By Jody Tuso-Key —Managing Editor and Marsha Moore-Harding — Correspondent

I wish I could make it to every show, but sometimes a migraine prevents me from leaving the house. Luckily, my theater buddy, Marsha Moore-Harding is always willing to accompany me, or in this case, take my place when I can’t attend something. Marsha recently attended Theatrical Outfit’s production of PASSING STRANGE and her assessment is it’s big, boisterous, loud, and inviting.

This is a Tony Award-winning comedy-drama rock musical that chronicles the life of a young African American and his journey of self-discovery as an artist. With lyrics and book by Stew and music and orchestrations by Heidi Rodewald and Stew, the show was conceived at the Sundance Institute Theater Lab in 2004-2005, premiered in 2006 in Berkeley , and made its way to Broadway in 2008, winning a Tony for Best Book of a Musical and Drama Desk awards for Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Lyrics, and Outstanding Music.

This Atlanta production features amazing talent: Brad Raymond does an excellent job as narrator and Christian Magby delivers an excellent performance as youth.

At intermission, Marcia texted me, Excellent so far – great staging with the band on set. It pulls you in from the start. Set in Los Angeles, it begins with a mother-son relationship. She tells him he’s got to go to church, and as 14-year-olds do, he asks her why he should go to church. He just doesn’t fit in but is swayed by a pretty young girl and joins the kids’ choir. From there he experiments with marijuana and LSD. He decides he wants to pursue his dreams and heads off to Europe. He settles in Amsterdam and finds a place where he finally feels he fits in.

You’ll be dancing in your seat to the upbeat musical numbers. The rich vocals and harmonies along with the spectacular singing and dancing make you want to join in the fun with many in the audience doing just that. The song at the end of the first act is a wonderful show-stopper!!’

After intermission, the setting went from Amsterdam to Berlin. Our main character experiences culture shock. The son’s running away catches up to him in the end. The mother sings a beautiful anthem about love, and the main character comes full circle and ties everything together in the end.

Well, not all the audience was bawling at the end, but I was. More uplifting than sad, but it picked up so many really pertinent moments in my life. The lady beside me gave me a Kleenex!

The lighting, with the vivid, neon colors was inviting, and the band was excellent.

The narrator, mom, son, and love interest were so strong in singing, and acting, making you follow and believe. The ensemble shifted from one character to another seamlessly and are so believable.

I really don’t know what to say but I loved it!

PASSING STRANGE is playing at Theatrical Outfit until October 22nd, so don’t delay, get your tickets today at https://www.theatricaloutfit.org/passing-strange/ https://www.theatricaloutfit.org/passing-strange/