Ghost the Musical

Hi everyone.  Remember Stephanie?   She’s my quirky little music and arts contributor.  Ring a bell?  Well, she’s super fun!  (just look at her rocking out that vintage Lily Pulitzer dress on her birthday!)   We’re friends that (used to) work together, (still) go to church together, (will always) share a love of fiestaware, organics and all things kitchy.  She’s back and this time she’s sharing about her recent trip to the Aronoff Center to see the new Broadway in Cincinnati’s Ghost The Musical.

“The supernatural power of love is taking Cincinnati by storm as the new Broadway and West End musical Ghost The Musical, adapted from the Academy Award-winning film, opens at the Aronoff Center, September 24 presented as part of the Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Cincinnati 13/14 Season.

GHOST The Musical has been enjoyed by over 1 million people worldwide and has been nominated for numerous awards including five Olivier Awards and three Tony Awards. The Associated Press calls Ghost The Musical “Eye-poppingly brilliant” while Variety assures the audience will experience “A limitless array of dazzling effects.” Newsday promises that Ghost The Musical is “Unlike anything seen on stage before” and the Daily Telegraph says that Ghost The Musical “Will keep you gasping!”

 Take it away Stephanie….

To be completely honest, I can’t remember the last time I watched the movie Ghost. Sure I can picture Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore, and Unchained Melody combined with some steamy scenes involving a pottery wheel but beyond that, your guess is as good as mine (unless you know the story better than me, in which case your guess probably blows my guess out of the water). When I found out Ghost the Musical was coming to my lovely Cincinnati, I was excited to give this story another chance. So me, the husband, and copious amounts of other women (male viewers were absolutely in the minority) packed into the Aronoff on opening night.

Robby Haltiwanger and cast of Ghost The Musical Tour. © Joan Marcus 2013.

I’ll go ahead and let you know that I genuinely both laughed and cried during this show. I was a music major in college and I had to sit through my fair share of musicals, recitals, and various other breeds of musical performance. For better or worse, it served to develop the amateur critic in me that I get to bring out when I go to shows.

The use of technology and screens showing video were done very proficiently and helped add to the telling of the story. However, I will also say that the ensemble dancers were not up to par with the rest of the production. Many were, at times, a beat ahead or a beat behind the rest of the group. However, I enjoyed the use of the ensemble dance numbers to transition scenes, along with choreography that continued to build the story.

As far as vocal talent was concerned, the ladies stole the show. The aforementioned moment of weepiness came during Molly’s “Without You” number toward the end of Act I. During this song she enumerates all the things that she and Sam did together and with my husband sitting right next to me, the song got me thinking about how devastatingly crushed I’d be if anything ever happened to him. As I was wiping away my stray tears, I noticed the majority of my fellow females doing the same. Oda Mae, the avant garde psychic, was probably my favorite character of the entire evening. She was both written well and performed superbly. During her big solo, “I’m Outta Here,” her jaunty hat came lose and started flopping as she sang. Let me tell you, she never missed a single beat. Major props to this fine lady!

Carla R. Stewart and cast of Ghost The Musical Tour. © Joan Marcus 2013.
While watching this musical, I remembered what I really enjoy about Ghost: the “true love never fails” message. I think die hard Ghost fans will rock out. For the rest of us, it’s an enjoyable evening.

See you at the theater,
Stephanie Proffitt

GHOST The Musical will play the Aronoff Center from September 24 – October 6, 2013.

Tuesday- Thursday at 7:30PM, Friday at 8:00PM, Saturday at 2:00PM and 8:00PM, and Sunday at 1:00PM and 6:30PM.

Tickets for GHOST The Musical start at $28.

They are available at the Aronoff Center Box Office downtown at 650 Walnut Street, online at CincinnatiArts.org or by phone at 513.621.ARTS.

For groups of 10 or more, contact the group sales department at 513.369.4363.

Performance schedule, prices and cast are subject to change without notice. For more information, please visit www.BroadwayInCincinnati.com.