By Jeanni Ritchie
Our destination was Northwestern State University. The mission was an evening of food and musical fun. We were ready.
When my mom and I arrived on the NSU campus for the Summer Dinner Theatre’s premiere presentation of Destination Rock and Roll last night, we were excited. It had been almost three decades since we attended a dinner theater show together, a monthly occurrence in my childhood.
We were seated at a table with three married couples, two from Natchitoches and one visiting from Texas. We were soon greeted by two castmates, junior Mia Rodriguez and senior Madeline Grant, who warmly welcomed us and provided five-star service.
“Serve and sing, that’s part of the job,” senior Phoenix Aura Woods explained when my seatmate asked if she was also in the show while clearing our plates. This is her third year to do the show and she absolutely loves being involved not just with the performance, but serving the guests as well.
After the delicious four-course meal (Mom had the Rock n Roll Chicken; I had the We Got the Beef), we joined our tablemates for an evening of music, laughter, and memories.
Directed and choreographed by Pia Wyatt, the show featured Grant, Rodriguez, Woods, Charlysse Casma, and Leah Thompson with musical direction by Daniel Ley and arrangements by Mark Bymer.
With songs from Elvis to Kelly Clarkson, the musical hits kept coming at a fever pitch. This talented cast did not disappoint.
I began thinking Woods was destined for musical greatness when she began singing Puppy Love. There was zero doubt following her performance of Good Lovin’. She was amazing.
The songs were Interspersed with tidbits about rock and roll history, delightfully presented by Casma and the others. I nudged my Texas seatmate during We Will Rock You. He, his wife, and I had discussed which cassettes we wore out in high school and his had been Queen.
The harmonies during Dust in the Wind were stunning. I had to laugh during Bon Jovi’s You Give Love a Bad Name. It had been the very first song at the first concert I ever attended yet it was an oldies tune for these girls! But the age difference melted away when I locked eyes with Grant during It’s My Life. We both knew it’s now or never to follow our dreams, we aren’t going to live forever.
During each song I was thinking Thompson reminded me the most of 19-year old me. When she started singing Sheryl Crow’s All I Wanna Do (is have some fun), I was certain. She was younger me a T!
These young women were incredible as they performed songs that took the audience through decades of memories. My mom reminisced to Connie Francis’ Where the Boys Are while I finally laughed over the memory of my dad playing Fun, Fun, Fun on the stereo in the den the summer I got my Camaro taken away!
The show continues this week through Saturday (June 19-22) and next week Tuesday-Saturday (June 25-29). Tickets can be purchased through https://www.
Jump in the car and set the destination for rock and roll fun!
Jeanni Ritchie is a theatre-loving journalist from Central Louisiana. She can be reached at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com.
