Ride the Cyclone is a Dark and Wild Ride You Should Take, While You Can at Lyric Arts

The last three or four months have given me the opportunity to see several unique musicals that don’t get produced very often, the kind of cult shows most people have never heard of, but musical theater fans whisper about. Ride the Cyclone falls squarely into that category. After an Off-Broadway run in 2016 and, to the best of my knowledge, only one previous local production in 2019, which I did not see (possibly at the Jungle Theater, though I may be misremembering), this is not a show that comes around often.

I almost missed it this time as well. I was originally scheduled to see it earlier in the run, but a road closure and poor road conditions conspired to keep me away. I’m very glad I finally made it. If you enjoy bizarre, off-center musicals, I strongly encourage you to catch Ride the Cyclone before it closes at Lyric Arts in Anoka on February 8. Who knows when, or even if, it will be mounted locally again.

The musical is narrated by an animatronic fortune teller machine and centers on six teenagers stuck in limbo after dying in a roller coaster derailment at an amusement park. They’re told that one of them will be allowed to return to life, while the others will remain dead. The show unfolds as each character presents their case through song, revealing who they are and why they deserve to be the one who survives. Five of the teens are members of the St. Cassian High School Chamber Choir. The sixth is a mystery, known only as Jane Doe. She doesn’t know who she is either and moves through the show like a cross between a robot and a nonviolent zombie.

After the performance, the usual post-show question, “Who was your favorite?”, yielded no clear answer, which feels exactly right for this production. Ride the Cyclone is a true ensemble piece, and its underlying message is that no one is more worthy than anyone else. Every performer gets a moment to shine, and each character leaves an impression.

The real standout here may be the production design. Scenic design by Cory Skold, properties by Ren Edson, costumes by Sarah Christenson, lighting by Shannon Elliott, sound design by Paul Estby, and projections by Michaela Lochen all combine under the assured direction of Marci Lucht to create a striking, immersive visual experience. It’s a dark carnival brought vividly to life.

When I think back on the show, I don’t immediately hear the songs replaying in my head, though several are quite good, but rather the images and sensations. Jane Doe levitating. Roller coaster tracks climbing the walls of the stage. The giant rat. The Great Cassandra, perfectly played by Dezhane Antoinette. The sound of the roller coaster itself, rumbling even before the show begins. And the video design that opens the show and punctuates key moments throughout.

Ride the Cyclone feels less like a traditional musical and more like a trip through a shadowy carnival, full of unexpected thrills, strange beauty, and moments of genuine wonder.

Ride The Cyclone runs through February 8th at Lyric Arts in Anoka. For more information and to purchase tickets go to https://www.lyricarts.org/ride-the-cyclone

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