I'm delighted to report that Zanna Don't, the show I've been most looking
forward to this summer, has lived up to all my expectations, turning out to be
the best and brightest small stage musical of the season, and this Ovation
season's best L.A. mounted musical bar none. Anyone who doesn't head right
over to West Coast Ensemble's Silverlake stage to see this magical marvel of a
musical will be guilty of extreme theatrical negligence.

For those who may not have heard of Zanna Don't:
a) it has no connection with the film/Broadway musical Zannadu
b) it was an off-Broadway hit a few years back starring Jai Rodriguez, around
the time he went on to Queer Eye fame
c) it's the story of a world (more specifically a high school world) where gay is
the norm, chess champs trump football quarterbacks in popularity and sex
appeal, and a school musical about straights in the military sparks major small
town controversy.

There are countless reasons why WCE's L.A./West Coast/First time out of New
York premiere of Zanna Don't works to perfection, but the top three are:
1) Tim Acito's book, music, and lyrics
2) Nick DeGruccio's direction
3) Danny Calvert's performance as Zanna

Acito has written one of the cleverest books in memory, his lyrics are often
hysterically funny, and his music ranges from the romantic bounce of "I Think
We Got Love" to the wild west raunch of "Ride 'Em" to the exquisite beauty of
"Do You Know What It's Like?"

Masterful Nick DeG was the perfect choice to direct Zanna Don't. A fantastic
musical performer in his own right, DeGruccio has become L.A.'s premier
musical theater director. He gets masterful performances from his young and
youngish cast, and there is not a dull moment from curtain up to curtain call.

Danny Calvert is New York's latest and greatest gift to Los Angeles. Seen
recently recreating his off-Broadway role as Mark in MTW's Altar Boyz (where
he dazzled and delighted audiences with Mark's innocent swish and soaring
high notes), Calvert creates a Zanna with a tenderness and depth that few
other actors could even imagine achieving. Because the audience can't help
but love Calvert, they can't help but love Zanna, the character, and Zanna
Don't, the show. And that amazing Danny Calvert voice once again soars in
the show stopping "Someday You Might Love Me."

Speaking of showstoppers, I can't recall a musical with more of them: "Who's
Got Extra Love," "I Ain't Got Time," "Ride 'Em," "Be A Man," and "Fast" all elicit
loud cheers and long applause, and the first act's not over yet.

Credit choreographers Christine Lakin and Paul Nygro for one great musical
number after another. The sensational cast of 8 are up to the challenge, and
clearly having a ball, and their enthusiasm transfers quickly to the audience.

Calvert's Altar Boyz costar Dan Pacheco does his best work yet as boyishly
charming Mike, the uberpopular chess champ who falls for the always
first-rate Brent Shindele, who adds yet another feather to his musical theater
leading man cap as football jock Steve. Pacheco gets to sing one of Zanna
Don't's best ballads "I Could Write Books," and lead off the heartbreaking
quartet "Do You Know What It's Like?--and he's wonderful.

Their female counterparts are redheaded stunner Rebecca Johnson as
girl-next-door Kate and adorably tomboyish Natalie Monahan as
booty-blessed Roberta. Big voiced Johnson duets with Shindele in the
deliciously overwrought "Don't Ask Don't Tell" and Monahan tears down the
house when she belts out the girl-power anthem "I Ain't Got Time."

Brian Weir wins hearts as DJ Tank, a character who moves from background
to center stage at the show's romantic climax. I've been a Weir fan for years,
and it's a joy to see him cast in such a good role.

Finally, there are a pair of absolutely sensational supporting turns by Matthew
Rocheleau and Justine Valdez, who know how to steal every scene they're in.
Rocheleau is a hoot as nerdy Buck (amongst other roles) and Valdez elicits
laughs galore as (among others) go-getter Candy and big haired country gal
Loretta.

All of these performances benefit immeasurably from musical director Bill
Brown's one man band. With a single keyboard, Brown manages to sound
nearly as big as the off-Broadway original's four piece ensemble.

Every production element contributes to this gorgeously candy colored treat,
from Tom Buderwitz's set to A. Jeffrey Schoenberg's costumes to Lisa D. Katz's
lighting to Cricket S. Myer's sound design. All are masters at the top of their
craft.

If audience reaction is any gauge of a show's success, this could be West
Coast Ensemble's biggest hit ever. This is a show which everyone but the most
closed-minded will love, gay/straight/married/single/old/young, etc. It's the
perfect Silverlake show, and with word of mouth, as well as the rave reviews
it's already started to garner, Zanna Don't is certain to be drawing adoring
crowds for months to come.

"Zanna, Don't!" Lyric-Hyperion Theatre, 2106 Hyperion Ave., Silver Lake. 8 p.m.
Fridays and Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays. Ends Sept. 2. $32. (323) 906-2500 or
www.tix.com. Running time: 2 hours, 25 minutes.

--Steven Stanley