ArtistDirect News
American Rhythm Continues 100-Year Musical Journey at Lambs Players Theatre
San Diego’s Lamb’s Players Theatre is keeping the 100‑year‑old musical American Rhythm on the stage, with performances running through September 27. The show—blending historical narration with popular songs from each decade—has earned multiple extensions thanks to strong ticket demand. Tickets can be purchased online at lambsplayers.org or by calling (619) 437‑6000, and the box office is open Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 6 p.m.
American Rhythm guides audiences through a century of American history, using music as a lens to illuminate key moments such as the Great Depression, World II, the Vietnam War, and the cultural revolutions of the 1960s and beyond. The narrative is punctuated by enduring classics like “Putting on the Ritz,” “I Wanna Be Loved by You,” and Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue.” The production also showcases love songs from the war years, swing, rock‑and‑roll, surf culture, and a 1970s medley performed in lamé and leisure suits.
The cast is anchored by three original members from the 2016 production: Michael Cusimano, Caitie Grady, and Joy Yandell‑Hall. Grady has appeared in more than 50 Lamb’s productions since 2010, most recently in The Play That Goes Wrong and Once, the latter earning her a San Diego Critics Circle Award. Cusimano, who founded the Chalk Circle Collective, played the character Guy opposite Grady in Once and received the Craig Noel Award and the Actor of the Year Award in 2019. Other regulars include Angela Chatelain Avila, Natasha Reese, Sydney Joyner, and Lance Arthur Smith.
The creative team is led by director Kerry Meads and musical director Vanda Egginton, with choreography by Colleen Kollar Smith. Meads, who serves as Lamb’s Associate Artistic Director, wrote and arranged the show’s score. Egginton’s musical direction features piano performances by Ben Read and Caleb Schanzenbach, who play pieces ranging from Elton John and Billy Joel to Jerry Lee Lewis. The understudy, Siri Hafso, stepped into the role of Ashley Chavarria during one evening, showcasing her singing and dancing.
The musical ensemble consists of seven members playing keys, percussion, bass, trumpet, guitar, saxophone, clarinet, and trombone. The band’s repertoire covers the 1980s with performances of Devo, Paula Abdul, Dire Straits, and Faith Hill, as well as the 1970s medley. The show’s structure alternates between narrated segments that set historical context and full‑band numbers that bring each era’s sound to life.
Audience reactions have highlighted the show’s ability to blend education and entertainment. Reviewers note that the cast’s versatility and the production’s faithful recreation of period styles keep the performance engaging for all ages. The extended run reflects the community’s interest in a musical that connects historical events with the music that defined them.
American Rhythm will continue to perform at Lamb’s Players Theatre until September 27. Tickets remain available through the theatre’s website or by phone. The show offers a concise, music‑driven tour of American history that has resonated with San Diego audiences and beyond.
American Rhythm guides audiences through a century of American history, using music as a lens to illuminate key moments such as the Great Depression, World II, the Vietnam War, and the cultural revolutions of the 1960s and beyond. The narrative is punctuated by enduring classics like “Putting on the Ritz,” “I Wanna Be Loved by You,” and Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue.” The production also showcases love songs from the war years, swing, rock‑and‑roll, surf culture, and a 1970s medley performed in lamé and leisure suits.
The cast is anchored by three original members from the 2016 production: Michael Cusimano, Caitie Grady, and Joy Yandell‑Hall. Grady has appeared in more than 50 Lamb’s productions since 2010, most recently in The Play That Goes Wrong and Once, the latter earning her a San Diego Critics Circle Award. Cusimano, who founded the Chalk Circle Collective, played the character Guy opposite Grady in Once and received the Craig Noel Award and the Actor of the Year Award in 2019. Other regulars include Angela Chatelain Avila, Natasha Reese, Sydney Joyner, and Lance Arthur Smith.
The creative team is led by director Kerry Meads and musical director Vanda Egginton, with choreography by Colleen Kollar Smith. Meads, who serves as Lamb’s Associate Artistic Director, wrote and arranged the show’s score. Egginton’s musical direction features piano performances by Ben Read and Caleb Schanzenbach, who play pieces ranging from Elton John and Billy Joel to Jerry Lee Lewis. The understudy, Siri Hafso, stepped into the role of Ashley Chavarria during one evening, showcasing her singing and dancing.
The musical ensemble consists of seven members playing keys, percussion, bass, trumpet, guitar, saxophone, clarinet, and trombone. The band’s repertoire covers the 1980s with performances of Devo, Paula Abdul, Dire Straits, and Faith Hill, as well as the 1970s medley. The show’s structure alternates between narrated segments that set historical context and full‑band numbers that bring each era’s sound to life.
Audience reactions have highlighted the show’s ability to blend education and entertainment. Reviewers note that the cast’s versatility and the production’s faithful recreation of period styles keep the performance engaging for all ages. The extended run reflects the community’s interest in a musical that connects historical events with the music that defined them.
American Rhythm will continue to perform at Lamb’s Players Theatre until September 27. Tickets remain available through the theatre’s website or by phone. The show offers a concise, music‑driven tour of American history that has resonated with San Diego audiences and beyond.