THEATER REVIEW:Zap! Comics hit the stage

Comic book superheroes are muscling their way (Zap, Pow!) to the forefront of pop culture these days, what with Superman, Batman and Spider-Man all enjoying bountiful times at the box office, along with some other, lesser-known pulp fiction characters.

Recently, the U.S. Postal Service put some of the old Justice Society of America members ? Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, the Flash and Green Lantern ? on postage stamps. Remember Green Lantern’s pledge: “In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight?” OK, you’re too young.

It was only a matter of time before the theater became involved, and starting next weekend the Newport Theater Arts Center will be transformed into one big comic book when the summer children’s show “Adventures of a Comic Book Artist” opens a two-weekend engagement.

Kyle Myers, who’s close to the youth culture scene as an elementary school teacher, is directing the youth production and clearly was impressed by the attitude ? and aptitude ? of his performers.

“We have some amazing talent this year,” Myers declared. “These kids are awesome. I don’t know how many times I have to stop and ask, “How old are you?” because I am astonished by their abilities. We have some future stars in the making.”

The show is a new family musical about comic book characters who come to life when comic book publisher D.C. Wunderman (Asher Axe) buys a mysterious pen that, when used, cause the characters to become real people. His artists use the pen to create a new superhero, but he turns out to be a villain, Dr. Shock Clock (Matthew Timsit), who freezes the artist and goes on a crime spree.

Enter a struggling young artist (Chris Diehl), who unknowingly draws four superheroes, the Fabulous Four: Wombat Woman (Cathy Petz), Star Guy (Chase Del Rae), Blossom (Caleigh-Rae Wells) and Triple Time (Matthew Yee). Their mission is to stop the Clock, as it were.

Others in the Newport cast include Ally Maclean, Scott Timsit, Brendan Botero, Patrick Botero, Jared Deiro, Matan Rov, Julie Ruck, Kyle Ruffalo, Natalie Stamas, Thalie Timsit, Lily Woodall, Rebecca Yee and Zachary Yee. Only Diehl and Petz are adults.

“Many of these kids have not performed at Newport before and have become fast friends,” Myers noted. “I look forward to seeing them every day to see what new surprises they have in store. They make my job as a director easy.”

Myers is being assisted by musical director Joyce Maxson, also an elementary schoolteacher in the real world who was named “teacher of the year” at her Santa Ana school, and choreographer Allison Horner, a onetime professional ballet dancer.

Myers also has a “teacher of the year” award to his credit, as well as having been named Orange County arts educator of the year for elementary theater. Local audiences have seen him in numerous stage productions, most recently in drag as a maid in “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940” at the Costa Mesa Civic Playhouse.

“Adventures of a Comic Book Artist” will be staged Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays at 3 and 7 and Sundays at 3 p.m. at the Newport Theater Arts Center, 2501 Cliff Drive, Newport Beach. Call (949) 631-0288 for ticket information.