Based on the smash hit film starring Whitney Houston, this award-winning musical has been thrilling audiences at The Gateway in Bellport. Former Secret Service agent-turned-bodyguard Frank Farmer is hired to protect superstar singer Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker. Each expects to be in charge—what they don’t expect is to fall in love.
“She needs the protection of a bodyguard. He kind of shakes her world around,” said Kimber Sprawl, who plays young pop star Rachel Marron. “It’s a complicated relationship and you see them progress—how they come together and how they learn to get along.”
Michael Shenefelt, who plays Frank Farmer, worked hard with director Keith Andrews to achieve the stoic quality Kevin Costner brought to the film character.
“That’s been an uphill battle from day one, but luckily I’m in really good hands with our director.”
The stalker in the musical is played by Matthew Baguth.
“I find that less is more when it comes to being creepy,” Baguth said. “The more you want to look into me and see what is going on with this guy, the more I don’t show you.”
Actor Peter Simon Hilton, who portrays Sy Spector, said, “The construct of the musical is quite unique. It is very much the movie that has been placed into the theater.”
Danea Osseni, who plays Rachel’s sister Nicki Marron, added, “This show is like a jukebox musical and it’s like a concert, and a play…It’s everything, except a typical musical.”
A breathtakingly romantic thriller, The Bodyguard features a host of irresistible classics including “Queen of the Night,” “So Emotional,” “One Moment in Time,” “Saving All My Love,” “Run to You,” “I Have Nothing,” “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” and one of the biggest selling songs of all time—”I Will Always Love You.”
“All of the numbers are huge production numbers and we have wonderful dancers,” Sprawl said. “What people can look forward to is listening to her music and being able to reach back to her decades and decades of hits.”
The Bodyguard runs at The Gateway, 215 South Country Rd., Bellport, NY 11713, through July 20. For tickets, visit thegateway.org. The Gateway advises that the content may not be suitable for all ages.
—With reporting by Waldo Cabrera and Max Cabrera
