There is no shortage of energy, enthusiasm or youthful talent in Bring It On: The Musical, currently playing at the National Theatre, St Kilda. Yet for all its colour, movement and infectious spirit, this ambitious production never quite achieves the lift-off its material demands.
Inspired by the popular film franchise, Bring It On: The Musical boasts an impressive creative pedigree. The score is by Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton, In the Heights) and Tom Kitt (American Idiot, Jagged Little Pill), with lyrics by Amanda Green and Miranda, and a book by Jeff Whitty (Avenue Q). Premiering in 2011 before opening on Broadway the following year, the musical received two Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical and Best Choreography.
The story centres on Campbell (Emily McDougall), a fiercely ambitious cheerleader whose carefully mapped-out senior year is thrown into disarray when she is unexpectedly redistricted from the affluent Truman High to the very different Jackson High. Initially a fish out of water, Campbell finds an unlikely community among Jackson’s students and, driven by her desire to return to competitive cheerleading, joins forces with Danielle (Alyssa Jandayan) and her formidable dance crew.
What follows is a familiar high-school tale of rivalry, betrayal, friendship and self-discovery, wrapped in the highly competitive world of cheerleading. The musical has plenty to say about ambition, identity and the dangers of defining oneself through victory, but Jeff Whitty’s book often relies heavily on familiar teenage archetypes and predictable narrative turns. There are flashes of the irreverent wit one might expect from the writer of Avenue Q, though the material rarely digs deeply beneath its glossy surface.
Under Tahra Cannon’s direction, the production embraces the work’s broad high-school comedy, but too often follows the well-worn path of its clichés rather than finding ways to sharpen or subvert them. The result is amiable and frequently entertaining, but dramatically uneven. Some scenes crackle with personality, while others struggle to maintain momentum across the musical’s lengthy running time.
The production’s greatest missed opportunity lies in its choreography. Louise Panagiotidis keeps the large ensemble in almost constant motion, but much of the movement feels conventional for a musical so intrinsically tied to the athletic spectacle of competitive cheerleading.
Given the size of the cast, and the evident cheerleading experience within its ranks, there is a surprising lack of the daring stunt work, tumbling and aerial formations that might have given the production a genuine sense of danger and exhilaration. The choreography is energetic, certainly, but rarely delivers the breathtaking physical spectacle the title promises.
Emily McDougall anchors the production confidently as Campbell, capturing both the character’s relentless determination and the insecurity beneath it. Campbell is not always easy to like, and McDougall does well to negotiate her more self-serving impulses while keeping the audience invested in her eventual growth.
As Danielle, Alyssa Jandayan brings authority and presence to the Jackson High crew, providing an effective counterweight to Campbell’s ambition. Jenna Mole brings warmth and comic appeal to Bridget, whose journey from awkward outsider to newfound confidence is among the musical’s more endearing threads.
The supporting cast includes Zade Nabole as Twig, Sho Tochigi as Cameron, Fergus Rann as Steven, Taylor-Anne Bright as Eva, Flynn Hunter as Randall, Elle Fenelon as Kylar, Cara Mia Honan as Skylar and Yurina Kutsukake as Nautica. Ari Rego makes a particularly memorable impression as La Cienega, bringing charisma and assured comic timing to the role.
Musically, the production is on firmer ground. Musical director Claire Gurrin has done an excellent job with the seven-piece band, navigating a score that moves between pop, rock, hip-hop and contemporary musical theatre with considerable confidence.
The band provides a vibrant foundation for the production, ably supported by Noah Chrapot’s sound design. At times, however, the balance between band and cast requires further refinement, with lyrics occasionally struggling to emerge clearly through the mix.
Indiana Pepperell’s set design is relatively simplistic, leaving much of the National Theatre’s expansive stage open for the sizeable company. While functional, it does little to establish the contrasting worlds of Truman and Jackson High. Harrison Croft’s kaleidoscopic lighting compensates to some degree, injecting colour and dynamism into the production and helping propel its larger ensemble sequences.
Karen Spencer’s costumes are among the production’s strongest elements. Bold, colourful and impressively detailed, they immediately define the competing schools and contribute significantly to the visual impact of the evening. Special mention must also go to Steven McClure’s wonderfully realised mascot costumes, which provide some of the production’s most memorable visual flourishes.
There is much to admire in the commitment of this large company. The cast attacks the material with infectious enthusiasm, and the production’s inclusive spirit is entirely in keeping with a musical that ultimately argues there is more to life than trophies, popularity and being number one.
Yet Bring It On: The Musical is a show that demands precision, pace and genuine athletic spectacle. This production has the heart and enthusiasm, but not always the sharpness or physical daring required to send it soaring. Too often, it remains grounded when it should be flying.
Nevertheless, its energetic cast, strong musical foundations and impressive visual flourishes ensure there is still plenty to enjoy. For audiences willing to embrace its unapologetically youthful world of rivalries, friendships and pom-poms, Bring It On: The Musical offers an entertaining night out, even if it does not quite stick the landing.
Bring It On The Musical
The National Theatre, Carlisle Street, St Kilda
Performance: Saturday 11 July 2026
Season continues to 26 July 2026
Bookings: www.booktickets.com.au
For more information, visit: www.theatrical.com.au for details.
Images: The Cast of Bring It On The Musical – photo by Natalie Edge Photography | Alyssa Jandayan and Emily McDougall – photo by Natalie Edge Photography | Flynn Hunter, Ari Rego and Emily McDougall with the Cast of Bring It On The Musical – photo by Natalie Edge Photography | Emily McDougall, Zade Nabole, Alyssa Jandayan and Jenna Mole – photo by Natalie Edge Photography | The Parrot Mascot – photo by Natalie Edge Photography
Review: Rohan Shearn