author Dave Martinek
There I am, in the audience of Dundalk Community Theatre’s production of Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville Book by Greg Garcia and Mike O’Malley, Music and Lyrics by Jimmy Buffett (a star born on Christmas day), waiting to see what Director Albert J. Boeren, Choreographer Unissa Cruse, and Music Director Jarrett Rettman had in store for my date and I, when the lights dimmed I was magically transported to “One Particular Harbor” of a charming Margaritaville resort on a Caribbean island far away from these cold mornings and the stressors of a world that could use a “License to Chill”.
Tully, a charming bar singer played by Josh Schoff, sings and plays day in and day out as the women come in and out of his life with no end in sight. Tully is perfectly content with this lifestyle along with his happy bartender best friend Brick (played by Paul Steinert), his no-nonsense boss Marley (played by Deja Lewter), the goofy barhand Jamila (played by Clover Wellons), and the affable but kooky barfly and resident pilot J.D. (played by Ryan Geiger). Things start to change for Tully and friends when Rachel, a smart and eager (workaholic) played by Samantha Melkonian, and a soon-to-be-wed and pun-loving Tammy, played by Cayley Hauser, who is being dragged down by her fiance Chad, played by Dylan Villegas, arrive on the island.
Josh Schoff brings sincerity to Tully, what you see is what you get, which allows for us as the audience to easily connect with Tully and experience this rollercoaster of a show through him. This is highlighted during the act one finale, “Margaritaville”, when we share his sense of feeling lost in a world without purpose. Samantha Melkonian brings the tightly wound Rachel to life with a profound confidence that wants to make you lean forward in the audience, she connects easily with everyone she plays with onstage and opens up in more intimate moments like “It’s My Job”. Schoff and Melkonian blend together to create a wonderful dynamic that we get to see built onstage from “Three Chords” to “Coast of Marseilles”. This is balanced with the instant longing and spark we see between Brick and Tammy brought by the hilarious Cayley Hauser and Paul Steinert who bring energy and joy by the boat onto the stage. Hauser and Steinert certainly shine during “Cheeseburger in Paradise” supported by an enthusiastic ensemble.
Deja Lewter, who plays Marley, knows how to radiate energy to fill an entire room and shines in every scene she is in and I felt giddy every time I saw the unstoppable force of Lewter’s Marley and the immovable object of Ryan Geiger’s J.D. interact in the show. Geiger grants J.D. the power of pulling people in and I believe that if I encountered his J.D. at a bar I would be sat, buying drinks, listening to his life story, and laughing the night away. Geiger brings this energy to “Why Don’t We Get Drunk and Screw” and is paired with larger than life reactions from Lewter which turned this parrot head into a chuckle head.
Every member of this cast finds a way to shine to make this island adventure even sunnier. Jamila, played by Clover Wellons, is a delight to watch and brings her all to the act two opener, “Volcano”. Dylan Villegas as Chad is someone who we consistently love to hate in every scene he’s in. The Ensemble (Joanna Chen, Aaron Duenas, Lisa Geiger, Leonard Gilbert, Brooke Hoskins, Julia Morgereth, Ed Villegas) brings their A-game and fuels the fun all throughout the show and delivers Cruse’s spirited choreography with ease.
The energized and lively cast was supported by an effective and thoughtful design team and quick crew to take us from moment to moment. The Set Designer, Marc W. Smith was concise with his designs and brought only what was needed to complete the stage picture. The Margaritaville bar felt lived in and relaxed, the Cincinnati dining hall felt snuffy and tight, and the seaplane felt enclosed and rustic. These effects were all captured with teamwork from Smith’s lighting designs that felt warm and cozy on the island (with the occasional psychedelic flashback) and cold and dense elsewhere. The costume designer, Eva Grove, donned the cast on the island with bright colors and tropical patterns. Stand-out costumes include J.D., who without speaking or moving just looked like he had a story to tell with an eye patch, cargo vest, and worn in shirt as well as the ensemble of spooky dead insurance salespeople we encounter during “Grapefruit, Juicy Fruit”. Properties Designer, Amy Vickers shined through the food and drinks onstage. The drinks at the bar made me want to sneak my way onstage to gulp one down and the stack of hamburgers was cartoonishly fun.
This show truly did feel like an escape and I am thankful for the curated experience this cast and crew delivered to us. If you need a break, if you need some fun, if you’ve gotta go where it’s warm then this is the production for you.
Running Time: 2 hours and 15 minutes with an intermission
Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville plays October 30th, 31st and November 1st, 6th, 7th, and 8th 2026 at Dundalk Community Theatre located on the campus of the Community College of Baltimore County Dundalk in the John E. Ravekes Theatre— 7200 Sollers Point Road in Dundalk, MD. Tickets are available for purchase by calling the box office at (443) 840-2787 or by purchasing them in advance online.
