‘Jada Bells - a Holiday Extravaganza’ @ Uptown Players
Photos by Mike Morgan
—Martha Heimberg
A big noisy crowd and a big, high-energy cast (with crazy big hair) deliver the goods in Jada Bells, billed as Uptown Players’ “Holiday Extravaganza.” And this time of year, B-I-G is the way to go, right?
Never mind costume designer Suzi Cranford’s clever sequined costumes and scrumptious sweaters: Saturday night’s audience brought plenty of glitter and casual cool to the party. (Truth to tell, you can wear anything from sweats to ball gowns and fit right in with Uptown’s upbeat, eclectic audience.)
Written and directed by B.J. Cleveland, with music arranged by Adam C. Wright, the show features twenty or so Christmas-flavored songs, all sung with joy—and oodles of expert bumping and grinding. Musical director/conductor Gary Adler (debuting at Uptown) is on keyboards with Vonda K. Bowling; four more fine musicians (Dennis Langevin, Andrew Goins, Michael Dill, and Michael Ptacin) help keep things swinging—and Kelly McCain’s inventive choreography adds plenty of sparkle.
The show is all about “sensational Dallas drag performer” Jada Pinkett Fox, played by Uptown star Lee Walter—a terrific singer—and the song-filled story line showcases lots of talent the fans of this LBGTQ-oriented theater have come to cheer. And do they ever!
Pals gay and straight have all gathered at Jada’s apartment (designed by Dennis Canright), a space that revolves in a twinkle to reveal a groovy nightclub. They’re all together to celebrate the holidays; Jada has just finished filming something called the “Miss Mary Dragmas Competition” in Los Angeles—the winner to be announced this very night.
For plot’s sake, the TV show is filming three versions with the top three contestants, but we don’t know who’s gonna win until it screens later. Does it really matter who wins? Only because it’s a fun way to get more (and more!) performers on the festive stage, pumping holiday spirit into the audience.
The crowd clapped for all the spirited songs, but stomped and hooted for several numbers.
Walter’s Jada, shimmering in pink sequins, sings a heartfelt “Home for the Holidays”—which most are spending with their chosen families. Jada and friends rock a fresh version of “It’s Not Where You Start,” and everybody jazzes it up while swinging huge candy canes. One guy says his present is just “too big to wrap.” And that’s Jada Bells, ringing out plenty of silly, raunchy lyrics.
David Lugo charms Jada with “You Deserve It All,” while Walter rises to a rich ballad style for “I Believe in You and Me,” definitely a hand-holder. Hyper-Elvis dancer Seth Paden’s gyrations got laughs and whistles with “Rock You Hard at Christmas,” as you can imagine. A droll Coy Covington, in the wonkiest wig of the night, performs a miracle and sings a funny, deliberately strained version of “Wishing You a Drag Queen Christmas.” Michael B. Moore designed all the queenly wigs and makeup.
Once we get to the nightclub, the Ho-Ho-Ho drag queen pole dancers put on a show for Jada and company. Micah Green, Moore, and Sammy Swim wear hilariously adroit costumes (drummer boy, Christmas tree), trying to persuade Santa “to visit my tree” in “Gotta Get a Gimmick.” Swim’s dazzling athleticism and grace in another turn, performed to “Nutcracker” music, makes us think again about that sassy word—and the delightful number drew applause and guffaws from the crowd.
Peter DiCesare, a wonderfully romantic tenor we’ve heard in musicals around the area, sings a wistful and beautifully phrased “Christmas, Will You Stay,” wishing for the seasonal spirit of good will and joy to remain all year. He got a rousing shout-out at the clever curtain call.
And this isn’t even half the songs and dance numbers delivered by this exuberant 14-member ensemble, which also includes Presley Duyck, Isaiah Christopher-Lord Harris, Jacob Hemsath, Sara Shelby-Martin, Brett Warner, and Evor Wright. Hard not to get in holiday mode partying with the Jada Bells revelers. Also, if you don’t go, you won’t know who wins the coveted title of “Miss Mary Dragmas 2023.”
WHEN: December 1-10, 2023
WHERE: Kalita Humphreys Theater, 3636 Turtle Creek Blvd., Dallas
WEB: uptownplayers.org
