(Cover Photo: The CAST of the musical "SUPERHERO" by John Logan and Tom Kitt, presented by Studio Theatre Worcester in Shrewsbury, MA. now playing through June 28, 2026. Photo Credit Emma Purple Photography)

By Kevin T. Baldwin

METRMAG Reviewer

# 774-242-6724

“It's not like in the movies, where the heroes love the unknown. It's not like in the movies, I spend my days alone."

                                  – (“Jim”) /  John Logan and Tom Kitt

Studio Theatre Worcester  

Presents the Musical 

"SUPERHERO"

Book by John Logan

Music and Lyrics by Tom Kitt

Directed by John Wayland Somers 

Music Director Kris Layton

Cast Includes: Elliot Cetinski as “Simon,” Christina Pierro-Biggins as “Charlotte,” Todd Vickstrom as “Jim,” Erica Shields as “Vee,” Erik Johnsen as “Dean Fulton/Sea Mariner,” Scott Salley as “Vic,” Alyssa Morales as “Rachel/Girl,” Casey Williamson as “Dwayne/Crush.” 

Additional Creative Team:

Stage Manager - Marita Gattone; Fight Choreographer - Michael Bailey; Assistant Director - Morgan Fitzpatrick; Costume Coordinator - Lizzie Seaburg; Dramaturg - Lydia Cochran; Marketing and Publicity - Sandy Clancy; Master Electrician - David Plante; Marketing Assistants - Lauren Bigelow, Addie Abstoss, Mary Deffinbaugh; Community Engagement - Elijah Lidonde; Illustrator - Tricia Lupien; Projection Design - Matt Wasser; Sound Design - Tom Powers; Lighting Design - Kevin McGerigle; Projection/Sound Operator - Leanne Silvia.

Performances:

June 19, 2026 through June 28, 2026

(Contact Box Office for Exact Times)

Performances to be held in the Flanagan Theatre in Southgate at Shrewsbury, MA.

TICKETS:

Tickets are available at: https://www.studiotheatreworcester.org/tickets   

Website: www.studiotheatreworcester.org  

Box Office # 508-556-0576

BUY TICKETS

COVID 19 PROTOCOLS

Contact Venue for Most Updated COVID-19 Safety Protocols and Information.

(Warning: The following review contains spoilers)

"Actors Assemble!" 

Studio Theatre Worcester (STW) swoops in to save us from the dreaded Father’s Day doldrums with "SUPERHERO" - a moving musical about a family missing a dad, now playing in Shrewsbury. 

As proficiently staged by John Wayland Somers and music directed by Kris Layton (who also plays piano and conducts), the collective performances in "SUPERHERO" come off as energetic to the point where I just might refer to them as (…do I dare?…) “animated.” 

Which is good and very much needed, as the overall book by the dynamic duo of John Logan (“SWEPT AWAY” recently staged by SpeakEasy Stage in Boston) who wrote the book with music and lyrics by Tom Kitt (“NEXT TO NORMAL” staged by STW back in 2022) is a bit lacking. 

"SUPERHERO" made its Off-Broadway debut in 2019. 

While receiving mixed reviews, the production would receive three Lucille Lortel Award nominations, winning one for Outstanding Projection Design. 

The content struggle exists mostly in the musical’s first act, which languishes in grief and self-loathing for nearly half the act. 

However, once a pivotal moment in Act One occurs, it is like a spark ignites whereby the musical finally finds its footing, and that’s when "SUPERHERO" really takes off.   

(Photo: Elliot Cetinski as “Simon" in a scene from the musical "SUPERHERO" by John Logan and Tom Kitt, presented by Studio Theatre Worcester in Shrewsbury, MA. now playing through June 28, 2026. Photo Credit Emma Purple Photography)

The story begins with the enthusiastic opener "The Adventures of the Amazing Sea-Mariner," as we meet Simon (Elliot Cetinski), a 15-year-old kid who loves comic books.   

Cetinski gives a sensitive, emotionally intuitive portrayal of Simon, who spends hours on the fire escape of the building, dreaming and drawing his own superhero comics which appear before us on a screen stage left. 

As to the STW set, the overall use of space by Somers is commendable as there is not one inch of wasted space with the rooftop of the apartment building design augmented using projections and specialized lighting. 

As the story continues, we learn Simon’s father had perished in an accident when Simon was only 13, just two years ago. 

Simon would have been killed, as well, but was somehow miraculously spared the same fate as his father. 

Simon won't visit the gravesite and avoids all conversation about his father with his mother, Charlotte (Christina Pierro-Biggins), who sings about this in her song "What's Happening to My Boy?". 

Pierro-Biggins gives a finely tuned, layered performance as Charlotte, an accomplished literary professor who, while not only struggling her own grief along with Simon’s, is also being threatened by Dean Fulton (Erik Johnsen) to publish or potentially lose her job. 

Simon talks about comics with his building's landlord, Vic (Scott Salley), who tells Simon that a superhero always makes a triumphant return. 

It would have been nice to see more of the Fulton and Vic characters as both Johnsen and Salley add much to every scene in which they appear. 

(Photo: Elliot Cetinski as “Simon” and Christina Pierro-Biggins as “Charlotte” in a scene from the musical "SUPERHERO" by John Logan and Tom Kitt, presented by Studio Theatre Worcester in Shrewsbury, MA. now playing through June 28, 2026. Photo Credit Emma Purple Photography)

On the roof of his building, Simon spies on Jim (Todd Vickstrom), a laid-off bus driver who lives in the building, and watches as Jim smashes a mailbox then seemingly disappears. 

Excited, Simon suspects he just saw an actual superhero and tries to arrange a date with Jim and Charlotte. 

There are some delightfully awkward moments between Simon, Charlotte and Jim, but the awkwardness as written tends to linger a bit too long. 

Simon sees the potential of having a superhero as a new father and tries to force the issue with his mother, thus hoisting even more emotional baggage upon an already-stressed out Charlotte. 

Jim is far more complex a character than he might appear, but is certainly given a multi-dimensional approach in the terrific performance by Vickstrom.

As they attempt a first date, Jim and Charlotte both reflecting on how to socialize again, and the emotionally awkward exchanges shared between Vickstrom and Pierro-Biggins come across as ponderous, uncomfortable even, but ultimately sincere.

Similarly, the overall relationship between Pierro-Biggins and Cetinski as mother and son comes across as genuine.

As Simon confronts Jim about his super-powers, Jim advises Simon that being a superhero may not be all he thinks in the powerfully rendered song by Vickstrom, "It's Not Like in the Movies." 

(Photo: Scott Salley as “Vic” sits with Christina Pierro-Biggins as “Charlotte” in a scene from of the musical "SUPERHERO" by John Logan and Tom Kitt, presented by Studio Theatre Worcester in Shrewsbury, MA. now playing through June 28, 2026. Photo Credit Emma Purple Photography)

In a secondary plot, Simon crushes on classmate Vee (Erica Shields). 

He likes Vee but cannot muster up the courage to tell her. 

In the song "I'll Save The Girl," sung extremely well by Cetinski, Simon is about to transform into a superhero to help Vee as she faces off with a bully. 

As Vee, Shields gives a dominating performance as Simon soon realizes the “damsel in distress” he hopes to save just might not need a superhero to save her because SHE is a superhero all on her own. 

Later, Simon and Vee are talking from his rooftop and as they look out at the universe each sings about "If I Only Had One Day," quite possibly one of the best songs in the show. 

However, Simon does volunteer himself to help Vee with a school project which will factor in greatly in the second act. 

Never losing focus or the overall rhythm of the musical, the STW performances never falter. 

Rounding out the STW cast is Alyssa Morales as “Rachel” and Casey Williamson as “Dwayne.” 

(Photo: Todd Vickstrom as “Jim” with members of the CAST in a moment from the musical "SUPERHERO" by John Logan and Tom Kitt, presented by Studio Theatre Worcester in Shrewsbury, MA. now playing through June 28, 2026. Photo Credit Emma Purple Photography)

While the story itself may come up short, the STW storytelling never does. 

There is a lot to enjoy in this production, especially on the technical side, which proves absolutely incredible on many levels, including the use of projections as Simon shows us his drawings. 

The scenes also flow very well, with the STW cast helping out on transitions serving as stage crew. 

Similar to "SUPERHERO"'s stepcousin musical “Next to Normal” (and there are a number of similarities), Simon and Charlotte have both suffered an unthinkable tragic loss no family should experience but somehow, they must decide how – and if – they can move forward. 

In Christopher Nolan's “Batman Begins” there is a quote: "It's not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me" highlighting the idea that actions matter more than intentions or hidden identities, and in “SUPERHERO” the actions ultimately taken by those who truly care for Simon speak volumes. 

(Photo: Elliot Cetinski as “Simon” sits with Erica Shields as “Vee” in a scene from the musical "SUPERHERO" by John Logan and Tom Kitt, presented by Studio Theatre Worcester in Shrewsbury, MA. now playing through June 28, 2026. Photo Credit Emma Purple Photography)

So, it’s “Up, Up and Away” as Studio Theatre Worcester's dynamically creative production of John Logan and Tom Kitt's musical "SUPERHERO" continues at the Flanagan Theatre at Southgate in Shrewsbury until June 28^th, 2026.

For tickets and more information, call the Box Office at # 508-556-0576 or visit Studio Theatre Worcester at www.studiotheatreworcester.org

  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

"SUPERHERO" tells the story of a mother and son grappling with a devastating loss and the mysterious stranger who helps them on their journey. 

Before we can save the world, we have to save each other. 

From the Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer of "Next to Normal" and the Tony Award-winning writer of "Red" comes a deeply human new musical about a fractured family, the mysterious stranger in apartment 4-B, and the unexpected hero who just might save the day. 

ABOUT STUDIO THEATRE WORCESTER

MISSION: 

STUDIO THEATRE WORCESTER (STW) is committed to a differentiated, professional theatre experience that reflects the diversity and vibrancy of Worcester communities. Our high quality, theatrical productions and education programs inspire and challenge our audiences while providing compensated opportunities for artists. 

VISION:

STUDIO THEATRE WORCESTER will be the professional theatre of choice for artists, designers, educators, and theatre goers in Central Massachusetts.

VALUES:

Produce QUALITY productions that elicit VISCERAL experiences for our patrons. Foster INCLUSIVITY, DIVERSITY, and EQUITY throughout all areas of our organization. Encourage continued learning by providing EDUCATION opportunities. Promote and invest in the use of LOCAL talent. Invest in INNOVATION to keep the costs of our productions and classes affordable. Develop a strong bond with the COMMUNITY. Identify and DISMANTLE SYSTEMS that inhibit access to theatre. Build SUSTAINABLE VALUE through fiscal responsibility.

https://www.studiotheatreworcester.org/contact-us “Swept Away”