(Photo credit: Sacred Heart School for the Arts Facebook page)
There are numerous musicals which I feel never get the same appreciation as recently written shows. One of these, for example, is Crazy For You. A humorous 1930s musical about a novice banker, named Bobby Child, who aspires to be a dancer. He is sent to a small town in Nevada to foreclose on a theater but gets stopped short due to his growing admiration for a woman named Polly Baker, who is the owner’s daughter. In an attempt to woo her, he dresses up as the famous Bela Zangler and attempts to turn cowboys into stars. The show is full of silly side plots and random romance, making it an enjoyable production for all ages.
I recently experienced Sacred Heart’s production of Crazy For You, starring actors Maxwell Johnson (Bobby Child), Alice Calabrese (Polly Baker), Micah Drake (Bela Zangler) and many others. Sacred Heart’s musical choice was unexpected due to the fact it is an incredibly male-heavy show, and being an all girl school, they struggle with recruiting men from other schools. Their solution, of course, was to cast girls as boys which created a surprising, yet welcome, additional comedic effect.
There were multiple stand out performers but Alice Calabrese (Polly Baker) absolutely stole the entire show. The minute she opened her mouth, the audience was completely mesmerized; her voice was perfectly polished and had a classical tone that fit Gershwin’s music style perfectly. Alice hit every note with ease, blending her voice into the perfect combination of strong and charming. Her acting didn’t disappoint either, making it clear she understood the balance between honesty and maintaining the tone of such a goofy show. Her chemistry with Maxwell Johnson (Bobby Child) was undeniable, leaving every romance lover on the edge of their seat.
Maxwell Johnson took the stage with a goofy yet charming interpretation of Bobby Child. His stable vocals helped ground his character and contrast Alice’s natural tone, adding an unexpected effect; his natural charm allowed him to execute the Zangler bits perfectly, causing the audience to suspend their belief of reality and fall happily into the ludicrous story line. Joshua Nazarkewich (Lank Hawkins) used dramatic physicality to carve out his character, with theatrical movements and bold vocal choices. Lank Hawkins was portrayed as the typical Disney channel villain, except with cowboy boots and a country accent.
Irene Roth, played by Sara-Frances Blevins, was brought to life with sass and confidence. In her number “Naughty Baby,” she controlled the stage, effortlessly mesmerizing the audience. Her relationship with Lank Hawkins was a surprise to all, showing to everyone that opposites really do attract. Joshua’s restless energy balanced out with Sara-Frances’ slow and sultry tempo, causing balance, naturally mellowing each other out for the better.
Although I wouldn’t find myself dying to re-watch this production of Crazy For You, it was a fun show with catchy songs and flashy numbers that leave the audience smiling as they leave the theater. I especially applaud Alice Calabrese and Sara-Frances Blevins for their stand out vocal performances. Unfortunately, Crazy For You at Sacred Heart is closed, but you can catch their next production, Clue, in late April of 2026.
