Now, It’s Time for The Pyramid

A new musical parody set to premiere in New York City next week puts a fresh twist on the infamous reality show “Dance Moms.” Featuring words and music cowritten by Moore County native Isabel Friesen Blankinship under her stage name Isabel Grace, “The Pyramid” is based on the antics of the sharp-tongued dance coach Abby Lee and the over-the-top stage moms who kept audiences entertained through eight seasons.

Isabel admits she was a fan of the show through middle and high school. A standout singer and actor herself, the Pinecrest alumni went on to earn a degree in theater education at UNC Greensboro. While there she had the opportunity to write original music and lyrics for a show with her friend, James Stryska. They had so much fun with that project, he suggested they collaborate on a musical parody about “Dance Moms.”

Two more friends were brought in to help write and another produced a small piece for social media. Released in 2023, “My Little Kendall,” which poked fun at the show’s pushy mothers and their daughters’ position in the competition team’s hierarchy, was an immediate hit. “This was our first test of what might happen and the video went viral,” Isabel says. “We thought, okay, we want to do this.”

“The Pyramid, with music and lyrics by James and Isabel and book by Erica Molfetto and Molly Russo, will premiere Feb. 28, 9:30 p.m., at The Green Room 42, a cabaret in New York City. The show will be live-streamed; you can get tickets here or see more teasers on TikTok.