“Every show ends… until the next one begins!”

XOXO: Love Letters from NYC describes itself as “A Musical Revue About Love, Loss, Letting Go, and Loving Again”.  The glittery show features 11 performers, 13 musical numbers, a seemingly endless showcase of costumes, and many, many exciting creative touches.   But yes, kids, XOXO— a collaboration between GPC Entertainment and many talented artists– actually DOES have a plot:  It’s the bittersweet closing night of a long-running show, and the perpetually smiling cast of ten lovely women (plus one man: the show’s emcee Jackson Sturkey) are contemplating their future plans– creative and otherwise.  What’s next for these talented people? Our main heroine Mel B. (Melissa Buriak) must decide between taking over the family business or continuing her life as an entertainer.  Should she “play it safe”, or should she continue to pursue the exciting but turbulent world of showbiz? Her bestie Jackson, who has committed to a life as an entertainer, is trying to convince his galpal to stay on her pathway to becoming a superstar.  It’s a catalyst that pretty much has formed the basis of a seemingly infinite number of movies, TV shows, and plays through the decades.  That said, the good old-fashioned backstage plot is merely an excuse for what awaits the audience with XOXO: a fully-packed 60 minutes of singing, dancing, and good old-fashioned “pizazz”.  The excitement starts with the pounding, sexy opening number, the titular XOXO: “XOXO, you know I love you so; XOXO but now it’s time to go!”  The music continues with the first of many showstoppers, Penthouse, which is a musical representation of any performer’s desired pinnacle of success.  Hearing Jackson Stukey croon, “I waaaaant a pent-house!”, joined in perfect synchrony with his backup singers, is worth the price of admission of XOXO alone.  Before you can say “Give my regards to Broadway”, it’s time for the deliciously delightful Without a Broad, sung by Jessie “Bangarang” Atkinson and Kiley Etling.  After all, “What’s a Broadway show without a couple of ‘broads’?  And who doesn’t love a little “Boogie Woogie”— sung by Nikki Sember.  This may be a good time to share that XOXO incorporates many different musical and dancing styles.  There’s truly something for everyone, and it’s an impressive showcase for the show’s diverse cast of singers and dancers.   For example: Holy Ghost (sung by Etling) makes a hard-hitting power ballad, Eclipse has a pounding, electro-industrial sound, and And Then We Got High evokes the spirit of the ’80’s, from the musical vibe right on down to the blindingly bright fluorescent color scheme.  There’s even a deliciously bizarre number featuring dueling dinosaurs (!) that must be seen to be believed.  It was definitely an audience favorite.

The rapport between Mel and Jackson is fantastic to watch, with their unique friendship musicalized in the smartly hilarious What Would I Do?, sung by Sturkey and Atkinson.  This song deserves to become a new classic for musical theater; Anyone in the performance community can relate.  What does Mel B. eventually decide?  I won’t reveal… but let’s just say that two guesses won’t be necessary.  And of course, there’s a big finale…

A lot of loving, personal attention is given to XOXO.  The costume design– a symphony of fishnets, feathers, sequins, and sex appeal– is superb, with great attention to detail and color schemes.  The cast make the most of the relatively small stage of Manhattan’s Chelsea Table & Stage, utilizing every inch of available space, although the dancers will occasionally spill out into the appreciative audience.  Even at only an hour in running time, XOXO has enough talent, ambition, and energy to rival any Broadway show.  The success of this piece comes down to mainly two factors: the instantly appealing set list of Jackson Sturkey, who wrote all the songs; and (2) the sheer energy and joy of the entire cast, who really give their all both individually and together. Sturkey is a powerful vocalist, whether he’s singing the bluesy, heavy-hitting Excuse Me, Mr. Hayward or the show’s climactic number Meteor (“Someday we’ll get hit by a meteor… then you won’t be mad at me anymore…).

XOXO is directed and produced by Andrea Palesh, Jackson Sturkey, Melissa Buriak, and Will Studabaker, with music by Jackson Sturkey, Will Studabaker, and the Family Liquid Dinner Cabaret. The cast featured company members Melissa Buriak, Carly Willow Johnson, Jackson Sturkey, Kay Radomski, Rachel Caron, Rachel Higbee Pathak, Shannon McGee, Victoria Manoli. Guest acts include Nikki Sember, Kiley Etling, and Jessie Bangarang Atkinson of the Family Liquid Dinner.
Visit http://www.GPC-Entertainment.com for information on upcoming performances.