'The Office! A Musical Parody' Brings Dunder Mifflin to Life in a Hilarious Broward Center Gem

By Joanie Cox Henry

There are shows that make you laugh, and then there are shows that make you wonder how you ever survived without them. The Office! A Musical Parody, which opened April 16 and runs through May 3, 2026 at Broward Center's Abdo New River Room, fell squarely into the second category, delivering a sharply crafted, genuinely funny love letter to one of television's most beloved comedies.

From the moment the cast launched into "Welcome to Scranton," it was clear that director Suzanne Dunn had assembled something special. This was a full-throated, full-hearted theatrical event, one that honored the source material while carving out its own comic identity.

Danny Distasio owned the stage as Michael Scott, channeling the character's spectacular obliviousness with the kind of physical commitment that had the audience roaring before he finished a sentence. It was a performance that walked a genuinely difficult line, staying true to the cringe-comedy roots of the original while making Michael feel entirely alive in a live theater setting. Distasio earned every laugh he got, and he got a lot of them.

Tanner Fults brought warmth and a natural ease to the dual role of Jim Halpert and Andy Bernard, and his chemistry with Mallory Elaine Flory as Pam Beesly gave the show its emotional core. Their "Sweet Little Moments" segments were quiet and charming amid the chaos, and "Marry Me Beesly" in Act Two landed with genuine romantic punch. Flory was a standout throughout, and her solo turn in "Sweet Little Moments #3" was one of the evening's most affecting beats.

Quinn Doyle as Dwight Schrute was a revelation. The physical specificity he brought to the role was extraordinary, and "Assistant to the Regional Manager" became one of the night's showstopping numbers, drawing one of the longest ovations of the performance. Allie Woodside, who is currently serving as Miss South Florida 2026, brought tremendous energy to Stanley Hudson and Darryl Philbin, and her comic timing was impeccable throughout.

The ensemble as a whole was firing on all cylinders. Anna Russell juggled Phyllis, Kevin, Meredith and Kathy Bates with fearless abandon, and Christina Santi brought a wicked precision to Angela Martin and Jan Levinson that kept every scene on its toes. "Candle Party" in Act Two was a comedic highlight!

Assaf Gleizner's music and orchestrations were clever and propulsive, and the book by Bob and Tobly McSmith found laughs in every corner of the Dunder Mifflin universe. The title list alone, from "Chris-O'Ween-Diwalaka-Birth-A-Earth-A-Kwanzaa" to "Such a Hot and Sexy Temp," signals exactly the kind of gleefully absurdist spirit that runs through every scene.

Choreographer Brittany Jenkins kept the energy kinetic without ever overwhelming the comedy, and scenic designer Cindi Taylor and lighting designer Katie Chai gave the Abdo New River Room the intimate, slightly fluorescent-lit feel that Scranton demanded.

The Office! A Musical Parody was the kind of show that sends audiences out into the night quoting lines, and already texting people to say they should have been there.

This was my first time seeing a show in the Abdo New River Room and I loved it. I was also delighted to bring my son Patrick along for this performance since The Office is his favorite show and he totally obsessed with Dunder Mifflin and wants to work there one day!

This show runs through May 3, 2026. Get tickets here.

Here are some snaps from opening night of the show: