Review by Willie Caldwell
HIGHER An Original Rock Musical written by Mark Levine and produced by American Legacy Theatre, tackles stigma around opioid addiction in a fast paced, raucous musical that blends elements of RENT with the Who’s Tommy.
Founded in 2016, American Legacy Theatre (ALT) is a special blend of theater for social justice and community impact. ALT works to create experiences that “amplify stories that need to be told, but also as a tool for starting conversations that lead to positive social change.” (https://www.americanlegacytheatre.org/our-story).
HIGHER stays true to ALT’s mission by offering on site counseling services for audience members who might experience triggering effects from the play’s content. Additionally, training to administer Narcan is offered during intermission for anyone interested. HIGHER also offers a talkback with Director Matthew David Gellin and playwright Mark Levine along with members of the cast for those wishing to unpack the play’s themes in a deeper conversational setting.
The Plot of Higher
Playwright Mark Levine drives a hard-hitting storyline that seeks to create dialogue around the opioid epidemic that has gripped the U.S. and resulted in over 500,000 deaths since 1999. The story follows Benjamin (played by Dylan Van Camp) and his best friend Kyle (played by Andrew Hartman) from their youth through early adulthood in an all too familiar story line that begins with the experimentation of drugs and alcohol and leads to chemically dependent addiction as a result of life’s ever present trauma. Supported by a stellar ensemble cast, the production explores the deterioration of family relationships, friendships, and romantic connections as a result of chemical addiction. Drawing on his professional experience as a Life Coach and Chemical Dependency Counselor, Levine creates a sweeping narrative that explores loss, love, failure, and ultimately redemption through support and recovery.
HIGHER includes a whopping 34 musical numbers (arranged by Eric Knechtges) ranging from aggressive ensemble rock numbers to soaring emotional power ballads. Most of the seven person ensemble cast have an opportunity to showcase their powerful vocal abilities through contemporary rock musical stylings that reverberate off the concrete walls of the Contemporary Arts Center’s 4th floor gallery.
Talented and Emotional Cast
Dylan Van Camp leads a powerful ensemble cast in the role of Benjamin. His vocal prowess is reminiscent of high tenor characters that made rock musicals such as Jesus Christ Superstar and Hair into Broadway smashes. Andrew Hartman brings a rockstar flair to the role of Kyle portraying tragic and desperate motivation throughout the play’s first act. Bethany Xan Kerr delivers a standout vocal performance in the role of Mara, a seductive temptress who is more than meets the eye. The lead quartet is rounded out by Constance Kavensky who also delivers a powerful vocal performance as Becca, adding to the sheer vocal strength of the four main characters.
R. DeAndré Smith and Anita Anderson add notable performances in the roles of Benjamin’s mother and father. The ensemble cast also includes Jovanni Candia, Alexis Pinto, and Mac Wood who add punching harmonies to the group numbers and assist in guiding the narrative through its rock concert vibe.
Supporting the vocal acrobatics is a five piece band including Michael Hyatt on guitar, Amir Martin on rhythm guitar, Jameson Hornsby on bass, and Brian Malone on drums. Under the music direction of Stacey Sands, on keyboard, the band drives a pulsing rock rhythm and electric guitars for the entire duration of the play.
A Unique Production
Producer, director, and designer Matthew David Gellin creates a fascinating, site specific experience that becomes a little dizzying. Staged in the 4th floor gallery of Cincinnati’s Contemporary Arts Center, the production makes use of a concrete lobby space with architectural staircases towering over the audience. The placement of the band along with several solos and character interactions create an immersive experience with things happening on all sides of the audience. The effect is visually striking but also comes with a few challenges, namely sound. Due to the concrete walls and open balconies, a cavernous reverb often overpowers lyrical content and dialogue. The space also amplifies the loudness of the band adding a layer of decibels that at times becomes almost too overpowering. For the most part, the actors and musicians strike a good balance and work hard to ensure the messages of each song come through.
The CAC’s brutalist architectural staircases create interesting staging opportunities but also add close to two stories of vertical height to the playing space. This causes the audience to spend quite a bit of time looking up in order to take in the full picture which becomes a bit fatiguing over the duration of the play’s runtime of 2 hours 20 minutes, including 1 15-minte intermission. The high walls of the staircases also obscure some of the actors’ bodies creating a few scenes that predominantly feature floating heads. Despite the unusual challenges that can occur in site specific theater, Gellin creates an immersive, emotional experience that is truly thought provoking and unique.
An Emotional Rock Musical Production
HIGHER is a singular experience that is loud, fast-paced, and charismatic. The edgy rock musical addresses uncomfortable issues and works hard to create a space where the stigma surrounding addiction takes center stage and fosters healing through the power of love and rock and roll.
Tickets to ALT’s HIGHER
ALT’s HIGHER runs March 7-March 22, 2025, at the Contemporary Arts Center. Performances run Thursday-Saturday at 7:30pm. Visit https://www.americanlegacytheatre.org for tickets.
NOTE: Due to adult subject matter, the theatre recommends the performance for ages 12 and up–with parental guidance.
RUNTIME: The show runs about 20 hours 20 minutes with a 15 minute intermission. The Narcan training and talkback (optional) after, are about 40 additional minutes.
