At Skylight Theater in Los Feilz through July 21, Bronco Billy is an absolutely joyous, brilliantly compact musical. This intimate theater is the perfect space for this inventively staged, perfectly performed, and jubilant show. What a treat to see a show this strong in a theater small enough that cast members passed us some popcorn after intermission.
You’d have to be a true curmudgeon not to love this story about finding a home, finding your tribe, finding your delight – and in the bargain, finding true love.
The music and lyrics by Chip Rosenbloom and John Torres, with additional lyrics from Michele Bourman are terrific: memorable, melodic, and fun.
Dennis Hackin wrote the film version and the book here, paying homage to his parents who wanted to be cowboys and moved their city slicker family from Chicago to Arizona to live out their dreams. That passion and sense of fun and adventure are evident in every minute of this fast-moving, truly winning musical.
Expertly directed at a perfectly paced clip by director Hunter Bird, with choreography from Janet Roston, from the first minute, this is pure entertainment – and both smart and poignant (pun intended) to boot.
Bronco Billy’s Wild West Show is introduced in an upbeat, engaging opening song, but coffers for this traveling show are approaching empty, and Bronco Billy – played with contagious charm by Eric B. Anthony – works hard to convince his troupe to carry on to Hollywood and audition for a new TV show.
En route, he meets one Antoinette Lily (the terrific Amanda Leigh Jerry), an heiress in peril and in hiding, who reinvents herself as co-star and business manager “Miss Lily” without revealing her real identity. While they clash a little, the chemistry is there from the start between them, and any audience member with a beating heart is rooting for these two to find their passion together.
The entire cast is simply terrific: great voices, great heart. Performed with a five piece live band – also simply super – theater just doesn’t get better than this, frankly. Not even on Broadway.
Below, the zany and fun villians – detective/hitman, evil stepmother, and her paramour.
Disco lives again, too, when the troupe gets a night on the town between shows. But though the action is set in 1979, it’s heart, inclusiveness, and hope are just as relevant today.
They can sing, and oh yes, this cast can sure dance, too.
There’s wooing and romance and even a slapstick-perfect chase scene, but always the show must go on — because ultimately, as Bronco Billy himself asserts, the show is all about making people happy. And indeed it does.
Bronco Billy is, in short, an exhilerating rush. Don’t miss – what else are you doing this upcoming holiday weekend that’s better than reveling in human goodness, compassion, and fun?
Bronco Billy – The Musical runs 8:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2:00 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through July 21, 2019. No 2:00 p.m. matinee on July 6 & 20. Added: 8:00 p.m. performances on Thursdays July 11 & 18. Skylight Theatre is located at 1816 1/2 N. Vermont Ave, LA, 90027. Tickets start at $29. Children under 6 years old are not admitted. Information and reservations: (213) 761-7061 or (866) 811-4111. Online ticketing: http://SkylightTix.org
