'Ride the Cyclone' musical debuts in East Peoria this weekend
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — A dark comedy about death and amusement parks is heading to East Peoria this weekend.
Eastlight Theatre is performing the regional premiere of the musical 'Ride the Cyclone.' One of the show's stars, Joshua Regan, joined director Kevin Paul Wickart on WMBD This Morning.
The musical focuses on a group of teens who die on a malfunctioning rollercoaster. In the afterlife, they're offered a chance at resurrection by a magical fortune teller machine.
It's not just the premise that's bizarre. Regan says his character, Ricky, was rendered mute due to witnessing the death of his father and retreats into a fantasy world of cat people in outer space.
Despite the strangeness, Regan says the role has a lot of heart in it and delivers an inspiring message.
'It's such a good role to explore everyone's need to be seen and everyone's need to fit in,' he says.
The Penguin Project presents 'Something Rotten Jr.'
With such an odd premise and characters, it should come as no surprise that the show's music is similarly eclectic.
'I have a Bon Jovi-esque, 70s or 80s rock number,' Regan explained. 'And other people have a 1930s, like, accordion, stuff like that. So I think it's a great opportunity to explore the different music and have that reflect in the characters.'
Wickart says, while the subject matter isn't exactly appropriate for young children, teens and families shouldn't be discouraged from checking out the show.
'We hope that the music and the lighter bits will carry [the audience] through,' Wickart told us.
'Ride the Cyclone' runs from June 13-15 and 18-21 at the Byron Moore Auditorium at East Peoria High School. Sunday, June 15 is a matinee performance; all other shows are in the evening. For tickets, visit eastlighttheatre.com.
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