On Oct. 28, at the Fine Arts Center Main Stage Theatre, Menopause the Musical 2: Cruising Through the Change, performed their jukebox musical for the ages. The story follows four post-menopausal women who all met in a department store. They decide to sail on a cruise together and high jinx ensues. On the show’s tour website, they describe the musical as “…a hilarious and heartfelt look at the joys of menopause and friendship — plus hot flashes, mood swings, memory lapses & more!” Nearly selling out their one day stay at the Fine Arts Center, Menopause the Musical 2, captured the attention of many on and off campus patrons.
Connor Martin, student government association president, and employee of the Fine Arts Center box office, decided to see the show at both the performances that Tuesday. Martin went on to explain how he entered completely oblivious to any themes or plots of the show. “I knew nothing about the group or production going in, so the entire show was full of surprises. I enjoyed that it ended up being a Jukebox musical with altered lyrics to fit the show’s themes. This show certainly had a specific target audience that I didn’t fit, but it was still entertaining,” he stated. A jukebox musical is any musical that uses existing songs, typically pop songs, as the main way music is within the show. Menopause the Musical 2, features hits from the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, making it a jukebox.
Martin went on to explain the reception of the musical: “For both performances that day, the theatre was filled from the main floor up to the upper balcony, with guests having a great time laughing and even up on their feet dancing at the end.”
Martin describes how Menopause the Musical 2, brought a party to Viterbo by delivering comedy, nostalgia, and music. Having a title like Menopause the Musical, it makes one assume they know who the target audience is and how many people will show up based on demographics. However, as many students including Connor Martin shared, the variety in the nearly sold-out crowds was astounding. College students, sitting next to a mother of three, next to an 80-year-old man. Menopause the Musical 2: Cruising Through Change, brought something to Viterbo that brought many diverse experiences under one roof.
Martin, one student who is very excited to see more, stated, “I would love to continue seeing more of what I saw in the future at Viterbo. One of the great things about Viterbo’s Fine Arts Center being a presenting house is the opportunity for touring groups, tribute artists, guest speakers, etc. to perform on our stages aside from the Conservatory for the Performing Arts season each year. This exposes Viterbo students and the La Crosse area community to a variety of live theatre.”
