Review: Grooving Along to GROOVIN': THE 60'S & 70'S MUSICAL at Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre

A couple of days before Hurricane Irma hit Florida--and more specifically, hit the Ft. Myers/Naples, FL region of BroadwayWorld--I was grooving along to Broadway Palm's production of GROOVIN': THE 60'S & 70'S MUSICAL. It was the most fun, perfect production to see mid-hurricane anxiety--and though the hurricane is over now, this show is definitely worth seeing if you're looking for an entertaining, throwback-filled afternoon or evening. Although it was evident many people decided to exchange their tickets because of hurricane evacuation, the cast of GROOVIN' still provided a very light-hearted and upbeat atmosphere for all.

The GROOVIN' band played all of the music for the show right on the stage, on a raised platform in the back. I thought this was an excellent touch for a show focused on tribute songs. They were fantastic, and they made the show very lively.

The cast of GROOVIN' was small, but mighty. Every single person in the cast--which consisted of Kira Galindo, Shawday Graves, Katherine Lozon, Chasdan Ross Mike, Chris Trimboli, and Evan Woods Gunter--had more than one shining moment in the show. They each had particular vocal strengths, which were showcased very well throughout the production.

Another thing the cast of GROOVIN' did very well at was keeping energy levels in the theatre very high. They were each very expressive and energetic as they sang an incredible 47 tribute songs. The costuming was also very fun, and I appreciated that the cast changed costumes according to the style of music they were currently singing.

There was quite a bit of audience interaction throughout the show. One of my favorite moments of GROOVIN' was when the men of the show sang "Twist and Shout," leaving the women of the show onstage, and going out into the audience. The women of the show retaliated with "Satisfaction," and the acting (as well as the vocals) through these two numbers was so excellently done. I loved it. I won't spoil the rest of the audience interactions for you, but let's just say that the GROOVIN' rendition of "Let's Get It On" was one of the funniest things I have witnessed.

Broadway Palm's GROOVIN' may not be targeted at my own generation, but I still knew most of the songs--and even if I hadn't, the cast and musicians of the show made the production well worth seeing. Also, the food (especially the the peanut butter pie and coconut macaroons) at Broadway Palm is delicious. The "dinner" part of this dinner theatre never disappoints, just like their shows.

I have to give Broadway Palm an extra special mention in this review. They have done some slight renovations at their theatre--replacing all of the flooring--and even this little touch has added such a nice feel to Broadway Palm. Whether you were thinking about seeing GROOVIN' or another upcoming production, I highly recommend doing so, just to see how nice everything looks at the theatre.

Broadway Palm's GROOVIN' is playing now through October 7. Performances are Wednesday through Sunday evenings, with select matinees. Broadway Palm is having a GROOVIN' special, since it is the season opener. All tickets for a meal and the show are only $45. Also, Broadway Palm is donating $5 from EVERY ticket purchase for GROOVIN' from now until the show closes to hurricane relief efforts. You can get tickets by calling Broadway Palm at (239) 278-4422, ordering them online through their website, BroadwayPalm.com, or stopping by their box office at 1380 Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers, FL.