Teen Musical Confronts ‘Inappropriate’ Behavior

Hope wrestles with frustration as teens call out: “Does anyone understand me?” “I don’t understand why I’m angry all the time.” “No one can hurt me if I don’t care.” “Why is it hard for you to love me for who I am?” “I’m getting tired and growing old before my time.”

Will anyone hear? Will anyone help?

The creators and performers of the teen musical “Inappropriate” are doing their part to make sure that someone does. Developed by the DeSisto School in the Berkshires, a boarding program designed to turn teens from self-destructive behavior, this show lets young people know that they’re not alone, while reminding adults about the challenges of adolescence and enlisting their compassion and assistance.

In some ways, the show is what you might get if the new Fox Family Channel series “Higher Ground,” about teens in a DeSisto-like program, was set to music. In many more ways, it is like a prequel to the soul-searching among twentysomething bohemians in the pop-rock musical “Rent”--a sort of “Rent: The Early Years.”

Much of the material comes from DeSisto students’ writing exercises, which have been theatricalized by A. Michael DeSisto, the school’s founder; Lonnie McNeil, the school’s recently deceased director of performing arts; and composer Michael Sottile. The eight singer-actors are DeSisto students, though not the ones who wrote the source material.

The title is a reference to the label often given to teen behavior that is deemed troublesome, while the show itself exposes the roots of these problems in low self-esteem, untapped potential and, sometimes, parental neglect or abuse. More of a song cycle than a full-fledged musical, the show uses poetry, prose and song to chart a journey from the unknown into darkness and on toward hope.

The writing is at times defiant and always nakedly honest, if, at times, clunky or cliche-ridden.

Most of the young performers are talented beyond their years, their pop stylings only occasionally marred by pitch problems, their earnest portrayals only rarely striking false notes. Standouts include Diane Schwartz, who has a power-pop voice and the personality to match; Josh Geyer, whose sinuous moves and fearlessly unapologetic attitude do his gay character proud; and Averie Boyer and Elizabeth Irwin, who bring smooth voices and sweet characterizations to their tentative young lovers.

Already an off-Broadway phenomenon, “Inappropriate” has had its movie rights snapped up, and a professional recording is in the works. So, clearly, the show has strong appeal.

Yet one of the things that makes it most impressive is also its biggest drawback, and that is its aforementioned resemblance to the Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning “Rent.” The songs--with their driving energy and soaring harmonies--are so similar to Jonathan Larson’s that they sound like the lesser tunes that didn’t quite make it into his show. Several of the characters also resemble those in “Rent,” as do their tight-fitting, improbably mixed-and-matched apparel (by Shane Ballard).

Fortunately, none of this muffles the call for young people to not just take control of their lives but make them truly extraordinary, while issuing an unspoken challenge to adults. We’ll take responsibility for ourselves, but so must you, the show seems to say. You loom large in our lives, so don’t you do anything inappropriate, either.

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* “Inappropriate,” Coronet Theatre, 366 N. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles. Wednesdays-Fridays, 8 p.m.; Saturdays, 2 and 8 p.m.; Sundays, 2 p.m. Ends April 30. $25-$35; front-row seats $5, same-day, student rush. (310) 657-7337 or (213) 365-3500. Running time: 1 hour, 40 minutes; no intermission.

Mia Benenate, Amanda Bayless, Averie Boyer, Josh Geyer, Elizabeth Irwin, Jamie Ourisman, Adam Schiffman and Diane Schwartz.

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Presented by A. Michael DeSisto and Butterfly Productions. Book co-conceived by A. Michael DeSisto and Lonnie McNeil. Music and lyrics by Michael Sottile. Original choreography and direction by Lonnie McNeil. New choreography Ray Leeper. New direction Ray Leeper and Michael Sottile. Set and costumes Shane Ballard. Lights S. Ryan Schmidt.