by Shelby Coleman
This week, Cincinnati Landmark Productions opened its production of Crazy For You at the Warsaw Federal Incline Theater. Running through September 13, 2026, this rag tag team of cowboys, show girls, and European tourists will have you laughing through the end of the summer. Crazy for You is a celebration of classic musical theatre. This show is filled with romance, glamour, and enough comedic chaos to keep the audience laughing the entire evening.
The Story
Crazy For You follows Bobby Child (Kyle Rosa), a New York banker who dreams of dancing on Broadway. Child is sent to foreclose on a rundown theater in Deadrock, Nevada and falls for the owner’s daughter (Tate Clemons). The evening unfolds as Child tries to save the building, and win his love, by putting on a show. What ensues is a romantic comedy that fills your evening with romance, laughter and dancing.
Fantastic Performances
Kyle Rosa as Bobby Child has the air of an old Hollywood star. His larger-than-life charm and confident stage presence bring a classic theatrical atmosphere to the stage. Rosa understands that Bobby must be both a romantic leading man and a source of gleeful absurdity. Whether dancing, pursuing Polly, or becoming entangled in increasingly ridiculous complications, Rosa commands attention with the charisma of a performer born for musical comedy.
Tate Clemons offers a beautifully balanced performance as Polly Baker. Her refined elegance provides the ideal contrast to Rosa’s expansive characterization. Clemons brings poise and sincerity to Polly without sacrificing the character’s toughness or independence. The contrasting energies of Rosa and Clemons make them an engaging storyline and give the show’s romance a welcome sense of emotional grounding.
Bodie Moore is the comedic relief of the show as Bela Zangler, using skillful physical acting to make every entrance memorable. His precise gestures and expressive reactions turn Zangler into far more than a supporting character. Moore knows how to build a joke physically and how to hold a moment just long enough for maximum effect without overstaying it.
Cassidy Steele is the perfect counterpart to Moore. With massive stage presence and unmistakable old Hollywood glamour, she matches his heightened comedy while creating a distinctive character of her own. Steele’s confidence and theatrical flair make her a captivating presence. The combination of her elegance with Moore’s physical humor produces some of the production’s most enjoyable moments.
Leadership and Design
Dee Anne Bryll’s direction keeps the many moving parts of Crazy for You clear and energetic. Bryll’s collaboration with Peyton Leonard as co-choreographers creates dance sequences that recall the peak of the 1950s movie musical, inviting audiences to imagine Gene Kelly or Vera-Ellen appearing onstage. The choreography is stylish, athletic, and joyful, but it never feels like movement for movement’s sake. It advances the comedy, deepens the romance, and gives the ensemble opportunities to shine.
Designer Brett Bowling utilizes the space cleverly with a stationary set, enhanced by fun add-on pieces that help keep the hilarity of the onstage chaos moving. This paired with the glamorous showgirl costumes adds another visual highlight. One of the most memorable costumes of the evening is without a doubt the pink showgirl getup created by June Hill, Jenny Partridge, and Susan Hinnefeld. The period-inspired glamour immediately evokes the fantasy of a lavish Hollywood musical. These costumes pair wonderfully with Jenny Herndon’s wigs, completing a unified visual world in which every curl and silhouette contribute to the production’s nostalgic appeal.
Music director Michael Spresser supports the production’s energy and elegance, ensuring that the beloved score receives the vitality it deserves. The music carries the audience from romance to comedy and back again, while giving the audiences chances to hum along to beloved tunes such as Someone to Watch Over Me.
The evening also features a fun addition from Executive Director Rodger Pille, who announced the theater’s next season. The news was met with surprise and awe from the audience, adding another burst of excitement to an already celebratory experience and promising another wonderful year ahead.
Crazy For You is a Joy
With charismatic performances, dazzling choreography, glamorous design, and confident direction, Crazy for You captures the expansive joy of the golden-age movie musical while keeping audiences on their toes with the modern romantic comedy. Warsaw Federal Incline Theater has created a production that understands the value of spectacle while never losing sight of warmth, wit, and theatrical heart.
Tickets to Crazy For You
Crazy For You runs through September 13, 2026, at the Warsaw Federal Incline Theater located at 801 Matson Pl, Cincinnati, OH 45204. Tickets can be purchased at the box office, online at HTTPS://WWW.CINCINNATILANDMARKPRODUCTIONS.COM/, or by calling 513-241-6550.
