BUELLER BUELLER BUELLER? THE BRATS TAKE OVER THE DAPPER FEINSTEIN’S AT THE HOTEL NIKKO
THE BRATPACK IS A HIGH VOLTAGE BLAST FROM THE PAST,
THE PERFECT WAY TO START YOUR
FALL SEASON BACK IN THE THEATRE
The Brats are in detention “For the Record Live” a production company based out of LA has transformed Feinstein’s at the Nikko into 1980's Shermer, Illinois high school classroom. The 360-degree live-concert experience is an 80’s explosion. Sell out crowds re-living 16 Candles, Pretty in Pink and more. The new immersive musical BRATPACK is a throwback fusion of 80’s films and music. With an extended run set to launch, but for now the show is taking new students of all ages through November 7th.
Sumié Maeda, Choreographer & Associate Director of BratPack, was concerned about the non diversity of 80’s films. "One of the biggest barriers (with) high school movies of the 80's is the overwhelming whiteness of the films," John Hughes was making very white films, for a mostly white audience” says Maeda. “Casting a new BratPack that reflects our communities as they actually are highlights the message of breaking down stereotypes and seeing the complexity in all of us."
The polished Brats are locally cast with some of the best in the Bay Area including; Rachel Lark (Basketcase), Michael Martinez (Jock), Zahan Mehta (Rebel), Bryan Munar (Geek), Danielle Mendoza (Princess), and Scott Taylor-Cole (Mister). The musical director, Matt Grandy, is on stage with the cast behind his busy keyboard. The swing cast includes May Ramos and Roeen Nooran.
I am a true John Hughes fanboy and admire his classics The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles and Pretty in Pink are clearly the heart of this 90 minute funfest, with Ferris Bueller resting as the “King of the Brats”. The wonderful Brats opens with the anthem “DON'T YOU (FORGET ABOUT ME)” and from note one the audience is treated to the voice power of this talented company. The banner song PRETTY IN PINK is performed by the amazing Rachel Lark, Zahan Mehta and Michael Martinez. The on stage band is the cast as each member plays instruments when needed. Lark is wild on the drums and Danielle Mendoza whales on her electric guitar.
Directors and writers Shane Scheel and Anderson Davis use the basic themes from The Breakfast Club based on a group of teens at a weekend Saturday detention school. Ferris Beuller’s Day Off, Weird Science and Some Kind of Wonderful, Say Anything, Fast Times at Ridgemont High are also clearly referenced. The remarkable Scott Taylor-Cole who plays “Mister” is terrific and the villain principal from Beuller and the detention hall adult. Taylor-Cole is full throttle in the song YOUNG AMERICANS as he lifts Feinstein’s to the top floor of the Nikko Hotel.
The sensational Bryan Munar whips the sold out crowd into a Beuller frenzy as he brings back the classic TWIST AND SHOUT that Matthew Broderick made iconic at the Chicago parade. Munar is also a blast of talent in WEIRD SCIENCE alongside Lark and Zahan Mehta. Later the impressive Mehta is explosive in the song REBEL YELL with the full cast. But the one talent that stops this 90 minute blast to the past is the gifted Danielle Mendoza as she sings WE ARE NOT ALONE. (May Ramos plays this role at certain performances and Mendoza rotates in both roles of Princess and Basketcase with Roeen Nooran filling in for Munar.)
The wonderful Michael Martinez sings the iconic Spandau Ballet - TRUE from 16 Candles. Martinez is also a powerhouse in WOULDN'T IT BE GOOD from Pretty in Pink with the Brats. David Bowie’s classic CHANGES is performed by Mendoza and she proves her superb voice. The evening ends of course with iconic Modern English hit I MELT WITH YOU and an encore of DON’T YOU FORGET ABOUT ME with the entire cast.
BRATPACK grew from a karaoke club in LA’s Koreatown back in 2019. This fall it is sure to be extended and live a nice 80’s life at the Hotel Nikko. It is a perfect night of fun as we do our best to move on from the Covid months. The show will inspire you to stand and cheer. Feinstiens is in Covid compliance. The bar offers great 80’s themed drinks that are all ordered from an app on our cells. The producers encourage 80’s attire and TO SAVE FERRIS!
FOR THE RECORD LIVE
& FEINSTEIN’S AT THE NIKKO PRESENTS
THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA PREMIERE OF
BRATPACK
The immersive ‘80s theatrical live-concert event
Executive producer Shane Scheel,
Director Adapted by Anderson Davis
Choreographer and AD Sumie Maeda
Musical supervisor Jesse Vargas
Producer (San Francisco) Ken Savage
Tickets are on sale now at www.FeinsteinsSF.com.
222 Mason St, San Francisco, CA 94102
Pending extensions the show is selling seats through Nov 6th
RUN TIME 90 Min no intermission
Photos by Kelly Mason
SETLIST
Intro:
DON'T YOU (FORGET ABOUT ME) – The Brats
Chapter One: the Princess & the Jock
PRETTY IN PINK - Rebel & Jock with Basket Case
CHANGES - Princess with Teens
YOUNG AMERICANS – Mr. with the Brats
TRUE - Jock with the Brats
TRY A LITTLE TENDERNESS - Geek with Princess & Jock
Chapter Two: The Geek
WEIRD SCIENCE - Geek with Rebel & Basket Case
OH YEAH – The Brats
TURNING JAPANESE - Basket Case with the Brats
TWIST AND SHOUT - Geek with the Brats
Chapter Three: A Rebel & a Basket Case
REBEL YELL - Rebel with the Brats
IN YOUR EYES - Basket Case
SOMEBODY’S BABY - Rebel
IN YOUR EYES (REPRISE) - Basket Case with the Brats
Chapter Four: Detention
WOULDN’T IT BE GOOD – The Brats
DON’T YOU FORGET ABOUT ME (REPRISE)- Geek with the Brats
WE ARE NOT ALONE - Princess with The Brats
Chapter Five: Prom
IF YOU LEAVE – The Brats
IN YOUR EYES (Boombox Version) - Rebel
Encore: Graduation
I MELT WITH YOU - Rebel & Basket Case with the Brats
DON'T YOU (FORGET ABOUT ME) (ENCORE) – The Brats
COVID STATEMENT
Feinstein's at the Nikko has reopened with the health and safety of our patrons, artists, and staff as our top priority and is vaccination-only destination. All patrons must be fully vaccinated. Proof of vaccination by all parties must be shown before entering. Proof can be in the form of your physical vaccination card, a digital photo of your vaccination card on your phone, or proof through an official web-based Covid-vaccination registry system (including the state of CA or recognized health-care providers). In all cases, the name of patron, the date of last vaccination shot, and a matching photo-ID must be made available at time of entry. All protocols and safety measures are in-line with the standards and guidelines as set forth by the City and County of San Francisco. Following the updated guidelines as set forth by the City of San Francisco, guests will be required to wear masks at all times while in Hotel Nikko and in our performance spaces. All patrons are required to wear a mask anytime you're not actively eating or drinking, including every time a server approaches the table. Ticket holders must agree to these policies during the ticketing process to complete their order.
The production and creative team from the acclaimed Los Angeles production will be coming to San Francisco to work with an all-local cast and crew, including executive producer Shane Scheel, director and adapter Anderson Davis, choreographer and associate director Sumie Maeda, musical supervisor Jesse Vargas, lighting designer Mike Berger, costume designer Steve Mazurek, set designer Matthew Steinbrenner, sound designer Ben Soldate, producer (San Francisco) Ken Savage and production stage manager Miranda Erin Campbell.
