Walking into TADA! Theatre on 15 West and 28 Street, I didn’t know what to expect. I was about to watch Genesius: The Musical, and was already wondering what or who Genesius was, and how it was even pronounced. Luckily, the actors got straight to the point, telling the audience the story behind the musical, and even poking fun at the obscurity of the title.

Based on the true story of Genesius Theatre in Readingtown, Pennsylvania, the two hour show explains how Genesius Theater came about, against all odds. The starlet, Beth Glover, plays Jane Simmon Miller, a performer who decides to start her own theatre in the 1970s. Although still married, Jane pursues her dream of having a theater cultivating culture and encouraging the youth, alongside her young lover, David, played by Danny Gardner. The theatre group, named after Saint Genesius, the only saint who was also an actor, faces several challenges. They including financial struggles, location problems, and false allegations from a disapproving theater coach from Jane’s past. With a hopeful outlook, however, Jane, David, and the kids manage to get by, even earning the respect of those in the local and wider communities along the way.

As I watched Genesius, I was initially struck by the powerful vocals from all members of the cast. Especially in one of the very first numbers, “Larger Than Life,” the actors had a visible energy that caught on with the audience. The melody was upbeat and fun, and really did paint the image of the theatre being bigger than life itself. Also, in “Out of the Blue,” one of the very last numbers, sung during a gloomier point, the actors fully showcased their talent, using harmony as one of the ground musical techniques.

In addition to the great singing, the cast was able to maintain a light-hearted feel to the show, while still emphasizing the importance of the theatre. Because the musical was based on a true story, as an audience member, I recognized that the show was celebrating the founding of a theater amidst difficult situations. The playwright found a good balance between the serious and the not-so-serious. It’s important to note that some of the humor contained more mature content.

Despite these positive qualities of the show, there were some slower scenes in the musical. While the vocals remained very strong, the acting was not always as great, and left the audience looking for the same energy found in the singing. Nonetheless, Genesius: The Musical gets four stars for the talent and energy of the cast, who put on an entertaining show.