Kathy Valentine revisits the music of her old band, the Go-Go’s, as musical director of the Zach Theatre production of jukebox musical Head Over Heels Credit: Image Courtesy of Zach Theatre

Theatres are filled with jukebox musicals, but not many productions pulling on a recognizable back catalog can call on the musicians responsible for those toe-tappers. But Zach Theatre has announced an actual Go-Go will be part of their upcoming production of Head Over Heels – Austin music legend Kathy Valentine.

It’s the ultimate musical mashup, with a soundtrack by Rock & Roll hall-of-famers the Go-Go’s and a story adapted by 16th century prose romance The Countess of Pembroke’s Arcadia by Sir Philip Sydney. The score includes many of the Go-Go’s greatest hits, including “We Got the Beat,” “Our Lips Are Sealed,” “Vacation,” and “Cool Jerk,” plus a couple of tracks made famous by Valentine’s bandmate Belinda Carlisle, “Heaven Is a Place on Earth” and “Mad About You.”

Conceived of by Jeff Whitty and adapted by James Magruder, Head Over Heels debuted at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in 2015 before running for six months at the Hudson Theatre on Broadway in 2018. Now it’s making its regional debut in a new production directed by Dave Steakley, with musical direction by Valentine.

And she’s not just overseeing the music: she’s performing it. Valentine will be playing bass in the house band, and has called on two of her fellow Bluebonnets bandmembers, ace drummer Kristy McInnis and guitarist Eve Monsees, and will fill out the band’s lineup with Austin Music Award-winning keyboardist Emily Gimble (The Warren Hood Band, Hayes Carll, and Asleep at the Wheel) on piano.

“I’m thrilled to be joining the ZACH production of Head Over Heels featuring the music of the Go-Go’s. As a band member and musical director, this is a very new and interesting twist on my Go-Go’s career,” said Valentine. “Bringing guitarist Eve Monsees, pianist Emily Gimble and drummer Kristy McInnis, alongside myself on the bass as the featured band for each performance has added a great and authentic Austin-centric take on the music. We are having a blast and can’t wait to get on stage with the cast and crew to bring Austin a really fun, hilarious and rocking show this summer.”

Head Over Heels will run Aug. 9-Sept. 10 at Topfer at ZACH. Tickets available now at zachtheatre.org

This article appears in July 14 • 2023 and The Books Issue.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.