by Richard Oberacker and Robert Taylor - Sullivan Rep (Dedham, MA.) - REVIEW
(Cover Photo: The CAST of the musical "BANDSTAND" by Richard Oberacker and Robert Taylor, presented by Sullivan Rep in Dedham, MA. until March 21, 2026. Photo Credit: Nora Sullivan)
By Kevin T. Baldwin
METRMAG Reviewer
# 774-242-6724
"Just breathe. Let the music move your soul."
- ("Company") / Richard Oberacker and Robert Taylor
Sullivan Rep
Presents the Musical
"BANDSTAND"
Music by Richard Oberacker
Lyrics and Book by Richard Oberacker and Robert Taylor
Directed and Choreographed by Dan Sullivan
Musical Director Doug Benishek
Cast Includes: Kevin Hanley* as “Danny Novitski,” Melissa Paz* as “Julia Trojan,” Marcia Irwin* as “June Adams,” Anthony Rinaldi* as “Nick Radel,” Jacob Less as “Davy Zlatic,” Andy Ross as “Jimmy Campbell,” Robert Orzalli as “Wayne Wright,” Dom Pappagallo as “Johnny Simpson.”
Ensemble: Andrea Giangreco, Tyler Pilkington-Sperry, Sean Morris, Carly Evans*, Bridget Sullivan, John Crampton, Alicia Love**, Will Fafard, Jr., Anelise Allen, Ohad Ashkenazi, Justin Peavey, Jessica Ober, Alexander Skaggs, Caroline Granahan, Nathan Conrow.
Additional Creative Team:
Stage Manager – Maya Concepcion; Company Manager – Julianna Tusler; Assistant Musical Director – Karin Denison; Onstage Instrument Consultant – Hollis W. Sullivan; Mental Health Consultant – Nathan Brewer; Intimacy Direction – Kate Dugas; Dramaturgy – Camille Cuzzupoli; Season Intern – Kenly Murray; Technical Director – John Sullivan; Costume Design – DW; Hair and Makeup Design – Bridget Sullivan; Wardrobe – Judi Olson; Lighting Design – Erik Fox; Properties Design – Rick Grenier.
Performances:
March 6, 2026 through March 21, 2026
(Contact Box Office for Exact Times)
All Performances held at Motherbrook Arts & Community Center, 123 High Street, Dedham, MA. 02026
TICKETS:
For tickets and more information CLICK HERE!
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COVID 19 PROTOCOLS
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(Warning: The following review contains spoilers)
Sullivan Rep trikes up more than a band – they strike up a much-needed conversation with the rousing musical "BANDSTAND" now playing in Dedham.
This immersive in-the-round production is a marvelous sight to behold - well-acted, well-danced, songs well-performed, and the music, reminiscent of and reverent to a bygone era, is both moving and uplifting.
The musical contains lighthearted melodies of Swing, Bebop, and Jitterbug, executed by a dynamite ensemble, juxtaposing the story’s more somber content dealing with themes of grief, loss, alcoholism, and war (there is a “trigger warning” provided by Sullivan Rep ).
Composed by Richard Oberacker with book and lyrics by Oberacker and Robert Taylor, "BANDSTAND" was the first musical certified by the organization “Got Your 6” for its empathetic tale of veterans returning home to the United States after World War II.
"BANDSTAND" has nothing to do with Dick Clark or his old show "American Bandstand" (although to a degree one might understand such confusion).
No, "BANDSTAND" tells the story of World War Two Veterans returning home from war, and the struggles that came with that homecoming.
While the condition is never referred to directly (since the medical designation didn’t exist at the time), "BANDSTAND" portrays the experience of veteran soldiers suffering from what we now refer to as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
After being workshopped and playing to limited runs for several years before finally debuting on Broadway in 2017, the original production of "BANDSTAND" starred Laura Osnes, Corey Cott and Beth Leavel.
The original production suffered from mixed reviews and closed after 24 previews and 166 regular performances.
However, the show did manage to achieve a Tony Award and Drama Desk Award for Best Choreography, a Drama Desk Award for Best Orchestrations, and did yield a professional recording of the Broadway production.
"BANDSTAND" also has yielded a strong cult following of those who adore both its message and vibrant dance score.
As the Sullivan Rep musical begins, we are transported back to 1945 to Cleveland, Ohio where we are introduced to musician and composer Donny Novitski (Kevin Hanley), a returning vet who is eager to get back to life as he sings about in the show’s opener "Just Like It Was Before."
Not able to find work, Donny maneuvers his way into a contest and needs to assemble a band comprised entirely of fellow veterans, hoping to make it big.
Using the song "I Know a Guy" as a backdrop, Hanley is dazzling as Donny who begins to assemble his band.
As the story progresses, we learn how each of the members of the band, like survivor's guilt-ridden insomniac Donny, are struggling re-adjusting to civilian life.
(Photo: Kevin Hanley as “Danny Novitski" in a moment from the musical "BANDSTAND" by Richard Oberacker and Robert Taylor, presented by Sullivan Rep in Dedham, MA. until March 21, 2026. Photo Credit: Nora Sullivan)
As portrayed admirably by the Sullivan Rep cast, all of the bandmates are haunted by memories of war, reflected in many of the show’s moments showing the band either in rehearsal or in performance with phantoms of fallen comrades occasionally accompanying them.
In the final released version of the script, some of the plot points indicated below were whittled down to now barely even a reference - but indicated is the basic backstory for each of Donny’s bandmates:
First, there’s Jimmy (Andy Ross) on saxophone and clarinet – Jimmy is gay and had a lover who died in combat. (As mentioned, don’t bother waiting for this revelation – it isn’t discussed.)
Now, though, as we witness through the solid performance by Ross, Jimmy is completely immersed in his legal studies but this is more a way of keeping everyone from discovering his secret.
Nick (Anthony Rinaldi) on trumpet was a prisoner of war, giving him anger and trust issues.
As adeptly rendered by Rinaldi, Nick now teaches trumpet to entitled, talentless kids (and gives the impression that he is not quite sure which experience is worse).
Davy (Jacob Less) on bass, helped to liberate those held at the concentration camp Dachau and has turned to alcohol and uses humor as his way to help him cope with those memories.
Less provides some of the show's funniest retorts while also providing insight into some of the tragic aspects of Davy's wartime experience.
Wayne (Robert Orzalli) on trombone suffers from OCD (again, a diagnosis of mental unwellness that did not exist during this time), becoming worse and shattering his family life.
Similar to the character of Davy, Orzalli excels at giving us a glimpse into the disturbed nature surrounding this particular wounded warrior.
Finally, there’s Johnny (Dom Pappagallo) on drums, severely injured (he’ll tell you about his jeep that “flipped over three times” multiple times) and still plagued by chronic pain, amnesia and cognitive issues.
(Photo: Kevin Hanley as “Danny Novitski" in a moment from the musical "BANDSTAND" by Richard Oberacker and Robert Taylor, presented by Sullivan Rep in Dedham, MA. until March 21, 2026. Photo Credit: Nora Sullivan)
While Donny feels he now has his band, there’s still something missing - but soon Donny will bring on the one element that could turn things around for this unique band of brothers.
Out of a sense of obligation to his best friend during the war, Donny makes good on a promise to check in on his late friend’s widow, Julia (Melissa Paz).
Paz is compelling as Julia (who married into a seriously unfortunate last name used as a running gag in the show), who is startled by Donny’s arrival at first but soon invites him for dinner in the hope of learning more about her husband's death.
Impressively conveyed by Paz in the song "Who I Was," Julia reveals to her mother, June (Marcia Irwin), that she just wants to be the person she was before her husband's death.
Irwin, in turn, is a much needed and much appreciated comic relief as June but then surprises later offering a more solemn side to the character as June sings "Everything Happens" to Julia.
While avoiding disclosing the reality of her husband’s death, after hearing Julia sing, Donny convinces Julia to join the band, hoping her addition will increase their chances of winning the contest.
Julia offers Donny her journal of poetry inspired by her take on post-war life, for which Donny composes a melody for one of them, securing the band a slot on the final broadcast in New York City.
As illustrated in the song "Right This Way," with pressures mounting, band members find everything a bit overwhelming, but Donny tries to inspire them, telling them in song how their efforts could provide their wartime brethren a dream of a world where veterans are recognized for their sacrifices and talents.
I wonder just how many of today's servicemen still dream of such a world?
(Photo: Melissa Paz as “Julia Trojan” with Kevin Hanley as “Danny Novitski” in a scene from the musical "BANDSTAND" by Richard Oberacker and Robert Taylor, presented by Sullivan Rep in Dedham, MA. until March 21, 2026. Photo Credit: Nora Sullivan)
In "BANDSTAND," the band contends with successes and failures, fortune and misfortune, life and death as Julia and Donny continue their songwriting collaboration evolving into something more.
The Sullivan Rep musical is filled with a plethora of potent songs, including the great dance number “You Deserve It” performed by an exciting, fully committed dance ensemble, and the 11th hour powerhouse song, "Welcome Home” brought home by Paz backed up by a great live house band conducted by Karin Denison (also on piano) and under the direction of Music Director Doug Benishek.
(Photo: The CAST of the musical "BANDSTAND" by Richard Oberacker and Robert Taylor, presented by Sullivan Rep in Dedham, MA. until March 21, 2026. Photo Credit: Nora Sullivan)
As marvelously conveyed by the Sullivan Rep cast and supporting ensemble, the band contends with multiple successes and failures, days and nights of fortune and misfortune, and life or death struggles as Julia and Donny continue their songwriting collaboration as it evolves into something more.
The band plays on in Dedham, MA. until March 21st, 2026, and this Sullivan Rep musical "BANDSTAND" is filled with many great songs, including its 11th hour powerhouse number "Welcome Home.”
To all U.S. military veterans, past, present and future - we thank you for your service, devotion to and sacrifices made for your country. May you always be made to feel welcomed home.
For tickets and more information CLICK HERE!
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Approximately two hours, 30 minutes with one intermission.
Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)
@MetrmagReviews
@Theatre_Critics
ABOUT THE SHOW
Set in Ohio following the Second World War, "BANDSTAND" follows the lives of six veterans and one war widow as they struggle to return home to the lives they left behind.
Led by Donny Novitski, they create a band to compete in the American Songbook’s “Tribute to the Troops” Radio Contest.
Together, they help each other come to terms with their experiences, their new reality and that ultimately they are not alone in their struggles.
Content Warning: "BANDSTAND" tells the story of World War Two veterans returning home from war, and the struggles that come with that.
Those affected by such circumstances may find moments in the piece difficult to view, but we hope might resonate and allow you to feel seen and supported.
As the only musical to be certified by the Got Your Six organization, "BANDSTAND" portrays the experience of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in relation to war in a very real and responsible way. "BANDSTAND" also deals with themes of grief, loss, alcoholism, and violence that might not be appropriate for all viewers.
For more information on possible content warnings, or how we might support you in your visit to SULLIVAN REP, please reach out to our Director of Community, Jenna at community@sullivanrep.com.
ABOUT SULLIVAN REP
SULLIVAN REP aims to create a theatrical home to further support Boston-based theater artists. By adopting a repertory model where performers are contracted for multiple shows within the same season, SULLIVAN REP hopes to foster a deeper sense of community and familiarity between performers and audiences alike. This consistency also allows SULLIVAN REP to provide a space which supports artists who have pursued alternate career paths, limiting their ability to commit to productions with larger demands on their time.
# 774-270-6102
sullivanrep23@gmail.com
