Images: 
Total Rating: 
***
Opened: 
April 26, 2022
Ended: 
May 15, 2022
Country: 
USA
State: 
California
City: 
Los Angeles
Company/Producers: 
Troika Entertainment national tour
Theater Type: 
Regional; Touring
Theater: 
Dolby Theater
Theater Address: 
6801 Hollywood Boulevard
Phone: 
800-982-2787
Website: 
broadwayinhollywood.com
Running Time: 
2 hrs, 30 min
Genre: 
Musical
Author: 
Book: Robert Horn; Score: David Yazbek
Director: 
Dave Solomon
Review: 

The musical Tootsie comes to the Dolby Theater after enjoying successful and prize-winning runs in Chicago and New York. Based on the 1982 film directed by Sydney Pollack and starring Dustin Hoffman, it once again tells the story of a frustrated  New York actor who dresses as a woman in order to find professional work, only to learn he’s a better person female than he ever was male.

Guys posing as dolls has long been a staple of farcical theater — TV, as well; think of Milton Berle. Tootsie’s original writers, Larry Gelbart, Don McGuire, and Murray Schisgal (plus the uncredited Elaine May), created comic but credible characters; the musical dumbs down just about everything they did, turning the vehicle into a cartoon. Still, cartoons can be funny and entertaining, which is certainly the case with Tootsie the musical.

Drew Becker stars as the binary Michael Dorsey/Dorothy Michaels. A charismatic performer, strong at comedy and song, he carries the show on his shoulders, making us believe in his plight when, in drag, he falls for his leading lady (Ashley Alexander), much to the dismay of his ex-girlfriend (Payton Reilly). The latter, originally played by Terri Garr, has been coached by director Dave Salomon to turn Sandy Lester into a shrieking, maniacal mess. The same can be said for several other key characters.

No meaningful explorations into gender issues ensue, just a few glancing remarks and a song which goes like this: “Be a he, be a she, be a they, use whatever bathroom you want, and don’t let anybody tell you you can’t.”  But what the hey, this is a Broadway musical, not a sociological study.

Tootsie is replete with snappy and catchy songs;  it also has a book that triggers lots of laughter…and a large cast that sings and dances its heart out. The show is a well-deserved hit. 

Cast: 
Drew Becker, Ashley Alexandra, Payton Reilly, Lukas James Miller, Jared David Michael Grant, Kathy Halenda, Steve Brustein, Adam Du Pless (plus a 14-person ensemble)
Technical: 
Original Broadway Set: David Rockwell; Tour Set: Christine Peters; Costumes: William Ivey Long; Lighting: Donald Holder; Sound: Brian Ronan; Hair & Wigs: Paul Huntley; Make-Up: Angelina Avallone
Miscellaneous: 
The tour will also play in Costa Mesa at Segerstrom Center for the Performing Arts from May 31 – June 12, 2022
Critic: 
Willard Manus
Date Reviewed: 
April 2022