Written by Jeff Favre
Directed by Rachel Maize & Jeff Favre
Music and Lyrics by Missy Gibson & Mike Flanagan
Starring Missy Gibson of the critically acclaimed band Breech
"Missy Gibson has an alluring voice . . . I'm
compelled to listen over and over." - GoGirlsMusic.com
Produced by Racquel Lehrman, Theatre Planners
Publicity Lucy Pollak
REVIEWS:
L.A. Times - Pick of the Week
"its tuneful take on '80s music, art, commerce, parents and children is often quite winning ... there's much to enjoy in this unexpectedly invigorating crowd-pleaser."
-David C. Nichols
LA Weekly - GO
"the characters are compelling ... Brandon Ruckdashel demonstrates immense stage presence through quicksilver facial expressions and a dazzling smile."
- Sandra Ross
Backstage West
"Matisha Baldwin is a charmer with a great voice, easily convincing as an unsophisticated future music star. Brandon Ruckdashel also brings a nice energy to his teen character's search for independence. For good humor and a powerful voice, Ellen D. Williams is a big plus. Well-directed by Jeff Favre and Rachel Maize, the ensemble keeps the action brisk and moving along."
- Melinda Schupmann
CurtainUp.com
"Missy Gibson has a smoky rock voice, while Matisha Baldwin has a great soul/R&B voice. Gibson (who fronts a real indie band called Breech, (look them up, they're pretty good) also wrote the songs with her band mate Mike Flanagan, and they lack the usual theatrical song trappings that can derail a "rock" musical. In other words, the songs sound like 3 minute pop songs, not laboriously produced epics that soar to the heights and sound really, really important. The entire cast is on target vocally."
- David Avery
StageSceneLA.com - Recommended
"Anyone craving an evening of 80s nostalgia will find much to enjoy in The Next Big Thing ... the band's songs (with music and lyrics by Missy Gibson and music director Mike Flanagan) are catchy each and every one of them, and with the guys performing live on synthesizer, electric guitar, and electronic drums, the music has an infectious energy."
- Steven Stanley
