by Cari Lynn Pace

Conceived by Jeff Whitty and based on The Arcadia by Sir Philip Sidney, Santa Rosa’s 6th Street Playhouse tackles the jukebox musical Head Over Heels with gusto. The Go-Go’s, the all-girl band whose music is featured, give us quite a music collection to enjoy.

This mash-up of Shakespearean patois with raucous 80’s dance music is a fun romp. There’s no plot, just silly fun and characters who are really characters. They’re confused, but they all dance, and they all sing. Several have superb voices. Some even sing with sheep.

Meet an earnest but lowly shepherd (Samuel J. Gleason) who’s head over heels with the King’s younger daughter (Lila Howel), and she with him. He doesn’t stand a chance with the King (Nick Kealy, the understudy who stepped in for Jonathen Blue) and queen (lovely Shannon Rider) who endlessly snipe at each other. Their eldest daughter (HarriettePearl Fugitt) is a self-absorbed snob who preens hilariously while she sings “Beautiful” about herself. Her lady in waiting (Malia Abayon) has a knockout voice as well. Howel, Fugitt, and Abayon show their superb vocal strength throughout, starting in the first act with their trio “Good Girl”.

Twenty pop songs follow as the kingdom of characters journey from here to there and back again. Identities are mistaken and confusion reigns. Of course, all is somewhat settled by the show’s end in true Shakespearean style.

Director Jeff Coté starts the party with the entire cast rocking out the Go-Go’s signature song “We Got the Beat.” Colorful costumes by Teresa Kopaz are a perfect match for the energetic choreography by Joseph Favalora and the band’s wild drumbeats directed onstage by Christina Howell. The chorus impresses with fine voice and mostly well-rehearsed moves. There were three understudies who stepped in for the performance I saw, and they gave their all to the complex steps. They didn’t miss a beat!

Be advised, the playbill does note adult themes and Head Over Heels is peppered with amusing innuendo. The shadow scene of sexual trysts in the second act is rather inventive, quite hilarious, and defintely not recommended for patrons under the age of 13.

Kudos to 6th Street Playhouse for the creative and clever staging.

Playing through May 3, 2026 in the GK Hardt Theatre at 6th Street Playhouse, 52 West 6th Street, Santa Rosa.

Click HERE for more information and tickets.

Photos by Eric Chazankin

Cari Lynn Pace is a long-time Bay Area theatre critic whose reviews were regularly featured in the Marinscope Community Newspapers.