From her iconic school girl outfit to her latest Glory single, Britney Spears' almost two-decade career was covered, celebrated and, more importantly, done justice during Broadway Loves Britney, the latest instalment of the theatrical tribute series at New York City's Feinstein's/54 Below.
Whether it was the re-creation of classic Spears wardrobe, choreography or inclusion of her live performance arrangements, Broadway Loves Britney on Nov. 16 brought together some of the most talented names in Broadway for a 20-song set with all the facets of what it means to be a fan of Britney Spears.
In part, that's about celebrating her iconic career milestones. The other is about highlighting the strides the pop titan has made in her personal life in efforts to understand her humility and acquiescence as one of the world's biggest celebrities.
Produced and directed by Benjamin Rauhala and choreographed by Brandon Hudson and Alex Ringler, the pop song-and-dance evening kicked off on a high note with a recreation of the most quintessential Spears performance of all-time: her 2000 MTV VMA Video Music Awards medley of "Satisfaction/Oops!... I Did It Again.”
For the opening number, Hayley Podschun (Hello Dolly!, Something Rotten) walked into the venue with the glitz of the icon's ensemble, precise vocal inflection and, of course, accompanying backup dancers. It foreshadowed a night that stood true to Spears' catalogue, but also brought the beauty of original live interpretation.
Later on, Alex Newell's (Glee) playful version of "Womanizer," Ariana Groover's (Holler If Ya Hear Me, Bare) R&B take on "Slumber Party" and Desi Oakley's (Wicked, Les Misérables) career evolution of "...Baby One More Time" proved to be additional show highlights.
However, the real visual pleaser of the evening arrived when Nick Adams (Priscilla, Queen of the Desert; Wicked) took to the stage for his rendition of the star's 2001 MTV VMA performance of "I'm A Slave 4 U." In a decorative piece that mimicked the styling of Spears' ensemble (with six-pack abs included), Adams shimmied, pranced and offered up original performance choreography, much to the crowd's delight.
For Rauhala, someone who once corresponded with the pop titan via Twitter, it served as another moment for the director to offer an honest showcase of the Princess of Pop's career.
Aside from a few production stumbles and moments of ill timing, Broadway Loves Britney exemplified how something can be made by a superfan for a superfan. And yet, if there's one thing we've learned from Britney, it's that even with a few stumbles, you still find your balance to keep marching on.
Original review by James Dinh at iHeartRadio