The American Girl store at the Natick Mall may be closing next month, but fans of the iconic dolls will be delighted to discover that the musical “American Girl Live” is arriving in Boston next week, just in time for school vacation.
“American Girl Live” brings snappy tunes, upbeat choreography, adventure and an empowering message to the Boch Center Shubert Theater for six performances Feb. 22-24. Though the target audience is about 10 years old, everyone in the family will enjoy this 90-minute show.
The story opens as five girls begin a summer adventure at Camp North Woods. Their counselor, Alyssa, introduces the audience and the campers to Camp American Girl.
“The summer camp setting is a place where different kinds of girls can come together. It is not a sport camp where everyone is just playing soccer, for example,” said the production’s director, Gina Rattan, who has helmed on Broadway, national tours and live television musicals. “And it is not like a school play environment where everyone is interested in performing in some way.”
Rattan said she worked closely with Sandy Rustin, who wrote the book and lyrics, to develop the story behind the “American Girl Live.”
There are no princesses or dragons at Camp American Girl. Each camper has brought along her own American Girl doll. Together they encounter challenges like facing their fears, solving problems and learning from their mistakes.
“This is a show that tells a story about girls who are interested in different things and who have different backgrounds,” Rattan said. “It is about girls who have different goals and aspirations for their lives, working together to support each other. And it is a show that tells a story about girls without talking about boys.”
For those unfamiliar with the American Girl dolls, each comes with a story which invites imaginative play. In the musical, Rattan said, “the dolls come to life in a moment when the girls need help. And they find inspiration in their imaginations.”
Rather than prizes for sport or competition, at Camp American Girl campers are awarded Girl Power prizes. The prizes are not for beating a rival or being the best at anything. The prizes come at unexpected moments when the camper has demonstrated courage in the face of new situations, resiliency when hope is waning, empathy or other subtle qualities that are rarely extolled in our culture.
The musical’s story reflects the spirit behind the American Girl dolls, which were created in 1986 by Pleasant Rowland, an educator and author who saw a need for more appropriate dolls for young girls. At the time there were baby dolls which encouraged maternal skills and there was Barbie with her unrealistic standard of beauty.
Instead, Rowland developed her dolls with the idea of companionship. Each doll represents a typical young girl from another era, and are sold with outfits suited to their time period and books that tell stories from the doll’s historic point of view. Even today, the Pleasant Company, now a subsidiary of Mattel, employs a full-time historian to ensure the accuracy and authenticity.
Composer Meg Zervoulis has written music for numerous musicals on and off Broadway, and for this show has written songs with many different musical styles, from native Hawaiian folk music to ragtime and disco.
The show’s choreographer, Emilie Renier has performed in and choreographed national theatrical tours. The big splashy musical numbers are choreographed with inventive, perfectly timed movements.
“It was really all about how kids move when they are not self-conscious,” Rattan said. “How kids move when they are not trying to be cute, not trying to be clever or before girls start impersonating pop stars and doing sexy things.
“... The result is fun and playful and truly something the kids in the audience can do. So they can feel like they are watching themselves on stage,” underscored Rattan.
At a recent performance at the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord, New Hampshire, the actors portraying the 10-year-old campers were engaging and had strong singing voices. It was an charming performance that was easy to follow for even the youngest in the audience.
“I think my favorite part is ‘Blast Off,’ the song with Luciana,” said Monica Poston, the actor who portrays camp counselor Alyssa. She was talking about Luciana, an American Girl doll that loves science and space exploration. “Blast Off” is an uplifting space-themed number that involves fast-moving bunk beds and shooting bubble guns.
“It is an empowering show, without being preachy,” Rattan said. “It is a fun show that still has substance ...If you are looking for a first live theater experience to bring your whole family to, where your girls will be represented on stage, there is no better show. And boys love the show, too. Lots of brothers have really enjoyed it.”
As the American Girl motto goes,”What’s good for girls is good for all of us.”
'American Girl Live'
WHEN: Boch Center Shubert Theater, 265 Tremont St., Boston
WHEN: Feb. 22-24
TICKETS: Start at $35
INFO: 866-348-9738; bochcenter.org