Musical Theatre Guild’s ‘Disaster!’ delivers camp, chaos and catchy hooks
Theatergoers of a certain age will recognize the DNA of “Disaster! A Musical,” the gleefully absurd jukebox musical spoof by Seth Rudetsky and Jack Plotnick.
Drawing inspiration from the all-star catastrophe films of the 1970s — like “The Towering Inferno,” “Earthquake” and “The Poseidon Adventure” — Musical Theatre Guild of Butler’s latest production leans gleefully into parody, nostalgia and unapologetic silliness.
Set in 1979 on the opening night of a floating Manhattan casino and discotheque, the show quickly establishes its premise: a room full of loosely drawn but enthusiastically played archetypes, all unaware they are about to endure a cascade of increasingly ludicrous disasters.
Earthquakes, fires and structural failures pile up, thanks to the small detail that the casino sits on a fault line. The plot is less about narrative cohesion and more about how cleverly it can string together references to the disaster films it spoofs.
To that end, “Disaster!” packs a wide array of musical hits from the era, woven into the action with groan-inducing puns. An attempt to force open doors prompts “Knock Three Times” and the opening number, “Hot Stuff,” even works in some catering jokes. The cast is high-energy, knowingly cheesy and fully committed to the parody.
Musically, the production is in capable hands. The seven-piece live band, led by Jessica Sanzotti and Ken Smith, keeps the show moving at a brisk pace, navigating the constant shifts between dialogue, musical numbers and comic stings with confidence.
Director Patrick Erkman rises to the challenge of managing a large cast, frequent scene changes and the limitations of the simple performance space. The staging leans on suggestion rather than spectacle as actors mime waterproof doors and react to unseen catastrophes.
The lighting design by Erkman, Glenn Bittner and Eric Snyder helps sell the chaos with flashes of fire, flooding and destruction.
Costumes by Erkman and Lois Eury lean heavily into the era, featuring wigs, flared pants and eye-searing patterns that evoke the look of a 1970s variety show.
The cast embraces the show’s farcical tone with commitment. Phillip Ball’s Professor Ted channels a deadpan, Charlton Heston-like gravitas, delivering dire warnings with unwavering seriousness.
Jerry Johnston’s Tony, the sleazy casino developer in a satin shirt and white alligator shoes, displays sharp comic timing, particularly in his interactions with Sarah Dailey’s reporter. Dailey stands out vocally, bringing clarity and expressive nuance to her songs while grounding her character’s storyline with her character’s ex-finance Chad, played by Cory Pfahl.
Elsewhere, Lisa Welch adds bite as a snarky waitress, and Sue Ann Aiken leans into an exaggerated French accent for broad comedic effect. Liam Kilbourn plays Scott, the goofy caterer on the make, who suffers a particularly ludicrous death.
Shelly Spataro plays Levora Verona, a faded disco diva with a lust for a comeback and a tiny dog in her purse, while Tammy Erkman’s gambling-addicted nun, who serenades a slot machine, exemplifies the show’s commitment to absurdity.
Katy Wayne shines as Shirley, pairing strong comic instincts with a tap-dancing sequence built around Morse code. Alongside Bill Fisher’s Maury, the pair deliver one of the production’s more memorable subplots. Jim Klein earns laughs with a straight-faced rendition of “Three Times a Lady,” complete with ridiculous stage business.
A recurring highlight comes from Lilly Morgan, who plays twins with rapid-fire switches in gender, a bit that becomes even funnier when both twins must appear on stage at once. Heather Check is the twins’ airheaded nightclub singer mother, delivering both comedic flair and strong vocals, particularly on “Saturday Night.”
Like the films it parodies, “Disaster!” takes time to build momentum. The first act focuses on setup and foreshadowing, while the second delivers the bulk of the payoff once the disasters begin in earnest. But audiences don’t come to a jukebox musical comedy for an emotionally moving story. They come for familiar songs performed well, and Butler Musical Theatre Guild’s “Disaster!” more than meets that expectation with energy, humor and a satisfying dose of silliness.
“Disaster!” shows at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 24 and 25, at the Musical Theatre Guild of Butler, William A. Lehnerd Performance Hall and Production Center, 100 Memorial Drive, Butler. Tickets are available at mtgbutler.org.
