‘Movin’ Out’ moves to O.C. today

Elia Powers

In “Movin’ Out,” the Tony Award-winning musical that features more

than two dozen tunes from Billy Joel, the job of emulating the

pop/rock icon falls squarely on the shoulders of the Piano Man.

For most shows, musician Darren Holden plays that part. He is used

to hearing instant reviews of his live performances -- particularly

from fervent Joel fans.

Still, there’s one evaluator whose opinion Holden values above all

others.

After one of his first shows behind the piano nearly two years

ago, Holden was greeted backstage by Joel himself.

“He said to me at the start, there’s no point at being a clone,”

Holden said. “I was cool with that. I didn’t want to be doing a

karaoke version of his songs.”

Holden said Joel was pleased with his renditions, but the

acclaimed songwriter offered a piece of advice: Holden, a native of

Ireland, was rolling his ‘r’ sound during certain songs, tipping off

the audience to his nationality.

Joel sent Holden a tape of the first season of “The Sopranos” as a

way of introducing him to the thick East Coast accent.

Since then, Holden has fine-tuned his Piano Man voice.

He is touring the country with the rest of the cast, which stops

at the Orange County Performing Arts Center’s Segerstrom Hall today

through July 10.

Seats are available for each performance during the two-weekend

engagement.

“Movin’ Out,” conceived by renowned choreographer Twyla Tharp,

chronicles the lives of friends growing up in suburban New York

during the politically turbulent 1960s and 1970s.

The show features many of Joel’s hit songs, including “Uptown

Girl,” “The Longest Time” and “We Didn’t Start the Fire.”

Jenny Tavares, bookkeeper at Estancia High School, bought about 30

tickets for school staff members and their families. She said it’s

the familiar music that drew her to this show.

“We’ve listened to these songs for so long, it’s a treat to hear

them all together,” said Tavares, a Costa Mesa resident.

What sets this musical apart is the lack of dialogue in the

script.

Joel’s lyrics help tie the story together while a crew of dancers

swing their hips and leap to the music.

One of them is Holly Cruikshank, who plays Brenda, one of the

show’s principal characters.

A dancer with a Broadway pedigree, Cruikshank has toured with the

production for about 18 months after completing a run of Broadway

matinee performances.

She said the show’s emphasis on acrobatic dancing motivated her to

join the cast.

“I always wanted to be in a dance company,” Cruikshank said. “The

music is blasting behind you, and you are killing yourself for two

hours. It’s the most rewarding show.”

Neither Cruikshank nor Holden lived through the Vietnam era, so

both listened to historians and watched topical documentaries before

beginning to perform.

“There is an emotional component involved,” Cruikshank said. “It’s

a serious topic, and you feel worn out after the show.”

Holden said as a nonnative American, it took him a few readings to

understand the underlying themes.

A Broadway singer and solo artist, Holden said “Movin’ Out” has

been a “door-opener” for his career.

Not to mention the inherent perks -- Joel still attends some

performances and visits with cast members after the show.

“I grew up listening to his music,” Holden said. “Being asked to

come over here and represent his catalog of work is a dream come true

for me.”