A Review

the country adore the singer even more.

In the middle of her second song, many golden fireworks on the outside of the building exploded, giving Rihanna’s halftime show that extra spark of wow-factor that completed it.

During the show, there were many closeups of the dancers during different parts of different songs which gave inside scoops of all aspects of the show.

When Rihanna starts singing one of her hits ,”Work,” the lights and the dancers slow down around her, making it feel like this song slowed down time and everything around her. More of the lights turned red, the dancers got down on the ground for more intense, slower dance moves, and the beat of the music became more alluring to all of those watching.

During all of this breathtaking dancing and singing, Rihanna announces she is pregnant! Being pregnant and providing the intense and unforgettable halftime show that she did was not easy, but Rihanna ate and left no crumbs.

While being pregnant, Rihanna performed many of the dance moves her dancers did all while looking as alive and glowing as ever. Overall, Rihanna’s halftime show will go down in history and certainly will be one that no one ever forgetd.

ALYSSA TILLMAN ALYSSA.TILLMAN.22@CNU.EDU

Head Over Heels is a vibrant and humorous musical journey full of love, self discovery, and 80s rock music. It combines the vibrant feel of the 80s and the radiant aesthetic of Ancient Greece. Set to the music of the 80s all-female rock band The Go-Go’s, Head Over Heels tells the story of a royal family on a quest to save their kingdom from losing its magic. The plot of the show is actually adapted from the play The Countess of Pembroke’s Arcadia written by Sir Philip Sidney in the 16th century. So the combination of a prose romance with 80s girl group music makes for an amazing show.

Opening with “We Got the Beat”, Head Over Heels is lively but also emotional from start to end. All the pieces come together so beautifully, from the actors themselves to the costumes they’re wearing, not to mention the incredible set pieces and seamless transitions between scenes. The energy in every song and dance number makes the audience want to get up and dance themselves.

It’s hard to choose any specific standouts among the cast, as everyone gives such incredible performances. The entire ensemble and orchestra come together to put on such a dynamic show, full of outstanding singing and dancing. Diego Bly and Kimberlie Pagán’s banter as the King and Queen of Arcadia is hilarious to watch, and Chad McKnight’s quips as Dametas, the King’s Advisor, never fails to make the audience laugh. Sara Newton and Renee Kauffman’s performances as the King and Queen’s daughters are emotionally compelling, as well as Bella Schaub’s performance as Mopsa, the eldest daughter’s handmaiden.

Jimmy Grimes gives an incredibly funny performance as Musidorus, a shepherd who the audience is rooting for throughout the whole show. His vocal range is incredible as well. Liam Riley gives a wonderfully dramatic and powerful performance as Pythio, who is the first nonbinary character introduced in the first act. The representation of different identities and experiences within the LGBTQ+ community is truly inspiring to watch.

The cast and crew have a portion of ticket sale proceeds being donated to Hampton Roads’ LGBTQ Life Center, a nonprofit organization whose goal is to empower local LGBTQ+ communities. Head Over Heels manages to showcase real life troubles and experiences without taking itself too seriously, and it makes for a really fun show.