{"id":76313,"date":"2018-12-19T18:25:26","date_gmt":"2018-12-19T23:25:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/review-the-cher-show-inspires-and-dazzles\/"},"modified":"2018-12-19T18:25:26","modified_gmt":"2018-12-19T23:25:26","slug":"review-the-cher-show-inspires-and-dazzles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/review-the-cher-show-inspires-and-dazzles\/","title":{"rendered":"REVIEW: \u2018The Cher Show\u2019 Inspires and Dazzles"},"content":{"rendered":"

REVIEW: \u2018The Cher Show\u2019 Inspires and Dazzles<\/b><\/p>\n

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There are few superstars who are as deeply bonded to the LGBTQ community as Cher- and specific to GLAAD, she\u2019s been working with us for years to help accelerate acceptance. She was honored with the Vanguard Award in 1998 for her allyship, and she presented the Stephen F. Kolzak Award to her son Chaz in 2012.\u00a0 So, when given the opportunity to see the new Broadway musical based on her life, I jumped at the chance…and you should too!<\/p>\n

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The glistening, over the top, 2 \u00bd hour spectacle now showing at the Neil Simon Theatre has some definite queer references (more on that later\u2026) but more than anything, the show is both uplifting and inspiring (we all need more of that these days!) as we learn that the larger-than-life diva we all recognize today was once a shy, awkward girl<\/a> trying to find her place in the world.<\/p>\n

In a situation that many of us can relate to, we see young Cherilyn Sarkisian (aka Cher) having a tough time fitting in.\u00a0 The kids at school make fun of her for her looks, especially because she is \u201cdarker\u201d than most of them.\u00a0 Her mother, Georgia (played by Emily Skinner) reassures her \u201cYou\u2019re not a freak.\u201d<\/p>\n

A lot of the dialogue in the show speaks directly to Cher\u2019s queer fan base- at one point she addresses the crowd as, \u201cLadies and gentlemen\u2014and flamboyant gentlemen!\u201d\u00a0 The show has A LOT\u2026I mean A LOT of guy<\/a> candy- the company of male<\/a> dancers are always dressed to show off their impressive physiques.\u00a0 But perhaps taking the cake for the show\u2019s most \u201cfabulous\u201d moment is the Bob Mackie fashion show number where we are taken on a walk down iconic-Cher-fashion-moment memory lane!\u00a0 And yes even one of the male<\/a> dancers dresses in one of her most risqu\u00e9, body-baring ensembles.<\/p>\n

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I was thrilled to see that the show only referred to Chaz with he\/him pronouns and the name he uses today.<\/p>\n

WATCH: Cher On The First Gay Men She Ever Met<\/a><\/p>\n

By now, you\u2019ve probably heard that there are three actresses who play Cher at varying points in her life.\u00a0 Micaela Diamond plays timid and insecure, Babe; Teal Wicks is the spitfire finding her voice, Lady; and Stephanie J. Block sparkles as Star, the icon who will always be ready to re-invent herself.\u00a0 Without giving away too much, you will be surprised to see how much these actresses get to work TOGETHER on stage.<\/p>\n

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The production which is directed by Jason Moore and choreographed by Christopher Gattelli, does an impressive job at working in Cher\u2019s smash hits into the big moments of her life.\u00a0 For example we hear the actors sing lines of her 1998 comeback smash \u201cBelieve\u201d decades earlier when she is just starting to get her footing.\u00a0 All of her hits from the past six decades are included.\u00a0 Expect to be lip-synching along to \u201cHalf Breed,\u201d \u201cIf I Could Turn Back Time,\u201d \u201cStrong Enough,\u201d Heart Of Stone,\u201d \u201cI Got You Babe\u201d and even a big finale that includes \u201cA Woman\u2019s World\u201d and \u201cTake Me Home.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Tickets for “The Cher Show” are available now<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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December 19, 2018<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Issues:\u00a0<\/div>\n