“Read. Read. Read. Don’t just read one type of book. Read different books by various authors so that you develop different styles.” ~ R. L Stine
What a wonderful quote! What I love is that this quote can be used across interests. Don’t just try one sport. Don’t just watch one kind of movie. Don’t just see one type of show. R. L. Stine has influenced writers and encouraged a love of reading for individuals of all ages all over the world. His Goosebumps series sparked an interest in books in readers that may have not been interested before. The love of his stories was so strong that it moved onto television shows, movies, and even the theatre.
My boys love the Goosebumps books and movies so I was so excited to see that The Growing Stage was offering a stage adaptation. I had no idea Goosebumps was offered as a musical so I was intrigued. The Growing Stage always does a wonderful job with family friendly productions so I knew this unique show would be no different. I had no idea what to expect but I have to say that GOOSEBUMPS The Musical: Phantom of the Auditorium was fantastic!
With a book and lyrics by John Maclay and music and lyrics by Danny Abosch, GOOSEBUMPS The Musical was entertaining from start to finish. The story follows 2 high school best friends Brooke and Zeke, played by Aycka Lima and Dan F. Sims, as they audition for the newest high school musical, The Phantom. They are elated when they learn they have been chosen for the leads. What they didn’t know was that this show had an eerie history at their school. One might even say the show was cursed. I won’t give anything else away but I can say audience members will go on a fun and spooky journey to solve the mystery.
Photo Provided by The Growing Stage
Directed by Stephen L. Fredericks, GOOSEBUMPS The Musical offers both suspense and humor at the same time. Aycka and Dan did a wonderful job bringing the audience members on the journey with them. We could feel their excitement about being cast as the leads, something they have always wanted, but we could also feel their fear and nervousness as they tried to find out who the Phantom really was. My favorite character in the show was Tina, played by Brianna Martinez. She was the sassy teenager who was mad about being the understudy instead of the lead. Her sarcasm was met with the perfect facial expressions that really told her story. Although she wanted to be in the spotlight, you can clearly see that she wants the show to be successful in the end.
It was also so nice to see familiar Growing Stage faces like Na’Jee Tariq and Dave Cameron. Na’Jee plays Emile, the night janitor while Dave plays Brian, the transfer student from Indiana. Both played their roles brilliantly. Na’Jee’s voice is so amazing that he gave me chills every time he sang. I also really enjoyed Samantha Resnick’s portrayal of Ms. Walker. She truly embodied the role of the drama teacher trying to prove her worth.
Photo Provided by The Growing Stage
My family and I really enjoyed GOOSEBUMPS The Musical: Phantom of the Auditorium. It was the perfect marriage between the Goosebumps stories and a classic Broadway production. This is a family friendly show that all ages can enjoy so don’t miss your chance. The show runs Friday, Saturday, and Sunday through October 30. To purchase tickets, visit The Growing Stage website.