By James V. Ruocco
As the cast of "Zanna Don't!" take their place on the Connecticut Theatre Company stage for a harmonic, perfectly pitched vocal warm-up led by musical director Nick Stanford, it's obvious this very talented group of eight are having the time of their lives.
They are smiling.
They are bonding.
They are committed.
They are having fun.
That camaraderie comes full circle when Stanford asks them to sing "Sometime, Do You Think We Could Fall in Love?" the closing song of the "Zanna Don't!" finale.
It also prompts the obvious question: What exactly is "Zanna Don't!"
Is it a sequel to "Xanadu," the 1980 cinematic musical fantasy that starred Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly?
Does it further the musical exploits of the 2007 Broadway musical adaptation of the same name?
Is it set in outer space?
The answer to all these questions is "Absolutely not."
"It's a show that first came about in the early 2000's," explains "Zanna Don't!" director Duane Campbell. "I got the CD recording from the off-Broadway production and listened to it and just thought it was a cool concept for a show.
"It was unique. Lots of people don't know it. It's something that's not done. So, I wanted to do it here."
Written by Tim Acito (book and music) and Alexander Dinelaris (lyrics), "Zanna Don't!" is a 2003 off-Broadway musical that has achieved worldwide success over the last twenty years with subsequent productions staged worldwide in San Francisco, London, Germany, New Zealand, Atlanta, Australia and Fort Lauderdale.
"It's a very fun show," says "Zanna Don't!" cast member Erin Aldrich. "It's super campy. You'll definitely be laughing. There's a lot of talent up there on the stage and behind the scenes as well."
It's very traditional musical theater," adds cast member Brandon Gregorie. "Campy and really diving deep into a character and trying to find out how you could show different aspects of the character you are playing."
Set in a candy-coated parallel universe where being gay is the norm and heterosexuality is taboo, "Zanna Don't!" trips the light fantastic when a pair of opposite-sex high school students at Heartsville High find themselves falling in love, thus, causing immediate chaos amongst the teen populace, led by Zanna, the local, fun-loving matchmaker.
The action, set in mid-west America, begins on the first day of the academic school year and concludes with a gala celebration at the high school prom.
"The show takes the fairy tale concept and looks at it in a world where every single character across the board is gay," reports Campbell. "Instead of having a mom and dad, they have two dads or two moms.
"All of the high school students are dealing with issues and concepts that we deal with every day but though a reverse lens.
So, when it comes time to do the high school musical, they decide to so a show about straights in the military and try to promote heterosexuality."
Now in rehearsal for a September 8th opening at Connecticut Theatre Company (23 Norden Street, New Britain, CT), "Zanna Don't!" stars Charlie Hartel as Zanna, Erin Aldrich as Roberta, Staci Battle as Steve, Brandon Gregoire as Mike, Emma Gulick as Kate, Isabella Carvalho as Tank, Allie Reya as Arvin and Alexis Dasher as Candi.
Although the "don't ask, don't tell" policy is played for laughs along with plenty of inbred humor about "horrible heterosexuals," within all the silliness of Tim Acito's playscript, "Zanna Don't!" is not without a purpose. It not only shows what is like to be bullied when choosing an alternate lifestyle but comes packaged with valuable lessons about being shunned in the workplace, the military, academia and at the high school prom.
"I am a part of the LGBT community," says Erin Aldrich. "This is a very queer themed show. So, it feels very important to me because it's advocating for equal rights but in a silly, fun way so that you don't feel like you're being reprimanded and taught.
"There are a lot of jokes about stereotypes and there are things that homophobic, bigoted people say about gay people but just turned right around and aimed at straight people.
"The show also points how silly those things are especially when you turn them around."
A musical with plenty of heart and soul, "Zanna Don't!" unfolds through a colorful, tuneful patchwork of nineteen songs including "Who's Got Extra Love?" "I Think We Got Love," "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," "I Could Write Books," "Don't You Wish We Could Fall in Love?" "Straight to Heaven," "Someday You Might Love Me" and "Sometime, Do You Think We Could Fall in Love?"
First and foremost, "Zanna Don't" is an entertainment that's meant to be shared and enjoyed by everyone who has purchased a ticket.
Gay.
Straight.
Transgender.
No-binary.
No matter.
" 'Zanna Don't' is about acceptance and love and empathy," Gregorie confesses. "No matter who you are, how you identify, it's just a people loving show."
"This is a really important story for people like me," adds Aldrich. "And I really wanted to be part of the storytelling.
"It's a reverse coming out story - but coming out as straight instead of coming out as gay."
"It covers all facets because it ends up dealing with both worlds," explains Campbell.
Despite its newness and unfamiliarity outside of the theater community, cast member Charlie Hartel believes that a visit to Connecticut Stage Company in New Britain is well worth the trip.
"The main reason you should come to see 'Zanna' is because it celebrates everyone - no matter who you are, no matter where you come from no matter who you love.
"It's also the most colorful musical I've ever been a part of both in set, costumes and characters. It's all sparkly and glittery and it's pretty much in your face but in a good way."
Rehearsing the two-act musical has not only been especially fun for Hartel, but the entire process itself, as shaped by Connecticut Theatre Company, is particularly special.
"Pretty much every character you see in the show is gay or presents themselves as gay. And in our cast, the characters and actors we have are trans people, queer people or both."
But wait, there's more.
"Some of the characters were originally written as male characters but we have trans people playing them, so we've changed who they are a little bit, which I think is amazing.
I also like the fact that CTC was willing to do that and support their actors as well."
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