It has been more than four decades since the national and world-wide explosion of excitement surrounding the debut of the classic Sci-Fi adventure film, BACK TO THE FUTURE.
Packing theaters from coast to coast, it would not only become the highest-grossing movie of 1985 ($360.6 million worldwide), but would go on to be an international sensation, even launching a Part 2 (1989), and a Part 3 (1990), to complete the epic trilogy. Masterminding this phenomenal success were the story creators, Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, who have now combined forces with producer, Colin Ingram, to bring this adventure to a whole new level with BACK TO THE FUTURE: the Musical.
With direction by Grammy Award winner, John Rando, this production, based on the Universal Pictures/Amblin Entertainment film, will be thrilling Houston audiences at the Hobby Center through April 5 of this week. So yes, it’s time for Houstonians to fasten their intergalactic seatbelts for a trip to another dimension.
Interestingly set in the year of the film’s premier, 1985, the action unfolds in the pleasant small California town of Hill Valley, hometown of young teenage rock-n-roll guitarist, Marty McFly (Caden Brauch). It is safe to assume that it is no accident that handsome Mr. Brauch bears a striking resemblance to the young Michael J. Fox, who originated the role of Marty in the classic film. Fans of the film will also be glad to learn that in addition to the show’s original music (Alan Silvestri) and lyrics (Glen Ballard), songs like, “The Power of Love,” “Earth Angel,” “Johnny B. Goode,” and “Back in Time,” continue to add to the fun. Marty lives in Hill Valley with his mom, Lorraine (Zan Berube), and his somewhat introverted father, George (Burke Swanson).
Marty has a sweet girlfriend, Jennifer (Kiara Lee), and also has an eccentric friend named Doc Brown (Don Stephanson). Doc could safely be put in the “mad scientist” category, having just developed a customized version of the exotic, but briefly popular car of the time, the DeLorean. But his is no ordinary automobile, and when Doc’s experiment results in his sudden illness, Marty hops in the car to speed off and get medical assistance, only to discover that, in reality, the car is a kind of time machine that suddenly thrusts him back three decades to the year 1955. He lands right there in his very same hometown, but adding to the fun, it is a time before he was even born.
Along the way he and his then teenage dad-to-be have some difficult encounters with the town bully, Biff Tannen (Ethan Rogers), and his gang of tough guys. A further complication is when Marty meets his thirty years younger, future-mother-to-be, Lorraine. As a young high school girl she has an eye for a cute guy, and quickly develops a crush on Marty, little knowing he is her future “son-to-be.” Marty has to distance himself from that scenario lest Lorraine never meet George at the high school dance to kiss and fall in love, as family lore had always had it.
Meanwhile, actor Cartreze Tucker handles the tricky dual role of portraying both the future town Mayor, Goldie Wilson, as well as a musician named Marvin Berry. And speaking of music, in a show jam packed with some thirty musical numbers, there are plenty of chances for the ensemble to show off the high-energy dance designs of choreographer Chris Bailey. From the Jitterbugs and Lindies of the 1950’s, to even some touches of break-dancing in the 80’s, eye-popping fun abounds.
If you find yourself wondering how the intersection of all these intriguing plotlines can be resolved, why not consider a trip to Houston’s Hobby Center this week? For many old-timers in the crowd with fond memories of the film, this show is bound to be a time machine of its own.
Tickets start at just $46, and are available online at TUTS.org, or by contacting the TUTS Box Office by phone at (713) 558-8887 or in person by visiting the Box Office located at 800 Bagby Street.
The columns of David Dow Bentley III have appeared on Broadway websites, in newspapers from the East Coast to the Gulf Coast, and may be viewed online at the website: www.ThePeoplesCritic.com. E-mail may be directed to ThePeoplesCritic3@gmail.com