Bucket List of Unbroken Dreams the Musical a musical about daring to dream
Shows
“Bucket List of Unbroken Dreams (B-LOUD)” premiered at the Strand Theater in January 2012. Both opening performances sold out, so due to popular demand the show returned to the Strand for three additional performances in February.
The Strand Theater, located in Seymour, CT, still bears its original neon marquee and is one of the last single-screen movie houses in Connecticut. In the past year, the Strand has begun to open its doors to live theater again.
Review of February 25th Performance by Naugatuck Patch writer Nancy Sasso Janis
“Bucket List of Unbroken Dreams follows Erin K. Moffat on a quest to ‘unbreak’” her broken childhood dreams. Watch as her past and present collide on her journey to rewrite her childhood. The show is an original musical featuring a unique blend of sketch comedy, show tunes, modern beats, movie shorts and live theater!”
This is how Ms. Moffat describes her original show; while it is all correct, it doesn’t really do this wonderful event justice. This young lady has cleverly designed a montage of her favorite things to entertain and often move the audience, all while making them laugh. I was invited by the very talented composer of the music, young Bradley Scoville, to attend one of the added performances with a complimentary ticket. Open seating allowed me to sit in the second row and the house at the Strand Theater was quite full at this Saturday night performance. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Scoville before the show began and he told me that while he composed the music on the piano, he would be playing mostly bass with the band because he can “rock out” better on it. I enjoyed hearing how he had crafted the musical scores on his Mac and all about the serendipitous meeting that led this collaboration.
The show began with a short film which introduced the cast a la an eighties sitcom and it featured the title song. The first act also included a rap song about Annie (“Red Dress Rap”) and a very clever homage to Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci and her coach Béla Károly. A Full House fan during her childhood, the author also wrote a cute piece about “hot” John Stamos. Before the intermission, an audience member was chosen to learn the choreography for a song in the second act (which was a dream of Ms. Moffat.)
My favorite numbers were in the second act. “Disney-Aholics” opened with another short film and featured an especially lovely (male) Cinderella. “Halls of High School” was especially well-staged and well-sung and reminded me of Rent. “This is the Soap Opera Song” was also a filmed piece and was hysterical. A video opened “Everyone Wants to be Annie” and then actors continued the bit onstage. The final song, “Waiting in the Wings,” was the very best because of the staging and the beautiful arrangement. It also allowed Ms. Moffat to show off her beautiful voice.
Ms. Moffat’s script was very funny and included many pop culture and even local references. The featured ensemble was composed of actors of all ages and every one of them did a great job. Young Emily Pisani Little Miss Moffat was adorable and at the other end of the “years young” spectrum was my pal Rosemary Westhaver in the adult roles.
The costumes by Kellie Winters Moffat were appropriately quirky. The musicians, “BF Jammers,” are all friends of Mr. Scoville and were perfectly in sync. Erin K. Moffat directed the performers, in addition to choreographing the entire show. A talented comedic actress, this young lady was very impressive. It left me wondering how she had been cut from shows in her youth, because she clearly is a star.
Strand Theater
165 Main Street, Seymour, CT
The theatre is easily accessible off of Route 8 or Route 67. A map is provided below. Click the link below and enter your location to get detailed directions to the venue.