author: Jake Schwartz
When the whole world starts to turn into a musical, you need to think about the implications! And in Wildwood Summer Theatre’s production of Starkid’s The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals, the implications are everywhere. As with any Starkid show, The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals is vulgar, violent, crass, bloody, and full of content warnings. Yet it has developed a cult following, with many saying it’s Starkid’s best show. Be warned: leave the little ones at home if you’re seeing this show.
Directing her first musical, Katie Quinn definitely picked a challenging piece to put on. She had a very clear vision and had some moments of very creative blocking. You can see the cast having a ton of fun onstage, which is a testament to Quinn creating a great rehearsal environment. Some directorial decisions confused me, like the decision to mime things like opening doors and typing on computers. They tried to pair the miming with sound cues, which fell flat because most of the sound cues either came in late or were inaudible. Overall, Quinn has a bright future ahead of her as a director, and I’d look forward to see what she does next.
The show seemed to struggle a bit on the technical side. The fading out of lights between scenes was slow, making transitions drag. I had a really difficult time hearing a majority of the performers, especially during their musical numbers. I’m hoping these were just some opening night kinks that will be worked out over the course of the run. On the flip side, there were some very impressive technical elements as well. Prop Designers Adam Hawley and Hailey Grigor did a phenomenal job creating high-quality props for the actors. The projections in the show, designed by Sean DiGiorgio and Alana Isaac, were also a very nice touch that went with the tone of the show excellently.
Pivoting to the performances, there were some really strong actors in the show. Will Leovy doubles as Mr. Davidson and General MacNamara. Both roles are hilarious in their own way, with a pretty intense 4th wall break involving Mr. Davidson talking to his wife about what he wants. Nora Rudmann is a vocal powerhouse as Charlotte. Samarra Ferrigno is terrifying with her contorting dance at the start of Act 2. And a special shoutout to ensemble member Carolina Tomasi, whose voice elevated any song that she was in. The decision to have her be the first person to sing in the show was perfect.
Ainsley Harper excellently plays Emma, the main love interest in the show. While the role doesn’t have much to do singing-wise, as an actor, Harper gives a very authentic portrayal and is someone you want to see succeed. Her reactions to the absurdity around her are hilarious, and the few moments in the show where she does sing are very lovely. And when it comes to the end of the show… Let’s just say she is haunting. Playing opposite Emma, the titular guy who doesn’t like musicals, Tudor Rico absolutely nails the role of Paul. He is hilarious, charming, heartwarming, and charismatic. His vocals are extremely impressive. When you finally get to hear Paul sing in Let it Out, Rico more than delivers. Harper and Rico do an excellent job leading the show together and are more than worth the cost of admission.
The last performer I want to highlight, and my personal favorite, was Noah Haren, who brilliantly played Professor Hidgens. Haren was making absolutely hilarious physical choices from the moment they first came on stage. Haren was so committed to the absurdity of the show, it was impossible to take your eyes off them. While I was confused by some of their choices – especially the moment where they took their shoe off during their big song- I have to applaud the dedication and commitment to the bit. I’m not sure if I will ever be able to look at an Amazon Alexa the same way.
While I had a few gripes with this show, I still would absolutely recommend going to see the show yourself. You’ll for sure get some good laughs and see some up-and-coming talent in the area.
Running Time: Approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes with one intermission
The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals plays through August 1st 2026 with Wildwood Summer Theatre— 7995 Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring, MD. Tickets are available in advance online.
