Review: TOOTSIE musical rolls into Hollywood

 Broadway in Hollywood’s presentation of  TOOTSIE is making its Los Angeles premiere at the Dolby Theatre from April 26 to May 15, 2022.

Tootsie National Tour (Photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade)

 The comedy musical features the Tony®-winning book by Robert Horn and score by 2018 Tony-winner David Yazbek (The Band’s Visit, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels).

 Tootsie, a musical inspired by the hit 1982 Dustin Hoffman film, is a comical embrace of struggling actors and the theatrical world. The story rolls along following Michael Dorsey (a role sweetly driven by Drew Becker). He’s a talented but exasperating man who struggles to find work as an actor. Then in one show-stopping act of desperation he steps into the guise of a woman. Michael has to pretend to be ‘Dorothy Michaels’ in order to land a role in the Broadway musical “Juliet’s Nurse,” opposite the lovely Julie (powerfully voiced by Ashley Alexandra). The two bond as ‘gal pals,’ but Michael soon develops romantic feelings.

 Michael’s ex-girlfriend Sandy (dynamo Payton Reilly) is unaware that Michael won the role she was counting on, which launches the overwrought gal into a new stressed-out stratosphere. Sandy’s rapid-fire “What’s Gonna Happen” number is a jittery delight. Also in a tizzy is Michael’s buddy Jeff (brilliantly played Jared David Michael Grant), who sees nothing but trouble ahead, and he’s right. Grant in fact has the most fun-filled number with the potty-mouth song “Jeff Sums It Up,” a tour de force that has him bouncing all over the stage gleefully telling his friend “You (screwed) up.”

Drew Becker and Jared David Michael Grant, Tootsie National Tour (Photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade)

Other notable performers were the outstanding Lukas James Miller as the love-struck Max VanHorn who does his comic relief role to the max; Adam DuPlessis as the show-within-a-show’s smarmy director Ron Carlisle; and the formitable Kathy Halenda (she commands the stage every time she appears) as producer Rita Marshall who sees Dorothy Michaels/Michael Dorsey’s farcical yet empowering vision for “Juliet’s Nurse.” …Just don’t call her Tootsie!

TOOTSIE will play April 26 to May 15, 2022, Tuesdays through Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 2pm & 8pm, and Sundays at 1pm & 6:30pm. Tickets start at $30, and are available for purchase online at www.BroadwayInHollywood.com or www.Ticketmaster.com. Tickets may also be purchased by phone at 800-982-2782 or at the Dolby Theatre Box office located at 6801 Hollywood Boulevard. For added convenience, tickets may also be purchased at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre box office located at 6233 Hollywood Boulevard.

Ashley Alexandra as Julie, Tootsie National Tour (Photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade)

The tour will also play in Costa Mesa at Segerstrom Center for the Performing Arts from May 31 – June 12 2022.

Go to: BroadwayInHollywood.com or Ticketmaster.com or call 800-982-2782


Margie Barron has written for a wide variety of outlets including Gannett newspapers, Nickelodeon, Tiger Beat and 16 Magazine, Fresh!, Senior Life, Production Update, airline magazines, etc. Margie is also proud to have been half of the husband & wife writing team Frank & Margie Barron, who had written together for various entertainment and travel publications for more than 38 years.

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