AUDACIOUS AND FUN MUSICAL
TAKES ON REALITY TV
Last Wednesday, A.C.T. opened an extremely likeable, engaging and entertaining musical telling one of the tried-and-true stories of the 21st century. It’s boy meets girl. Boy loses girl. Boy goes on girl’s favorite reality dating show to win girl back! In an era where technology dominates communication and self-promotion, millennials and Gen Z’ers, in particular, use social media and Reality TV to sell their best versions of themselves to the largest possible audience. In this seemingly narcissistic culture, where time is limited and digital personas reign, reality dating shows have become an oddly fitting way to find connection—or at least, to manufacture it for the cameras.
(front) Ashley D. Kelley and A.J. Holmes
(back) Seth Hanson, Ana Yi Puig, John-Michael Lyles, and Molly Hager
(front) Jason Veasey (back) Ana Yi Puig,
Seth Hanson, Molly Hager, A.J. Holmes, and John-Michael Lyles
What better place than the stage to examine the phenomenon of Reality TV? One would hope that by now, Americans would be wise to the fact that these shows, whether romantic or adventurous, are not reality at all. On Survivor, contestants gruelingly compete for a million dollars in the jungle, but there is a catering truck just off camera. On the dating front, shows such as The Bachelor have contestants vie for the heart of a hot, rich guy, but dialogue that would tell the true story is edited out by unscrupulous producers. Even with the knowledge that about 89% of the couples who get engaged on The Bachelor eventually break-up, addicts continue to watch obsessively these inauthentic tales of faultless romance.
Ana Yi Puig, Molly Hager, A.J. Holmes, Seth Hanson, John-Michael Lyles
John-Michael Lyles and Kuhoo Verma
Which brings us to Nobody Loves You. Updated from its 2012 premiere at the Old Globe, the “new” musical satirizes the spectacle of reality TV romance, where entertainment and personal exposure take precedence over actual love. Contestants are thrown together in a weekly televised dating competition, vying for affection, screen time, and, ultimately, survival—because, of course, someone is eliminated each week. Hence the title of the show-within-a-show, Nobody Loves You.
Jason Veasey and Ashley D. Kelley
Director Pam MacKinnon steers the production with an eye for both the biting satire and the unexpected moments of sincerity. Our protagonist, Jeff (A.J. Holmes), is an intellectual and a cynic who doesn’t even watch television. But when his girlfriend, Nina (Ashley D. Kelley, who also plays Tanya, a producer on the show), becomes obsessed with Nobody Loves You and dreams of becoming a contestant, he signs up—not for love, but to expose the exploitative nature of reality TV. Tanya and the show’s slick host, Byron (Jason Veasey, channeling a wonderfully vapid Ryan Seacrest), recognize Jeff as the perfect foil to their usual crop of shallow contestants. He is, in their eyes, “must-see TV.”
Kuhoo Verma
The contestants themselves are reality TV archetypes, exaggerated just enough to be hilarious without losing believability. Many actors play many roles, and watching them slip these characters on and off is thrilling. Meghan (Molly Hagar) relies on her bombshell curves, while Christian (Seth Hanson) is, quite literally, a devout Christian whose wholesome naiveté is played for laughs—especially as he falls for Meghan. Samantha appears to be the wide-eyed ingenue, but her helplessness may be more calculated than it seems. Dominic (John-Michael Lyles) is young, energetic, and, as the show progresses, increasingly ambiguous about his romantic preferences. Meanwhile, Jenny (Kuhoo Verma), the show’s overworked stage manager, is the behind-the-scenes jack-of-all-trades who once saw this gig as a stepping stone but now finds herself trapped.
John-Michael Lyles, Ana Yi Puig, Jason Veasey, Molly Hager, and Seth Hanson
Kuhoo Verma and A.J. Holmes
Bay Area natives Itamar Moses (book and lyrics) and Gaby Alter (music and lyrics) keep the dialogue crisp and the humor sharp. The songs—like the infectious “I Just Want to Be Loved,” the high-energy “It Feels Good,” and the rebellious anthem “I Don’t Care What Anybody Thinks”—give insight into each character’s desperation for connection, fame, or both. MacKinnon brings out lively, often over-the-top performances from her actors, while Steph Paul’s choreography ensures that the musical numbers are as visually engaging as they are entertaining.
Molly Hager, John-Michael Lyles, Ana Yi Puig, and Seth Hanson
Molly Hager, Jason Veasey, and John-Michael Lyles
The look of Nobody Loves You is key to its success. Scenic designer Jason Ardizzone-West crafts a set that is big, bright, and deliberately artificial, fully embracing the glossy, contrived aesthetics of reality television. The vibrant lighting by Russell H. Champa further heightens the artificiality, shifting moods with the flick of a switch to reinforce the show’s manipulative nature. Sound designer Jessica Paz ensures that every dramatic sting and confessional moment feels like it’s pulled straight from a real dating show, keeping the audience immersed in the world of fabricated romance and televised drama.
John-Michael Lyles
As in any love story—real or scripted—there are unexpected alliances, betrayals, and romantic twists in unlikely places. The journey to love, whether in a studio or real life, is riddled with obstacles, and Nobody Loves You gleefully highlights the absurdity of trying to find something genuine in a space designed for spectacle. At just 100 minutes, the show covers a surprising amount of ground, delivering humor, catchy tunes, and a sharp critique of the way we package and perform romance in the digital age. Not everyone wins the game of love, but watching this musical, the audience certainly does.
Seth Hanson and Molly Hager
photos by Kevin Berne
Molly Hager, Jason Veasey, John-Michael Lyles, A.J. Holmes,
Ana Yi Puig, Seth Hanson, and Ashley D. Kelley
Nobody Loves You: A Musical
American Conservatory Theatre
A.C.T.’s Toni Rembe Theater, 415 Geary St.
ends on March 30, 2025
for tickets ($25–$130), call 415.749.2228 or visit A.C.T.
