The Cher Show (Broadway Touring) at Starlight Theatre, Kansas City MO (2024-05-28 through 06-02)

“If you’re waiting for someone to believe in you, you’ll be waiting forever. You must Believe in yourself” – Cher

That credo, an unbridled determination, and her strong personality and unfiltered attitude (along with some luck and opportunity) helped define Cher into the mega-star she has become over the last six decades.

In some overdue appreciation, she’s been selected for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this October and this now-touring stage musical chronicles the many ups and downs of her life, set to the soundtrack of so many familiar and classic hit songs.

The Cher Show production has rolled into Kansas City, to open the season outdoors at Starlight Theatre, playing through June 2. We were fortunate to attend opening night on a weather-perfect evening under the stars.

The Cher Show is a so-called 'jukebox musical' with a book by Rick (Jersey Boys, Peter and the Starcatcher) Elice, with the part of Cher played by not one but three actresses (similar, but different in approach to the recent MJ: The Musical which also used three actors in different life stages).

Ella Perez as "Babe" portrays her in the 1950s and 60s as a young teenager; Catherine Ariale as "Lady" embodies the 1970s rising sensation, and the show is anchored by Morgan Scott as “Star”, the reborn and evolved diva of the 1980s, ‘90s, and today. The three 'ages' often interact with each other, sing in duets and as an ensemble, and help each other out at various points.

The musical began as a Lab in 2017 in NYC, followed by its world premiere in Chicago, in June 2018, then opened on Broadway that December. It would go on to win Tony Awards for Stephanie J. Block (Lead Actress in a Musical) and for Bob Mackie (Costume Design for a Musical). After a pandemic delay, the touring version has hit the road, directed by Casey Hushion and choreographed by Antoinette DiPietropolo, with scenic design by Kelly James Tighe, and lighting design by Charlie Morrison.

Outdoor live theater, it must be said, is a different experience than inside a typical hall, with the elements of the immediate surroundings becoming a shared and ancillary part of the overall, perhaps more immersive. A passing siren, an overhead helicopter, and occasional moth flying through your eye line are all a part of the whole. There’s some added collective awareness, knowing the actors on stage are hearing and seeing the very same things that the audience does.

We’ve come to expect from these so-called “jukebox musicals” that the songs don’t necessarily all follow chronological order, and that’s forgivable only when used for dramatic effect, and those changes did work effectively for this production – 1989’s comeback hit, “If I Could Turn Back Time” is a perfect opening number- full of energy and sets up the storytelling method of the musical, and that same year’s “Just Like Jesse James” seemed tailor-made to introduce Gregg Allman, just after the start of the second act.

The story divides itself into two halves- the young Cher- just starting out and meeting Svengali Sonny Bono (played with infectious enthusiasm by a height-accurate Lorenzo Pugliese), and their eventual marriage and subsequent split. The second half devotes itself to Cher on her own – left virtually penniless after leaving Sonny (similar to Tina Turner leaving Ike with nothing), her venture into stage and film acting, and the musical resurgence that's cemented her legacy as a major star.

There are a few unexpected guest stars (Dave Clark Five, Lucille Balll, Robert Altman) but were all deemed important enough in Cher’s life to warrant an appearance. After Sonny and Cher, the show’s bonafide third star of the show- designer Bob Mackie (played by the exuberant Tyler Pirrung) and his fabulous gowns and dresses- make their appearance two-thirds through the first act, and a montage of his most famous and familiar designs for the entertainer, is dutifully worked in.

There are supposedly over 650 different costumes used throughout the show, including the vintage miniskirts and hippie clothing from the 50’s into the '60's and onward. But it’s clearly the color-popping, lavish, costly, and revealing Mackie designs that are the wardrobe jewel, and dominated CBS primetime in the 1970’s when he dressed Cher, as well as Carol Burnett, Liza Minelli, Bernadette Peters, and other starlets of the era.

The set itself filled just over 2/3rds of the available Starlight stage and was overall somewhat minimal, made up for by dramatic lightning and video projections (created by Tighe and Jonathan Infante) that emulated television broadcast sets, backstage rooms, and locations, with moving panels that could change the setting in seconds.

And it was an interesting narrative device to have the three ‘ages’ of Cher interact together so much – both to all sing and harmonize (proving there’s vocal strength in numbers) as well as to have the character’s meet to discuss and evaluate some of the life choices and circumstances (both good and bad), that occurred along the way. Scott in particular, as “Star” not only displays a confidence as the elder Cher but was entrancing and commanded the stage during her solos and dramatic moments.

Other highlights included the touching ballad, “Song for the Lonely”, Cher’s heartfelt eulogy after Sonny passes away, and the final redemption of an icon (personified by her biggest hit, 1998's joyous "Believe") who experienced so much, but still managed to do things her way.

The Cher Show plays in Kansas City at Starlight Theatre through Sunday, June 2 with Tickets available here: Events | Kansas City Starlight Theatre (kcstarlight.com)

  (National Tour Photos by Meredith Mashburn provided by their website) / Click on any image to enlarge and see in full)