The Fourth Show: Bring It On

Last night, my mom and I went to see Bring It On: The Musical at Denver Center. It is indeed based on the movie of the same name (a movie I've never seen, which is a little surprising considering I'm a teenage girl), and it tells the story of competitive cheerleading in high school. The main character, Campbell, is a senior at Truman High. She's the captain of the cheerleading squad and thinks she has it all. But when she is forced to move to a new school, she learns about the true meaning of identity and teamwork.

But before I really get into that, let me start by saying that I was having a crazy day yesterday, and I was tired and cranky by the time I finally got downtown. But my mood turned around the second the show began.

It starts with an intense cheer and dance number, with creative and intense lighting, the coolest stunting I've ever seen, and a fantastic rock score filled with energy and joy. The moment it started, I was on the edge of my seat, gasping at the girls flipping and twirling through the air (let me just say that as an AP Physics student, I was thinking about the physics of what they were doing).

But back to the plot. Interestingly enough, the energy on stage was vaguely reminiscent of Spring Awakening to me. Perhaps it is because both are modern shows about teenagers; perhaps it is because both have such young casts. Whatever the reason, the show was far deeper than I expected. It wasn't just about the amazing stunts and the rhythmic dancing. It made a statment about diversity and the human spark that connects us all.

But back to the plot. When Campbell is sent to a different school, it's a crazy experience for her. She's used to going to an affluent, primarily caucasian school. But the new school, Jackson High, is poor and mostly populated by people of other races. At first, she makes some major faux pas. But by the end of the show, she learns a little bit about teamwork and a lot about friendship. I won't give away any more than that.

I think the most important thing about Bring It On is the fact that it doesn't conform to the connotations cheerleading holds. It isn't shallow; it isn't solely based on appearances, as many people may think. I know I was pleasantly surprised, and the show definitely made me rethink my own biases about cheerleaders and cheerleading.

As a final word, I would like to just say that Bring It On is a show that I completely recommend, and that I will definitely go see again. Don't judge it before you see it--it's visually astounding and completely engaging. It truly is a great addition to DCPA's extensive list of shows that have played there. Bring It On makes a statement by going outside the lines and challenging the stereotypes of cheerleading and Broadway plays alike (and there's a reference to the show in there--go see it, and you'll get it).

Bring It On plays at the Buell Theater through January 21.