Jodi Mealey’s pride was showing.
Mealey teared up as she introduced the inaugural performance of Larger than Life Saturday night at the New Richmond High School auditorium.
For Mealey, the Kids From Wisconsin’s performance was a homecoming — she met her husband Matt while performing together with the Kids in 1994.
The production showcased the Mealey's two sons Josh and Kyle both on trumpet along with fellow New Richmond alumni singer/dancer Emily Zeller and understudy Amelai Blasing making the evening even more special.
The New Richmond performance kicked off the KIDS 56th year touring the cream of Wisconsin’s high school theater crop of singers, dancers and musicians.
Saturday’s performance had something for everyone featuring cleverly arranged medleys of songs from Ella Fitzgterald and Elvis Presley to Elton John and AC/DC and choreography from Fred and Ginger to Michael Jackson.
The performance was a little rough around the edges, missing the confidence and coordination that is sure to come with repetition. And the performers getting reps is inevitable — due to a tour of more than 30 shows, concluding with daily performances at the state fair in August. But what was missing in execution was more than made up for in energy and effort.
The pace of the show was professional level with multiple costume changes and choreography that tested the cast’s conditioning.
The show did a masterful job of showcasing the talents of all its performers providing each with their own moment at center stage.
The Mealey brothers commanded the spotlight from opposite sides of the stage during their solos of Chuck Mangione’s Lords of Make Believe much to the delight of the hometown audience.
Zeller reminded the audience why she shined on stage during her New Richmond career, singing several numbers during the show’s opening medley which paid tribute to classic entertainers from Ella Fitzgerald to Diana Ross and again later show’s homage to rock.
For $12, this show was more than worth the price of admission.
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