Smile
at Monarch High School

Reviewed on February 8, 2020

Madison Winkler
American Heritage School
Submitted for publication to Florida Theater On Stage

With eye-shadow and rouge, a teased hairdo, and a sparkling smile, she's the epitome of an American dream girl. Possessing impeccable beauty and charisma, 16 soon-to-be seniors fend to claim the crown and prove both their beauty within and on the exterior. The cast of Smile at Monarch High School performed and competed for the prized title of overall excellency and a night of endless charm.

Smile the musical made its Broadway debut in 1986 with remarkable music by Marvin Hamlisch and a likewise exceptional book by Howard Ashman. Loosely based on a 1975 comedy film of the same name, the musical is acknowledged as "lost," as it lacks any original cast recording. The musical discovers the behind the curtain drama and course of events at the fictional 1985 California Young American Miss beauty pageant. With a glance at both the contestant's varying mindsets as well as the pageant director and her outspoken husband, the musical bursts with energy, pizzazz, and the coveted title up for grabs.

With radiating vocals in her early show solo "Disneyland," actress Mia Prokop enchanted the audience with her southern bell portrayal of Doria Hudson. Building a sweet and pure friendship with underdog contestant, Robin Gibson (Janessa Coronado), she consistently provided strong character choices and vocals. In addition, the Freelander family succeeded in developing personas that captured the essence of Smile. Ex-pageant contestant and current competition director, Brenda DiCarlo Freelander, played by Megan Almonte, withheld a great deal of maturity and pride. Her humble husband and mischievous son, respectively Big and Little Bob Freelander, similarly gave realistic performances that complimented those previously mentioned.

Like the praised above, other cast members, Mariana Montoya (Maria Gonzales) and Logan Draluck (Tommy French) are worth commending. With hilarious comedic moments, Gonzales exploded with Mexican fire and every line induced laughter. To follow, Draluck's role as the pageant's choreographer, Tommy French, was executed to a tee and like Gonzales, had some funny additions to the evening.

The Contestants were a cohesive ensemble of darling divas as shown through their developed, distinct characters and ability to transform the audience into the pageant world. While they at times lacked in overall energy, their stellar vocals and crisp harmonies were superb, adding a layer of sophistication to such a composed show. Adorned with dazzling gowns, the girls poured their hearts out hopeful to claim Young American Miss.

Technically speaking, the cast and crew of Monarch High School exceeded initial expectations. With nearly every category done by the hard work of students, it was outstanding to watch such craft translate on stage. The lighting team did notably well with their usage of specific lights to compliment both Gloria's fanciful solo "Disneyland," as well as Maria's sensational Mexican extravaganza. Every category was intricate and the time put towards achieving such work demanded intense acknowledgement.

All in all, the Monarch Theatre Department collaborated beautifully to create a piece of art that captured pageantry in an upbeat, enjoyable manner. While the show did falter with sound implications and consistency in energy, the cast and crew lead the way to grasp beauty in everything and everyone.

Lauren Ferrer
Calvary Christian Academy
Submitted for publication to Florida Theater On Stage

"She's a typical high school senior, she is thoughtful and bright and clean." Beauty pageants were first popularized in the 1920's, searching to find the purest of female teenagers in America. However, there is a lot more to these contests than fancy dresses and the well-known "princess wave". In Monarch High School's production of Smile, we were transported to the behind the scenes bustle and tension that precedes every beauty pageant.

The original production is based on the 1975 film by Jerry Belson. The show was adapted for the stage as a musical, composed by Marvin Hamlisch with book and lyrics by Howard Ashman. The show opened on Broadway on November 24,1986 and ran until January 3, 1987 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, receiving a Tony nomination for best book. Smile narrates the backstage anxieties of the 1985 California Young American Miss beauty pageant in Santa Rosa, California. Friendships blossom and tension spreads as these young contestants fight for the title of Young American Miss.

From the second she walked on stage, Mia Prokop, playing the part of Doria Hudson, portrayed a deep understanding of her character's background. With strong vocals and captivating physicality, Prokop made clear her character's vivid aspirations for the contest. Playing Doria's timid roommate Robin Gibson was Janessa Coronado. Coronado's simple mannerisms made for an interesting character to watch; as we are able to see Robin go through the stages of the contest with hope and apprehension. The growing friendship between Robin and Doria was made evident from the first act to the second, making for a heartfelt dynamic throughout the show.

Other standout actors include the husband and wife duo, Brenda (Megan Almonte) and Bob Freelander (Nicolas Martins). Contrasting Almonte's firm and organized persona, Martins revealed a wide range of emotion as conflict grew between himself and Brenda. With impeccable comedic timing and a consistent Spanish accent, Mariana Montoya dominated the role of Maria Gonzales. Gonzales' hilarious persona and quirky mannerisms made for an exquisite performance. Although the ensemble lacked connection to the event at hand, the pageant contestants had a strong vocal blend which resulted in beautiful harmonies.

Technically, the show ran efficiently. Making the choice to have the run crew in costume proved beneficial, as it allowed for minimal distractions during scene transitions. Although the actors were not always lit, the lighting designers are to be commended for their beautiful depiction during the number, Disneyland. With vibrant colors and simple staging, the lights transported the audience away from the pageant at hand and into Doria Hudson's dreams and aspirations. The hair and make-up team proved their noticeable research as all hairstyles and make-up choices were cohesive to the 80's time period.

Brimming with powerful vocals and contagious energy, Monarch High School's production of Smile reminds us to follow our dreams, no matter the chances, nor the outcome.

Cristian Velasquez
Cypress Bay High School
Submitted for publication to Florida Theater On Stage

Slip into your glamorous gowns, strap on those high heels, and put on a dazzling smile! First up on the runway is Monarch High School in their spirited production of "Smile," where the unmerciful competitiveness and the saccharine friendships of the 16 young contestants are brought to light in the California Young American Miss beauty pageant.

Based on the 1975 comedy film of the same name, "Smile" opened on Broadway in 1986, closing in January of 1987. Earning a Tony nomination for Best Book and two Drama Desk Award nominations, the production features music by Marvin Hamlish with lyrics and book by Howard Ashman. "Smile" tells the comical tale of the California Young American Miss Beauty Pageant of 1985, as the participants compete for the title of California Young Miss America and the opportunity to move on to the national competition held in Baton Rouge.

Mia Prokop portrayed the confident and determined Doria Hudson. With powerful vocals and excellent placement, Prokop demonstrated exceptional vocal abilities, especially in her solo "Disneyland." Her captivating and consistent stage presence never failed to grab the attention of the audience. Alongside Prokop was Janessa Coronado who played the anxious underdog, Robin Gibson. Coronado additionally demonstrated beautiful vocals and maintained a distinguished character. Both actresses worked together remarkably, forming a sincere relationship throughout the production, despite being one another's competition in the pageant.

Brenda Dicarlo Freelander, the pageant's Executive Director, was portrayed by Megan Almonte. Almonte remained consistent throughout the show's entirety and developed her character with dignity. She displayed notably clean vocals in her song "The Very Best Week of Your Lives." Almonte additionally exhibited delightful chemistry with Nicolas Martins, who portrayed Big Bob Freelander, the head judge of the pageant.

With flawlessly blended harmonies, the ensemble of the pageant contestants must be recognized for their dedication and commitment, despite lacking energy and facials at times throughout the production. One of the most notable performances among them, was that of Mariana Montoya as the humorous Maria Gonzales. With her boundless energy and limitless zest, Montoya never failed to humor the audience through her stereotypical portrayal of the Mexican guacamole-making teen.

From the mom jeans and spandex workout clothes to the dazzling pageant dresses, the costume designers must be accredited for their research into popular 1980's fashion, complementing each scene of the show wonderfully. The lighting designer's usage of the colorful lights contributed nicely to the emotional tones of the scenes; however, the spotlights were distracting at times. Stage management must additionally be commended for their accuracy on the numerous lighting cues throughout the production, despite sound discrepancies.

As the pageant comes to an end and the judges announce the victors, Monarch High School's rendition of "Smile" leaves us with one thought: in a world ruled by competition, winning is not all that is meaningful, rather it's the friendships we form on the way and who we are competing for that matters.

Kelsey Wells
Calvary Christian Academy
Submitted for publication to Florida Theater On Stage

Forty years ago, the world was all about big hair, bright colors, and yes, beauty pageants. While exhibiting flair and pizazz to rival any pageant contestant, the company of Monarch High School transported the audience back to the dazzling decade of the 80s with their performance of the musical, Smile.

Throughout the show, the entire cast came together wonderfully as an ensemble, heightening the energy and deepening characters' chemistries. For the most part, the actors continued to demonstrate more energy as the show progressed, though there were some inconsistencies in their intentions from time to time. All of the actors were deftly able to harmonize and blend well together in each of the songs, despite having to battle issues with the mics. Credit to all the actors who did a good job of projecting when a mic would cut in and out during a scene.

The ensemble was full of individual performers with exceptional talent and unique vocals. Mia Prokop exhibited captivating control over both the tender notes and powerful belts of each of her songs in the role of Doria Hudson. Megan Almonte - who played Brenda Dicarlo Freelander - had a sweet and nurturing tone, perfect for her character as the pageant coordinator. In a show dominated by female characters, Nicolas Martins brought in a beautiful baritone sound that added diversity to the show and dimension to his character of Big Bob Freelander.

The cast also included people with rather interesting abilities. Certain contestants of the beauty pageant are demanded by the script to perform an array of talents in the competition, and two of these girls rose to the challenge brilliantly. Pooja Singh played Sandra-Kay Maccaffee whose talent is ventriloquy. She exhibited real prowess as a ventriloquist while bringing comedy to the routine. Grace Prokop played Connie-Sue Whipple whose talent is flag twirling. She dazzled the audience with her skilled turns and catches, making the difficult act seem almost effortless.

The technical aspects of the show ran fairly smoothly, especially the run crew. They swiftly moved various set pieces while in costume as pageant attendants, which added an extra element of realism to the show. This attention to detail was also exemplified by the props in many of the scenes, with the standout piece being the time period projector used during the final round of the pageant to display the contestant's photos This authenticy accentuated the realism of the show and made the audience feel as though they were really transported back to the 80s.

The company of Monarch High School tackled quite a difficult musical with great energy, skilled vocals, and authenticity that made each performer shine onstage. They truly brought a smile to the audience's faces.

Ash Scorca
St. Thomas Aquinas High School
Submitted for publication to Florida Theater On Stage

Being in competition with others is always tense, and though it isn't always fair; it seems to be the case that those who work the hardest or deserve a prize almost never get it. Through betrayal and unexpected decisions, this truth shined through in the Monarch Theatre Department's production of Smile by Howard Ashman and Marvin Hamisch. As audiences follow the different experiences of pageant girls during the Young American Miss pageant, they see first hand just how unfair competition can be.

Smile spotlights the experiences of a handful of teenaged pageant girls as well as the adults who are running the event. As the story progresses, the audience grows to love certain characters, only to see their chances unfairly tampered with by a rival pageant hopeful. The musical was produced on Broadway in 1986, but takes place in 1985. It is loosely based off of a ‘75 film, also titled "Smile". The production did not do well on Broadway, running for less than two months, and was never given an official cast recording; thus it was dubbed a "lost" musical. The musical was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical and received two Drama Desk Award nominations, but did not win any of the awards.

The Monarch actors harbored beautiful harmonies and overall vocals on the stage. They diligently worked through some rough technical difficulties to sound amazing despite them. The actors seemed to have a good understanding of their characters and their arcs, especially Megan Almonte who had an amazing stage presence in her role as Brenda Dicarlo Freelander. Also Nicolas Martins, as Big Bob Freelander, held a cohesive chemistry with Almonte and portrayed strong emotions in his role. Though energy was low from some actors, Mariana Montoya as Maria Gonzales lit up the stage with her high energy and comedic timing. Through and through, the actors worked incredibly well with the script and did a wonderful job bringing the story to the stage.

With completely student-run technical aspects, the technicians impressed audiences with their skills. The operation of the spotlight was imposing, since unfortunately a spotlight operator was replaced since their opening night. Although some technical elements did not make a lasting impression, props managed to stand out with incredible detail and perfectly matched the period of the piece. The scene transitions were quick and generally helped the show run smoothly.

Overall, the Monarch Theatre Department put on an especially engaging performance of this lost musical. The trials of competition may have brought down the character of Maria Gonzales, but Monarch rose to the occasion with an impressive showing of skill and talent. Although the actors worked around some tech issues and tech worked around some replacement issues, everyone was able to put their all into the production with a marvelous turnout.

Sophie Vega
Archbishop Edward A. McCarthy High School
Submitted for publication to The Knight's Quartley

Watch as sixteen high school senior girls pack their bags and head to Santa Rosa with hopes to be crowned the next "Young American Miss" in Monarch High School's production of "Smile".

Loosely based on a 1975 film of the same title, Smile follows the story of the fictional 1985 California Young American Miss Beauty Pageant and its contestants as each of them compete to win the title and all the glory that comes with it. With book and lyrics by Howard Ashman and music by Marvin Hamlisch, the musical received a Tony Award nomination for Best Book of a Musical, in addition to two Drama Desk Award nominations.. Smile critiques the 80's glamorization of child-beauty stars and the prevalence of racism in the cut-throat world of pageantry through entertaining musical numbers and hilarious characters. When newbie Robin Gibson meets Doria Hudson, an experienced beauty queen with a love for the spotlight and dreams of Disneyland, they form an instant friendship that keeps them together as they navigate the trials of pageant life. But soon, backstage drama unfolds as some of the girls plot devious schemes to get their biggest competition eliminated from the contest altogether.

With unparalleled comedic quality and larger-than-life attitude, Mariana Montoya (Maria Gonzales), captured the attention of audience members with her commitment to character, her Mexican accent, and her clear singing voice. Mia Prokop (Doria Hudson) brought life to the stage with a strong stage presence, high-energy, and beautiful vocal quality. Megan Almonte (Brenda Dicarlo Freelander) displayed a clear arc and character development throughout the show that made the uptight pageant coordinator seem three-dimensional, notably in scenes with her husband, played by Nicolas Martins (Big Bob Freelander), who showed a more emotional side of a father figure.

The stage crew worked splendidly to move props and set pieces with precision and efficiency, aiding the pacing of the show. Attention to detail was shown from the intricacies of hair, makeup, and costuming onstage as seen through the dramaturgical research. Though oftentimes in large musical numbers the singers could not be heard due to sound difficulties, the angelic harmonies and vocal blend from the ensemble still shined through. The choreography, while simplistic, allowed the character's individuality to show on stage. Altogether, the cast worked well to highlight the rather campy and cheesy aspects of the show, leaving the audience laughing with every line.

Monarch High School's "Smile" shows us that these "soon to be high school seniors" will always find a way to shine.

Dominique Palmer
Archbishop Edward A. McCarthy High School
Submitted for publication to The Knight's Quartley

The year is 1985, the colors are bright, the makeup is crazy, everything is big, and the hair is even bigger. Monarch High School's production of "Smile" shows what it was like to be "Young and American" during this totally tubular time.

Smile the Musical first opened on Broadway on November 24, 1986 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre and closed after 48 performances. With music by Marvin Hamlisch and lyrics by Howard Ashman. Based on the film of the same name, Smile tells the story of the wacky antics that happened at the 1985 California Young American Miss beauty pageant. The main story lines are focused on Robin and Doria, two pageant hopefuls, as well as Brenda and Big Bob, the directors of the competition.

The ensemble as a whole created a very fun energy for the show that built up as the night went on. The number "Young and American" really allowed the members of the ensemble to show off their talent such as the skilled flag twirling by Grace Prokop (Connie-Sue Whipple), who made the performance very exciting to watch. Being a driving force in the show, Megan Almonte (Brenda Dicarlo Freelander) gave a lovely performance and demonstrated proficient vocals in the song "The Very Best Week of Your Lives". Almonte also demonstrated a very clear character arc that showed the growth of her character beautifully. Outstanding vocalist Mia Prokop showed off her great technique throughout the show, especially during her solo "Disneyland." A highlight of the production was standout performer Mariana Montoya (Maria Gonzales). Montoya had incredibly high energy as well as great comedic timing, especially during her pageant performance which made everyone root for Maria every time she came on stage. A featured standout of this production was James Horn(Tony/Parent). Horn gave a very natural performance and complimented the scenes he was in very nicely. His physicality gave off a great vibe as the "chill" stagehand.

From a technical standpoint the show was very respectable. The costumes reflected the decade they were set in surprisingly well. There was obviously research into the style of clothes people actually wore, which really helped immerse the audience in the 80s. The makeup especially was very accurate and the effort made was very clear. While there were some issues with the lighting, overall the lights were very appropriate for the show and it fit the tone very nicely. The stage crew moved the sets on and off with remarkable speed and efficiency. The scene changes were never too long and everything ran very smoothly. Dressing the crew in the pageant shirt and jeans was a nice touch and helped the tone of the show from being disrupted.

Overall it was a very fun experience at the "Young American Miss" beauty pageant. Monarch Highschool put on a lovely production of Smile the Musical that was very enjoyable to watch. The energy and attention to detail was very apparent and tied the show together in a way that made for a "stellar" night for all.