Just Extended: 99-Cent Only Calendar Girl Competition

Little Miss Sunshine: Lucie McGrane as Miss November

Last weekend I saw Ken Roht’s “99-Cent Only Calendar Girls Competition” over at The Bootleg Theatre and it changed my opinion of musicals forever. This is one of the most incredible shows (of any kind) that I’ve ever seen. It simply blew my mind.

And I hate musicals. Hate ‘em. When I was ten, my mom made me go see Miss Saigon. I remember wishing, during the final act, when the chopper is lowered on stage, that it would tip over and decapitate the cast the cast so we could go home.

The next year she dragged me to Les Mis, the most monstrously boring musical ever made where, after rubbing my eyes in disbelief for four hours, I contracted pink eye. Needless to say, I never saw another musical after that (other than the first South Park movie).

But the 99-Cent Only Calendar Girls show kept me on the edge of my seat the entire night. It’s is a cross between the Rocky Horror Picture Show, Willy Wonka and a Drag Queen Beauty pageant. Think Roger Waters meets John Waters; Pink Floyd meets Pink Flamingo. It has the decadence and glamour of a lost Roxy Music video and the deadpan witt of Flight of The Chonchords.

All the costumes are made out of materials from the 99-Cent Only Store, which means LOTS of plastic and vinyl, configured in ways simply unimaginable. The tightly choreographed dancing, with as many as thirty cast members on stage, is simply amazing. It’s hard to pick a favorite with such a great cast but I couldn’t get enough of new comer Miss November, played by Lucie McGrane, in her brightly colored plastic prom dress, followed by Miss February, played by Lauren Oppelt and consumate show stopper Miss December, played by Michael Lopez. 

There’s lots of R&B styled singing the audience gets to participate in choosing the 99 Cent-Only Calendar Girl each night. During intermission you get to vote to determine the five semi-finalists and then, after the second act, the audience picks the winner by “lobbing not hurling” a ping pong ball at the calendar girl of their choice.

The show has been extended and will be re-opening in March. For more visit The Bootleg Theatre for 99 Cent-Only Calendar Girl Competition tickets and info. You’re gonna love it!

For more 99 Cent-Only Calender Girl Competition reviews, check out the following:
- LA Weekly
- Los Angeles Times 
- Backstage