It's time to stretch those spirit fingers and prepare to be aggressive... be-be aggressive – Bring It On: The Musical is returning to Sydney with a season at the State Theatre this August. The musical is inspired by the beloved 2000 cheerleading movie, but tells the story of a new group of competitive cheerleaders.
It premiered on Broadway in 2012 and is written by an A-Team of contemporary musicals, with a book by Tony Award-winner Jeff Whitty (Avenue Q) and a score by Hamilton genius Lin-Manuel Miranda, Tom Kitt (another Tony Award-winner for Next to Normal) and Tony nominee Amanda Green (Hands on a Hardbody).
The local production will be directed by Alister Smith, who was nominated for a Green Room Award for his production of Sondheim's Pacific Overtures.
Given the challenges of the show, the producers have had to find not just triple threats but quadruple threats who can sing, dance, act and cheer. Choreographer Michael Ralph is joined by cheerleading coach Natalie Commons, who has represented Australia internationally and has been involved in cheerleading for more than two decades.