Show by Show: "Movin' Out"

Now that the 2007-08 season is done, I wanted to take some time to write a little bit more about the shows on our 2008-09 season. There's so much more that can be said about all of the shows beyond the brief event descriptions you've already probably seen.

As it's our top selling show in advance ticket sales, I thought it would be good to start with the Billy Joel, Twyla Tharp dance/musical Movin' Out.

It's safe to say interest in this show is well-founded. Movin' Out opened on Broadway in 2002 and played just over 1300 critically acclaimed performances. The production won two Tonys: Best Choreography for Twyla Tharp and Best Orchestrations for Billy Joel and Stuart Malina.

The show then went on to have a successful US National Tour, which is how I first saw it in 2004.

Movin' Out tells the story of a group of friends growing up in Long Island in the 1960s. Through Tharp's choreography and a selection of Billy Joel hits sung by a band suspended on platforms above the dance floor we get to know Brenda and Eddie ("Scenes from an Italian Restaurant"), James ("James"), Judy ("Why Judy Why"), and Tony (Anthony in "Movin' Out") as they fall in and out of love, deal with the Vietnam War, alcohol and life's other temptations, then stumble into adulthood.

The choreography and dancing are incredible, as are the Billy Joel songs. The songs span Joel's career, from "Cold Spring Harbor" (1971) to "River of Dreams" (1993). "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me," "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant," "We Didn't Start the Fire," "Captain Jack" -- they're all here. As is, for me, the most surprisingly beautiful song inclusion in the show, "Summer, Highland Falls" (see video of Billy singing it below), a lesser known song from his album "Turnstiles" (1976).

Movin' Out comes to the BCPA on Saturday, December 6.

• Running time: One hour and 45 minutes, including one 15 minute intermission.
• The show does contain some strong images of war, addiction, and other adult topics, but should be appropriate for any child you would feel comfortable letting watch a prime time television drama.

Have you seen Movin' Out? Looking forward to seing it for the first time with us? Still need to buy tickets? Contribute your story to the blog by writing me at jaalberts@cityblm.org.