Music Guild’s “Margaritaville” Musical A True Priceless Escape
I have been on vacation since Feb. 10 — no, I do NOT have a job with that generous paid time off. That blessed respite and escape from the real world comes in “Escape To Margaritaville,” the new QC Music Guild show for which I am assistant music director and playing keyboard (rehearsals began that February night).
The playful, exuberant, heartwarming Jimmy Buffett jukebox musical opened Friday night at Prospect Park in Moline and is a literal tropical island getaway on stage.
If ever we all needed an escape from the craziness and challenges of life, it’s now, especially me after the frustrating wringer I’ve been put through the past eight months. And while a tropical vacation is likely within very few people’s budgets, a $20 Guild ticket is far more manageable and you get transported to a colorful, sun-splashed musical — with tons of fun, romance, humor, great music and amazing cast — for two and a half unforgettable hours. Much of the show is a boisterous party, and the energetic cast don’t need to act when you see how much they’re enjoying themselves.
Ashley Gomez and Joseph Nguyen.
I’m so lucky to be among the crack nine-piece on stage band who get to play the panoply of infectious, gorgeous Buffett songs in this outpost of the life-affirming singer/songwriter’s vast Margaritaville empire. I was asked to help lead this glorious singing ship by Luke Vermiere, the show’s director, Guild veteran (on stage and off), and board member. He and I got to collaborate on his previous, very different directorial effort, “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.”
For many in that intense, dramatic production (including me), the thrilling Stephen Sondheim opera was a true bucket-list show, in fall 2023. “Margaritaville” — inspired by the laid-back 1977 smash hit — could not be more different than “Sweeney” — light versus dark, happy versus sad, no death versus scores of victims (made into meat pies), carefree bliss versus tragedy laced with revenge.
Kirsten Sindelar as Rachel.
And musically, they also are yin and yang — Sondheim is a tantalizing, difficult bear to learn and play, while Buffett is a literal breeze and joy. Many of his songs are built on the simple foundation of the one original tune he penned for the 2017 premiere (“Three Chords” is all you need).
Vermiere is a true longtime Buffett fan, member of the Quad City Parrot Head Club (local chapter of the worldwide fan organization), which also donated many set items we’re using for the Guild production. He told us the other night that “Escape to Margaritaville” is an even better jukebox musical than the ABBA smash “Mamma Mia!,” mainly because it has a more meaty story and inspiring message. But the Buffett show didn’t reflect that in popularity — it played just 124 performances on Broadway, compared to 5,773 for “Mamma Mia!” (as well as two films).
Jack Bevans as Tully.
In the story, Tully Mars (a stand-in for Jimmy) works as a singer for the bar at Margaritaville, a hotel on a small unnamed island in the Caribbean, along with Brick, the bartender, Jamal, the busboy, Marley, the owner, and J.D., a one-eyed beach bum who spends his days at the bar. Meanwhile, starting in Cincinnati, Rachel and Tammy prepare to go on vacation at the Margaritaville before Tammy gets married, but her fiancé, Chadd, forces Tammy to go on a diet of carrot juice and sunflower seeds, so she can lose weight for the wedding. When they get to Margaritaville, new love blossoms and a cheeseburger is a key plot point (and look for one on set).
The show is a visual and sonic paradise, and the stacked cast packed with talent, led by Kirsten Sindelar (veteran Circa ’21 Bootlegger) as Rachel, the work-obsessed environmental scientist, and 2024 college grad Jack Bevans as the friendly, chill Tully, who gets Rachel to make “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes” and gives her (and us) a whole new perspective on life.
The talented ensemble features Dave Edwards, third from right.
Andy Sederquist and Madison Duling are the hilarious, corny and adorable Brick and Tammy; Gary Mayfield is the flamboyant Jamal; Em Schwartz the Jamaican, no-nonsense Marley; Michael Van Belle the good-natured, wise J.D., and Evan Gagliardo has the biggest acting stretch as the loathsome jerk Chadd.
It’s such a strong cast that audiences should make special note of all going on the background among the expressive ensemble, my favorites being Dave Edwards and Ashley Gomez (who also are two of the meteorologists at the show prologue). And the local acting chops here may be best exemplified by the “Sweeney Todd” vets Edwards and Van Belle (whose characters also could not be more different between the two shows).
Andy Sederquist as Brick.
“Escape to Margaritaville” features many contributions from other songwriters, including one breathtakingly beautiful non-Buffett piece, “Coast of Marseilles,” which was originally written by Keith Sykes and greatly expanded for a pivotal late scene in the musical. I love luxuriating in its bewitching, yearning music.
Special shout-out for our outstanding music director, Stephen Scott, who has brought relentless passion, fun, and drive for perfection in his debut as Guild music director (he played trombone in the “Sweeney” pit with me). He also dazzles in what seems like a dozen percussion instruments in the “Margaritaville” band (one of three percussion players!).
Madison Duling, left, as Tammy, Michael Van Belle as J.D. and Kirsten Sindelar as Rachel.
The show was done in the QC in summer 2023 by Circa and was near the end of its run when Jimmy Buffett died Sept. 1, 2023, of a rare skin cancer.
The beloved artist and businessman had a net worth of $1 billion, due in part from his sprawling chain of Margaritaville hotels and resorts (more than 50), and his Latitude Margaritaville, a series of retirement communities with 10,265 homes in Daytona Beach, and Watersound, Fla., and Hilton Head, S.C.
Em Schwartz as Marley.
Just living in this musical is heaven enough for me – being part of my fourth Music Guild production is my true happy place. As Tully says, “it’s pure beautifulness.” Come take a vacation with us; I never want to leave.
** “Escape to Margaritaville” will continue at Music Guild, 1584 34th Ave., Moline, Saturday, April 5 at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, April 6 at 2 p.m., Friday and Saturday, April 11-12 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, April 13 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students, available at qcmusicguild.com.
Gary Mayfield as Jamal.
Madison Duling and Kirsten Sindelar.
The cast of Music Guild’s “Escape to Margaritaville,” running through April 13.
