North Shore Music Theatre's 'Margaritaville' is a Tropical Extravaganza

Let’s drink all the margaritas we want in Margaritaville.

North Shore Music Theatre presents its latest tropical show, Escape to Margaritaville. A week before she gets married, Rachel and Tammy vacation at a tropical paradise resort where they meet fellow islanders Tully and Brick. In this story of humorous encounters and unexpected romance, the characters discover new opportunities.

Set to the timeless and lively tunes of Jimmy Buffett, audiences are in for a warm and sunny getaway at NSMT’s Escape to Margaritaville. As I enjoyed a delicious cheeseburger before the show, Margaritaville is an energetic performance with vibrant characters, toe-tapping tunes, and a captivating story.

Wes Williams, Dakota Mackey-McGee, Shelly Lynn Walsh, and Sean Steele are remarkable as the quartet. As Tully teaches Rachel how to relax and have fun, Brick and Tammy discover a blossoming relationship. Walsh and Steele had fantastic chemistry! Their scenes are so sweet as they cleverly made puns.

The ensemble cast brings their A-game to the stage. There are several memorable characters in Escape to Margaritaville. From dancing, doing back flips, and filling in other roles in the story, everyone had the best time as if they were vacationing on a tropical island.

Welcoming back to the NSMT stage is Altamiece Carolyn Cooper who played the unforgettable Motormouth Mabel in Hairspray. Cooper’s magnetic performance as Marley ignites her vivacious personality. As the voice of reason, she shares helpful and sassy advice.

In theater, there’s no such thing as a small part. Caleb Ajao brought laughs and applause with his comedic timing and talented dancing. The audience cracked up at J.D’s (Joe Hart) lines and his solos in the signature song, ‘Why Don’t We Get Drunk and Screw.’

Speaking of the songs, Margaritaville delivers an infectious soundtrack of catchy melodies and cleverly crafted lyrics orchestrated nicely by the live orchestra. 'Cheeseburger in Paradise,' is the highlight of the evening as a gigantic cheeseburger appears from beneath the stage! More tunes include, ‘License to Chill’, ‘Five O’Clock Somewhere’, and ‘Margaritaville.’

Transporting theatergoers to a tropical world of swaying palm trees, endless beaches, and the top of a volcano, the NSMT production crew did an amazing job decorating the theater. The production crew is hard at work incorporating smooth scene transitions, colorful Hawaiian clothing, and cool special effects that elevated a shocking twist at the end of the first act.

A lot of ‘Parrot-Heads’ were seated in the audience, wearing signature Hawaiin shirts and singing along to the tunes. As beach balls bounce through the aisles and laughter echoes throughout the theater, Margaritaville immerses the audience's pleasure in the show's infectious atmosphere.

Margaritaville is a tale about friendship, self-discovery, and finding happiness. Under the skilled direction of Charlie Sutton, the production captures the spirit of a tropical getaway. Sutton establishes the importance of embracing the present moment and cherishing the connections we make along the way.

The show is silly at heart but it's a fun time. I laughed and laughed throughout the entire performance. With its witty story, charismatic characters, and unforgettable songs, this production creates an experience that feels like a genuine vacation.

The fun starts right when you arrive at the theater. Decorating the courtyard and lobby with tropical apparel there’s also a tiki bar located right in the courtyard. Sip on a delicious Margarita while you watch the performance.

Escape to Margaritaville vacations on the stage of North Shore Music Theater until August 27. Buy your tickets, wear your favorite Hawaiin shirts, and come enjoy the tropical laughs of this show. You don’t want to miss it.