Tyler Hinton

Utah is blessed to see American Idol winner Nick Fradiani, who was Will Swenson’s first replacement in the role on Broadway, as Neil – Then. His robust voice, impressive in its own right, wonderfully encapsulates Diamond’s iconic vocals.

The direction by Leigh Silverman and choreography by Mayte Natalio employ deceptively simple imagery and movement to underscore the fascinating history and Taub’s engrossing storytelling, packing a real punch, visually, mentally, and emotionally.

Tavis Kordell is magnificently poised as Jerry/Daphne, and Matt Loehr brings sharp wit to Joe/Josephine. Leandra Ellis-Gaston draws in elements of original actresses Marilyn Monroe and Adrianna Hicks, along with bits of herself, to her portrayal of Sugar.

The national tour of & JULIET, currently playing at the Eccles Theater in Salt Lake City, is a fizzy, heart-bursting celebration of love and empowerment via the enduring power of pop music. From the first beat to the last, it carries with it a full gamut of emotion from despair to elation and everything in between.

Taha Mandviwala as Pi gives a very physical performance, moving effortlessly through demanding staging, including lifts, fight choreography, and puppet interaction, all without losing his distinctive characterization and a palpable will to live.

Carolee Carmello as Kimberly is absolutely brilliant. She encapsulates teenage angst and complex feelings of abandonment and grief, along with the savoring of simple joys. And her signature sound comes through in her glorious singing even while completely immersing herself in the role.

Hannah Shankman’s Fanny fits firmly among the pantheon of this revival’s Broadway leads, with qualities reminiscent of Beanie Feldstein’s likeable vulnerability, Julie Benko’s resolute determination, and Lea Michele’s steely vocals.

Rob McClure as Daniel is just the right mix of confident and insecure. He radiates love for his children and passion for comedy, and his remarkable performance is relentlessly laugh out loud funny. The remainder of the cast is consistently high quality with Broadway-level experience and chops. Catherine Brunell as Miranda, Giselle Gutierrez as Lydia, and Leo Roberts as Stuart are especially worthy of praise for their vocals and characterizations.

Roman Banks as MJ (with Jamaal Fields-Green as his alternate) and Brandon Lee Harris as Michael are two sides of the same coin, each representing the late king of pop at different ages of his life with empathy and volumes of talent.

Christine Sherrill as Donna (who last played the role in the Las Vegas residency) and Alisa Melendez as Sophie (Broadway’s ALMOST FAMOUS) lead the group with spunk and passion. Victor Wallace was the final person to play Sam on Broadway, and the honor is well deserved. He gives a riveting performance. Fellow Broadway vets Rob Marnell as Harry and Jim Newman as Bill are equally well cast.

Standby Andrew Kober commands the stage with winking brashness as the title character, which he plays on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays (otherwise played by Justin Collette). Isabella Esler’s performance as Lydia is poignant and potent. Will Burton is a delightful Adam and Britney Coleman a wonderful partner as Barbara. Other memorable performers include Jesse Sharp as Charles, Kate Marilley as Delia, Abe Goldfarb as Otho, Jackera Davis as Girl Scout, and Danielle Marie Gonzalez as Miss Argentina.