New comedy ‘Bring It On: The Musical’ to headline at the Fox

With an all-star team of writers, composers and actors, it is no wonder that people are raving about “Bring It On: the Musical.”

Currently on tour, “Bring It On” has been entertaining audiences throughout the U.S. and Canada. Many theatre-goers predict that the show will make it to Broadway by the end of the year.

In the musical, the popular cheerleading captain at Truman High School, Campbell (played by Taylor Louderman), is redistricted to gritty Jackson High, where she must gain the confidence of her new classmates in order to create a cheer squad that can win at nationals.

Jason Gotay, who plays Campbell’s boyfriend Randall in the show, said that if you had told him a year ago that he would be working with his idols from “In the Heights,” “Avenue Q” and “Next to Normal,” he would not have believed it. Gotay, the final person to be cast in “Bring It On,” attended an open call audition in New York City, which was held specifically for Gotay’s part. The whole audition process took a week, and Gotay said it was “kind of like a miracle” when he landed the part just a month before rehearsals began last year.

Hailing from Brooklyn, Gotay has been performing since elementary school.

“At 10 or 11, my interest really piqued, and it hasn’t gotten old yet!” Gotay said.

This is his first national tour, and Gotay speaks highly of the experience.

“It’s kind of magical going around the country,” Gotay said. “Every week or two weeks you’re in a new theater, and there’s so much history in these theaters! You get to experience what it’s like playing for a crowd that’s unique to that area of the country.”

The cast features several young actors, with the oldest member of the ensemble  being just 27 years old. Many have competed nationally as cheerleaders, while others were trained at music theatre conservatories. The “quadruple-threat” cast includes singers, dancers, actors and athletes.

And although fans of the movie “Bring It On” are sure to love the musical, they will not be seeing the same story.

“I was surprised that the musical is completely different from the movie,” Gotay said. “There are entirely new characters, but some of the themes are very similar. The audiences are really loving the new level of originality.”

One exciting difference between the movie and musical is the live cheer routines. Instead of showing 30-second clips of a cheer, as in the movie, audiences get to see the entire daredevil routine live.

“The hip-hop, dance and cheer routines are unreal,” said Gotay. “Anyone can come in and connect to this show . . . it’s just pure fun.”

Behind the curtain are Director Andy Blankenbuehler, who won numerous awards for his direction and choreography with “In the Heights;” Librettist Jeff Whitty, who wrote the hilarious, Tony award-winning book for “Avenue Q;” Lin-Manuel Miranda, also of “In The Heights” fame; Tom Kitt, composer of “Next to Normal,” who co-composed the score; and Producers Kristin Caskey and Mike Isaacson, who have co-produced multiple hits, including “Legally Blonde.”

“Bring It On: the Musical” will be showing at the Fabulous Fox Theatre from Tuesday, March 27 through Sunday, April 8. Show times vary by day.

For more information on the production and to purchase tickets, visit http://www.fabulousfox.com/.