“Crazy For You”
Goodspeed Musicals
Goodspeed Musicals is currently presenting a joyful, tap happy production of the Gershwin musical, “Crazy For You.” With a book by Ken Ludwig and employing a raft of George and Ira Gershwin tunes, this show is almost certain to put a big smile on your face. The cast, led by the wonderful Will Burton and Brittany Zeinstra, is tops at tapping and putting over all of the delightful musical numbers. This production is under the steady, sure hand of director Michael Fling, who also works splendidly with choreographer Kelli Barclay. “Crazy For You” was a huge hit in 1992 when it opened on Broadway and this current production at Goodspeed Musicals demonstrates just how entertaining this show truly is. “Crazy For You” is a pleasure to watch and try to get tickets while you can.
On the relatively small stage at Goodspeed Musicals, the excellent scenic design by Ann Beyerdorfer has been nicely scaled down to suit the smaller theater. And this production cannot really match the number of chorus girls that “Crazy For You” employed on Broadway. That said, everything works excellently in this show, which is tuneful, funny, and inventive. Focusing on the characters of Bobby Child and Polly Baker, who have more than a few run-ins and complications in their relationship, the plot of “Crazy For You” is essentially about putting on a show in the grand style of Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland. That said, it is the parade of silvery Gershwin songs that ultimately helps to make the show so much fun.
As Bobby Child, the loose-limbed, engaging Will Burton is just perfect and he demonstrates top-notch tap dancing, among other assets. His rendition of “I Can’t Be Bothered Now” gets the show started spectacularly and Burton also is fantastic in the songs “Things Are Looking Up” and his several duets with his leading lady Polly. Brittany Zeinstra really shines as Polly and she brings a lovely combination of toughness and vulnerability to her part; her singing of “Someone to Watch Over Me” is absolutely heart melting. Indeed, this actress is so outstanding that if any theater company is looking for an Annie Oakley for their production of “Annie Get Your Gun,” I doubt that they could do better than casting Zeinstra.
And, if the two leads are extremely well chosen, the rest of the company is just as winning. In the dual roles of Bobby Child’s mother and archeologist Patricia, Michele Ragusa has a great deal of fun with both parts. Polly’s father, Everett Baker, is portrayed by Jeremy Davis and he makes more out of this role than I have ever previously seen, especially being able to tap dance with the best of them. David Andrew Morton is just right as Lank and he certainly meets his match in Hailey Thomas, as the upper crust Irene Roth. Thomas gets the sexy number, “Naughty Baby,” in the second act and she practically stops the show with her sly combination of sensuousness and stunning vocals.
As the Florenz Ziegfeld character in the show, Bela Zangler, Edward Juvier is ideal and, when he duets with Boland as Bobby at the beginning of the second act in the raucous song “What Causes That?”, these two actors offer a masterclass in comedic acting and singing. Bringing to mind the immortal routine of Lucille Ball and Harpo Marx being mirror images of each other, Juvier and Boland are pretty fabulous and they seem to be having the time of their lives.
The entire chorus of performers is truly stellar and the stylish costumes designed by Joseph Shrope help to shape each of the characters. And then there is the panoply of tap dancing, which raises the roof. Chorographer Kelli Barclay certainly has big shoes to fill considering that Susan Stroman was the original choreographer on Broadway. But Barclay is brilliant, using some of the original ideas employed by Stroman and then going off in fresh and effervescent ways that makes her work entirely new. The big numbers “Slap That Bass” and especially the first act finale “I Got Rhythm” are perhaps most scintillating, but all the dancing in this “Crazy For You” is terrific.
The orchestra, led by the expert music director Adam Souza, sounds great and the lighting design by Paige Seber seems to sculpt every scene and number. In addition, Jay Hilton’s sound design is pitch perfect. Director Michael Fling certainly has worked miracles with Goodspeed Musicals’ production of “Crazy For You” and there is so much happiness and infectiousness in this show that it practically fills the entire theater. “Crazy For You” is a triumph and it would certainly be crazy to miss it.
“Crazy For You” runs through August 16, 2026, at Goodspeed Musicals, 6 Main St., East Haddam CT. For tickets and information, please call 860-873-8668 or visit Goodspeed.org.
Photo: Brittany Zeinstra and Will Burton
Photo by Diane Sobolewski
Reviews by Zander Opper 