North Shore Music Theatre's 'The Bodyguard' Is Epic Entertainment!

Cheaza Figueroa (Rachel Marron) and the ensemble of NSMT’s The Bodyguard. Photo credits to Paul Lydon

I wanna dance with somebody! Yeah, I wanna dance with somebody tonight!

North Shore Music Theatre presents its latest production of The Bodyguard, based on the 1992 film of the same name. Rachel Marron, a famous singer receives threatening messages. Reluctantly accepting the job as her bodyguard, Rachel and Frank slowly grow a bond that turns into something more.

I had an incredible night catching NSMT’s epic showing of The Bodyguard! From start to finish, the show is an energetic, entertaining, and suspenseful performance that captures you in dazzling lighting, beautiful costumes, and an important message about the power of love.

Filling the shoes of the late Whitney Houston who starred in the film version in 1992, Cheaza Figueroa was outstanding, belting out in a remarkable voice that made me bop my head or brought tears to my eyes! She grasped her character's emotions, resilience, inner diva, and passion to perform. Her rendition of ‘I Will Always Love You’ is moving.

One of my favorite aspects of Judson Mills’s portrayal as Frank Farmer is his devoid persistence and gruff personality of a man who hides his emotions. Mills was fantastic in his dramatic performance, even entertaining the audience with a reserved karaoke number.

I applaud eight-year-old Joshua McKenna for his endearing performance as Fletcher. I immediately fell in love with his enthusiasm and his big smile. The theater is an overwhelming environment, but McKenna embraced his part creating a big impact. He most definitely deserved applause during each and every one of his scenes.

In a mix of fighting and tender sisterly love, Nicole Henry was outstanding as Nikki Marron, Rachel’s sister. In addition to incredible dramatic abilities, she also has an amazing rhythmic voice that carries throughout the stage. She held her head high, refusing to lose battles.

An ensemble of talented cast members went above and beyond working together to bring this story to life. Everyone worked countless hours to prepare the energetic, show-stopping dance numbers. Each and every member of the cast of The Bodyguard stood out.

No part is ever small in the theater. Ashley Chasteen was incredible as Detective Rose Court. When she was not playing as the detective she, Marie Rose Baramo, and Adea Michelle Sessoms were entertaining and funny in a quirky karaoke number! And Brent Thiessen was sinister as the stalker, giving an eerie feeling, appearing right out of the shadows at times.

Song numbers include ‘Queen of the Night’, ‘Run to You’, ‘One Moment in Time’ and the incredible number, ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’. Better stay until the very end for an epic dance conclusion and sing-along!

The stage was lit up in gorgeous neon lighting. Glorious sets were used to capture a living room, the stage, and a bed in the shape of a race car for Fletcher. One of my favorites!

The costumes are outstanding. The dresses are incredibly stunning, reflecting the light, dazzling the senses.

Director Nick Kenkel focused highly on his direction. He paid very close attention to the tone, changing the mood from fun to danger in a matter of seconds. What made my night most memorable was the stone-quiet in the sold-out theater during suspenseful scenes. Kenkel excelled notably in the final moments of the musical handling mature elements very well, making the audience aware of even the most subtle detail in one’s side vision.

Love is a central theme in The Bodyguard. We love our family. We love our friends. We love our passions. Most importantly, we have to love ourselves.

North Shore Music Theatre’s The Bodyguard is an entertaining musical. I had so much fun and it was an amazing evening getting to witness an impactful piece of theater. Seeing this show made me all the more thankful for the existence of theater. I recommend that you catch a showing of The Bodyguard at NSMT October 29-November 10. You just may end up dancing along!