(Cover Photo: The CAST of the musical "THE CHER SHOW" now playing at the Boch Center Wang Theatre in Boston, MA. until March 17, 2024. Photo Credit: Meredith Mashburn Photography)

By Kevin T. Baldwin

METRMAG Reviewer

# 774-242-6724 

 
“All of us invent ourselves. Some of us just have more imagination than others.” 

                -  Cher

The Boch Center Wang Theatre

Presents the Musical 

"THE CHER SHOW"

"THE CHER SHOW" will play the Boch Center Wang Theatre for a limited engagement!

Written by Rick Elice

Directed by Casey Hushion

Choreographed by Antoinette Dipietropolo

Music Supervisor - Kristin Stowell

Musical Director - Eddie Carney

Vocal, Song, & Incidental Music Arrangements – Daryl Waters  

Executive Producer - Daniel Sher

ORIGINAL BROADWAY AND TOUR COSTUME DESIGN BY BOB MACKIE 

Cast Includes: Morgan Scott as “Star,” Catherine Ariale as “Lady,” Ella Perez as ‘Babe,” Lorenzo Pugliese as “Sonny Bono,” Lucy Werner as “Georgia Holt/Lucille Ball,” Tyler Pirrung as “Bob Mackie/Robert Altman/Frank,” Mike Bindeman as “Gregg Allman/John Southall,” Gary Paul Bowman as “Rob Camilletti,” Mason Derreck Lewis as “Lee/Top Of The Pops Host,” Emma Alteri as “Bridget,” Grace Napoletano as “Colleen,” Kevin Michael Buckley as “Phil Spector/Sid The Censor/Male ET Reporter,” Charles Blaha as “Infomercial Director/Digby The Writer,” Tre Kanaley as “Steve The Scribe,” Neftali Benitez as “Bob Mackie’s Assistant,” Emma Jade Branson as “Dark Lady,” Michelle Arotsky as “Female ET Reporter;” “Studio Singers:” Mollie Downes, Drew Lake; “Girl Group:” Michelle Arotsky, Jordan Gold, Drew Lake; “Dave Clark Five:” Neftali Benitez, Charles Blaha, Gary Paul Bowman, Kevin Michael Buckley, Tre Kanaley; “Ensemble:” Emma Alteri, Michelle Arotsky, Neftali Benitez, Charles Blaha, Gary Paul Bowman, Emma Jade Branson, Kevin Michael Buckley, Samantha Butts, Mollie Downes, Jordan Gold, Tre Kanaley, Drew Lake, Mason Derreck Lewis, Grace Napoletano. (NOTE: Information obtained from tour website subject to change) 

Additional Creative Team:

Production Stage Manager - Owen O’ Brien; Company Manager - Sophie Whitfield; General Management - Big League Productions  & Zach Krohn; Executive Producer – Set Design - Kelly James Tighe; Lighting Design - Charlie Morrison;  Sound Design - Daniel Lundberg; Wig Design - Roxanne De Luna; Technical Supervisor - James Book;  Tour Press & Marketing - True Marketing & Wendy J. Connor; Casting Director - Alison Franck, C.S.A.; Dance Music Arrangements - Zane Mark And Daryl Waters; Costume Coordinator - Janine Loesch; Video Design - Jonathan Infante & Kelly James Tighe. (NOTE: Information obtained from tour website subject to change)  

Performances:

March 15 & 16, 2024 at 8:00pm

March 16, 2024 at 2:00pm 

March 17, 2024 at 1:00pm & 6:30pm

TICKET PRICES Start at $45

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COVID 19 PROTOCOLS

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The current tour of the Rick Elice musical "THE CHER SHOW" has arrived for a limited engagement in Boston and is a guaranteed fun time for all. 

This show is a tribute to one of the fiercest entertainers ever to step into the spotlight, CHER, with a book by Rick Elice that tells us CHER's story using songs CHER performed throughout her career. 

The musical was developed in 2017 in New York City. 

The world premiere was held in Chicago in 2018, and "THE CHER SHOW" officially opened on Broadway by the end of that year. 

"THE CHER SHOW" continued on Broadway until 2019, ending after 34 previews and 296 regular performances.

"THE CHER SHOW" won Tony Awards for Stephanie J. Block as CHER (Lead Actress in a Musical) and for Bob Mackie (Costume Design for a Musical).

In a unique storytelling experience, the part of CHER is shared by three performers. The three interact with each other and help each other out at various points.

(Photo: Morgan Scott as "STAR" and the CAST of the musical "THE CHER SHOW" now playing at the Boch Center Wang Theatre in Boston, MA. until March 17, 2024. Photo Credit: Meredith Mashburn Photography)

Our guide for the evening is the first performer, who also plays CHER during the 1980s and 1990s and goes by the name "Star" (Morgan Scott).   

Immediately, one may notice Scott does not bear a striking resemblance to the entertainment icon that is CHER. 

However, the show, as directed by Casey Hushion and choreographed by Antoinette Dipietropolo, is not intended to be about CHER impersonations.

"THE CHER SHOW" is staged in such a clever way as to feel like a "CHER" television special - to embody and tell the entertainer's personal story and life's journey. 

Scott as "Star" introduces each person from CHER's life as if they were a "guest star" on her special.  

Thanks to Scott's impressive take on the iconic performer, the above approach successfully brings forth that emotional journey in commendable fashion.

Sharing the stage with Scott is another performer, who goes by the moniker "Babe" (Ella Perez), portraying CHER in the 1950s and 1960s as young Cherilyn Sarkisian's career begins to blossom.

Perez is undoubtedly the most powerful singer in the trio of this musical, nailing all of the songs in which she is featured.

Perez as "Babe" latches onto naiveté and exuberance the younger CHER had as a child, living without a father figure for most of it. 

Yet, the absence was offset as the younger CHER found herself being guided in those earlier times by an equally brave and unrelenting mother, Georgia Holt (Lucy Werner).

Werner is fabulous as both Holt and then later as another entertainment icon, Lucille Ball, who would wind up giving CHER some important life at a crossroads. 

Also, kudos to CHER and bookwriter Elice for giving a nod to Lucy by arguably giving her the funniest line in the show.  

During these earlier days, we also see how the 16-year-old Cherilyn, who shortened her name to "CHER," would meet and fall in love with struggling songwriter, Sonny Bono (Lorenzo Pugliese).

At first, Pugliese's portrayal of Bono feels a bit like he is playing the man as a parody, a cartoonish figure.

However, as soon as he and Perez start singing the duo's signature song, "I Got You Babe," everything changes. 

In that moment, Pugliese immediately conveys to us that Bono was not a cartoon image but an accomplished writer, singer, entertainer and, most importantly, like CHER, a flawed yet remarkable...and very real...human being.

That is the best part overall of "THE CHER SHOW" - it celebrates the life of CHER but does not overly sweeten things. 

Whatever happens on stage really feels like moments of a true story and not something sanitized for our viewing pleasure. 

Many will feel this "bluntness" - a combination of emotional honesty that occasionally has an uncomfortable frankness many have come to expect from CHER - all laid out in front of us...and we would expect nothing less from CHER.

What some may find unexpected is an equally inherent vulnerability, an openness and willingness by CHER to be there for others, usually at great disservice to herself.

(Photo: Catherine Ariale, Morgan Scott and Ella Perez share the stage and the journey in the musical "THE CHER SHOW" now playing at the Boch Center Wang Theatre in Boston, MA. until March 17, 2024. Photo Credit: Meredith Mashburn Photography)

The final performer in this triumvirate is called "Lady" (Catherine Ariale) who recalls CHER's more turbulent career and life during the 1970s. 

Arial as 'Lady" might have the most difficult job of all presenting the combative side of CHER as the entertainer, at peak television stardom, gets "man-handled" by Bono and other powerful men in a very male-dominated entertainment industry.

Through multiple rises and falls, Arial convincingly brings forth that side of CHER that didn't just roll with the punches. 

CHER threw a few punches, as well, and each time she came back, she came back stronger and stronger.

The interactions between the trio of CHERs showcases a beautiful teamwork bond which successfully tells us CHER's story. 

The chemistry between Scott, Perez and Arial throughout the show is rock solid.   

The technical elements associated with "THE CHER SHOW" are all impressive - lighting and sound combined with creative projected imagery all help propel CHER's story forward.

Hands down, though, the costuming by the one and only legendary costume designer Bob Mackie is, by itself, worth the price of admission. 

The parade of Mackie's quintessential signature gowns and other outrageous outfits are all on glorious, mind-blowing display.

Tyler Pirrung is simply energetic as Bob Mackie (showing great diversity by countering later as famed director "Robert Altman” who critically guides CHER through a pivotal acting career choice...while disregarding his own critically poor choice making "Popeye").

(Photo: Tyler Pirrung as "Bob Mackie" with the CAST of the musical "THE CHER SHOW" now playing at the Boch Center Wang Theatre in Boston, MA. until March 17, 2024. Photo Credit: Meredith Mashburn Photography)

The plethora of musical highlights includes hits such as "The Beat Goes On," "If I Could Turn Back Time," "Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves," "Bang Bang," "I Found Someone" and many, many more, all interwoven into the story and knocked out of the park by the mesmerizing trio of Scott, Perez and Arial.

The ensemble in this show is completely electrifying, tasked with dozens of arduous, incredibly quick costume changes throughout the two-and-a-half hour musical.

We also meet CHER's other significant loves, rock legend Gregg Allman (Mike Bindeman) and then up-and-coming actor Rob Camilletti (Gary Paul Bowman), but neither relationship sparks as resoundingly or feels as impactful as the one CHER had with Sonny. 

Whether that is fact, fiction, or just an artistic choice is all speculation and irrelevant to this wonderful musical presentation. 

The important thing is that CHER knows the truth.

That said, Bindeman and Pugliese are given a terrific moment to shine together in the scrappy number, "Dark Lady," supported by the dynamic dance ensemble.

(Photo: The CAST of the musical "THE CHER SHOW" now playing at the Boch Center Wang Theatre in Boston, MA. until March 17, 2024. Photo Credit: Meredith Mashburn Photography)

In the end, though, "THE CHER SHOW" isn't really about the men behind CHER. 

"THE CHER SHOW" is about CHER and, as such, we need to ask ourselves if we walk away from the show having learned more about this artist than we knew going in.

Knowing full well the obsession some have with CHER, for them I would say that is quite doubtful. They would boast they know more about CHER than CHER knows about CHER.

For the rest of us, though, "THE CHER SHOW" does allow us some time to get to know not just the journey undertaken by young Cherilyn Sarkisian but the ongoing journey still travelled by the often imitated but never duplicated one and only CHER.

"THE CHER SHOW" continues in Boston until March 17th and, as this musical reaches for the stars as it turns back time, do not let this terrific show pass you by because, remember, the beat goes on.

Coming next month to the Boch Center Wang Theatre will be "HADESTOWN" by Anaïs Mitchell beginning April 23rd, 2024.

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Approximately two hours, 45 minutes with no intermission 

Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA) 

@MetrmagReviews

@Theatre_Critics 

ABOUT THE SHOW

Superstars come and go. 

CHER is forever. 

For six straight decades, only one unstoppable force has flat-out dominated popular culture - breaking down barriers, pushing boundaries and letting nothing and no one stand in her way. 

THE CHER SHOW is the Tony Award®-winning musical of her story, and it’s packed with so much CHER that it takes three women to play her: the kid starting out, the glam pop star, and the icon. 

THE CHER SHOW is 35 smash hits, six decades of stardom, two rock-star husbands, a Grammy®, an Oscar®, an Emmy®, and enough Tony Award-winning Bob Mackie gowns to cause a sequin shortage in New York City, all in one unabashedly fabulous new musical that will have audiences dancing in the aisles!

("THE CHER SHOW" will play the Boch Center Wang Theatre for a limited engagement!)

ABOUT THE WANG AND SHUBERT THEATRES

Just as the city and audience have evolved with the times, the Boch Center, as guardian of the WANG and SHUBERT THEATRES (and from 2012-15, the Center also managed the historic Emerson Colonial Theatre), has changed to meet the needs of its community. 

Uniquely using a Balanced Scorecard (a Fortune 500 management framework), strategy map, and strategic dashboard, the Boch Center ensures that our Theatres and programs stay relevant to the community we serve. Today, the Boch Center is considered a best practice institution and nonprofit arts leader. With the belief that arts make and keep us a civilized nation, the Boch Center is dedicated to providing high-quality, diverse and culturally relevant arts and entertainment, and arts education programming for New England residents and visitors.

ABOUT THE BOCH CENTER

The Boch Center is one of the nation’s leading nonprofit performing arts institutions and a guardian of the historic WANG and SHUBERT THEATRES. As New England’s largest cultural venue, the Boch Center is home to theater, classical and popular music, dance, comedy, opera, Broadway musicals, family entertainment, and more. Located in Boston’s historic Theater District, the Boch Center also offers a diverse mix of educational, cultural and community outreach initiatives, including the City Spotlights Leadership Program and the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame; collaborates with artists and local nonprofit arts organizations; preserves historic venues; and acts as a champion for Greater Boston’s arts and cultural community. Learn more at bochcenter.org.