Type: Cheerleading, High-school drama
If you liked: Glee, High School Musical, 13 the Musical, all-out dance numbers
Bring it On: The Musical: With high flying gymnastics and equally astounding vocal talent to match, this is a powerful showcase of the next generation of talent.
Loosely based on the early 2000s film of the same name and adapted for the stage by the creative geniuses behind shows such as Avenue Q and In the Heights, Bring It On: The Musical centres around a tradition that holds a special place in the hearts of many American high schoolers: Cheerleading competitions.
Campbell is an extremely driven incoming senior at Truman High School who has just been handed the coveted title of cheer captain. While preparing to lead her new squad to Nationals, plans are sent spinning when she is unexpectedly transferred to Jackson High School – a new and unfamiliar place where her former status is now meaningless.
Still determined to finish what was started, and finding unlikely kinships along the way, Bring It On demonstrates that resilience, teamwork, and new perspectives on “winning” can overcome even the greatest challenges of high school life.
This story contained so much more than just cheerleading (don’t get me wrong there was a LOT of cheer), as director Tahra Cannon masterfully cultivates Jeff Whitty’s blend of high-octane musical numbers and emotionally driven scenes into a rich, character driven production.
Every character is given the space to become more than just a peppy high school teen with a dream, and it is clear that the entire cast of Bring It On has taken this on board – alongside delivering expertly precise choreography, performing lift sequences, and an overall phenomenal calibre of singing quality. It was truly all happening on the National Theatre stage!
Emily McDougall as Campbell played a focused and confident cheerleader fully in her element when the odds were going her way but found a way of effortlessly letting this façade slip into raw vulnerability when faced with uncertainty and the consequences of her own actions. From the very first number, McDougall cemented her place as one of the show’s leading ladies with fantastic vocal dynamic and control.
The standout performance of the evening went to Alyssa Jandayan as Danielle, the leader of the Jackson high dance crew. A character written to be completely secure in her own power and unapologetically herself, Jandayan brought a commanding stage presence and effortless authority to the role. With fellow dance crew besties Nautica (Yurina Kutsukake) and La Cienega (Ari Rego), she delivered Campbell a much-needed wake-up call to what it means to earn respect, with on point harmonies on the side!
Jenna Mole as Bridget was automatically beloved by the audience for all her quirks and deadpan line delivery, especially when her character dove headfirst into adjusting to the new lingo of Jackson High. Mole’s charisma and joy during the show made Bridget both a delight to watch and a character worth rooting for in the end.
Other notable performances included Taylor-Anne Bright as newbie cheerleader Eva, and Elle Fenelon as Kylar. Powerhouse vocalists the both of them, they fully leaned into hilariously exaggerated obsessions with perfection, and the pursuit of being the best.
Zade Nabole as Twig and Flynn Hunter as Randall were also memorable highlights with Nabole conquering the lyrical intricacies of Lin-Manuel Miranda with style, and Hunter providing a grounding presence that offered a welcome contrast to the show’s high-stakes energy.
Harrison Croft’s lighting design worked well to support the standard flashy setup of a national cheerleading competition. Enhancing the minimal but effective set design, the space was convincingly transformed to support the jumping location structure.
Due to this, the show’s first ten minutes did suffer a little pacing-wise. Back-to-back examples of a scene cutting to a blackout and a minute of musical interlude did feel a little stop-start in nature. The remainder of the acts did well to vary scene transitions and cut to different characters within the pre-existing space, so this was refreshing to see.
Is Bring It On Worth Seeing in Melbourne?
With a catchy score and some of the best emerging and established young Aussie talent, Bring It On is a tonne of fun for those new to cheer, experienced in cheer, or for those who have never heard of it before! No matter what your thoughts on the high kicks and practiced routines, its overall message of how passion, teamwork and trust pays off is one that can inspire everyone.
Tickets and Practical Info for Bring it On: The Musical in Melbourne 🎟️
National Theatre Melbourne
Season 11th– 26th of July.
Tickets: https://booktickets.com.au/bringiton/
Music by Tom Kitt & Lin-Manuel Miranda, book by Jeff Whitty and lyrics by Amanda Green and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
