By FRANK and LINDA PHILLIPS
frankphi@hotmail.com
Last Thursday through Saturday, Community Theatre of Clay County Inc. presented its annual Christmas show.
This year's offering was "Christmas at the Lark: Bell Birthdays and Heralds of Christmas" and it was really great.
Like an old-fashioned Christmas card, it opened to more than one page.
Through it all, the cast had past Christmases in mind. Christmases when two of the much loved theater cast were able to participate.
The much-loved Jean Sneddon-Martin took part in the shows. Not many years ago she tap danced on stage, her daughter-in-law, Susan Sneddon, recalled. Jean passed away unexpectedly last week. Christmases when Carl McKinney sang on stage after building the sets, some of which may have been used last week. Who can forget his enthused and energetic portrayal Nicely Nicely Johnson in "Guys and Dolls" earlier this season?
Carl suffered a broken shoulder in a car accident a week before the current Christmas show began.
Nevertheless, "the show must go on" as The Christmas Band director Col. Matt Huber has been known to say, and the show was wonderful.
Open page one of our community Christmas card and you see and immensely entertaining production called, "Heralds of Christmas" featuring the herald, Herald (David Maurey), and his brother Herald (Nick Ellis), whose job it is to get Santa Claus (Lee Reberger) to stop for the first time in their tiny village of Tater, at the end of the North Pole runway.
Herald's idea is to flash red lights at Santa during takeoff, so Rudolph gets disoriented and crashes. The townspeople do and Rudolph does. Santa's reply -- "all you had to do is write me a letter." Like the rest of the world. Duh!
Other cast members were Ashton Swearingen, Chris Swearingen, Elaine Clarke, Carol McConnell, Michelle McCrea, Amber Payne, Melody Lunsford, Nancy Kulow, Ashley Clarke, Becca Maurey, Kendra McCrea, Alyssa Clarke, Elizabeth Emmert, Katie Perkins, Misty Rissler, Kendra England, Bonnie Hutchins, Revecca Beyers, Trey Reberger, Samuel Beyers, Chandler Downing, David Swearingen, the Rev. Edward Randall, TJ Sneddon, Keri Fagg, Becky Taken Jim Garber, Julie Marey, Harold Burton and Kevin McCrea.
The Christmas Band featured Matt Huber, Allen Basore, Steven Garlits, Jeff Shively, Andy Whittington, Miranda Goodale, Darlene Shephard, Betty Niswonger, Janelle R. Huber and TJ Sneddon.
Rita Rothrock was the dinner theatre pianist and Barbara Randall the dinner theatre coordinator.
Turn the page and we find "Bells and the Birthday of Christmas" featuring a reverent look at the season in words and music.
Several of the songs were written by cast members.
"The Shepherd's Song" was written by Rev. Randall, "Jesus in the Manger" was written by Kevin McCrea and "A Mother's Prayer" was by Mitchell Lunsford, in honor of his brother, a Marine stationed in Iraq.
It was a wonderful evening of music, food and laughter, surrounded by dear friends and family members.
Showing posts with label musical. Show all posts
Showing posts with label musical. Show all posts
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Thursday, October 12, 2006
'South Pacific' a triumph
In brief:
• Evening performances are offered Tuesday-Sunday with doors opening at 6 p.m., buffet served 6:30-7:30 p.m. And the show beginning at 8 p.m.
• Weekday matinee shows are on Wednesdays and select Thursdays. Sunday matinees are also offered. Doors open at noon, buffet is served 12:15-1 p.m. And the show begins at 1:30 p.m.
• Ticket prices range from $29-$51 and can be purchased by calling the box office at (317) 872-9664.
• Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre is located in front of the pyramids, east of Michigan Road on Indianapolis's north side.
By FRANK and LINDA PHILLIPS
frankphi@hotmail.com
“South Pacific” is a triumph for Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre and for its star, Deb Wims.
In 1999, we first saw and reviewed “South Pacific” at Beef & Boards. Some could argue that cast was more experienced and had been around more than the 2006 cast. And, we must admit, we wondered if Mrs. Wims could carry the production as “Nellie Forbush.”
She has been in many shows at Beef & Boards over the past decade, but I do not think she has ever been given the lead.
We were not disappointed. If the measure of a production is its ability to move the audience, then Mrs.Wims and her fellow cast members succeed.
Linda saw Cynthia Thomas (Bloody Mary) and Steven Edward Moore (Emile de Becque) as strong performers, of course. We were both taken with Deb Wims' Nellie and Jeff Stockberger's Billis.
I thought Stockberger's Billis character came across a little too strong at times. It was in danger of going over the top, but Linda disagreed. She just thought he was just funny.
Seven years ago, Billis was played by a different actor. The 2006 Billis is much funnier and relies far more on physical comedy – get the picture. But the whole cast is just excellent.
Joseph Sark as Lt. Joe Cable has a voice as good as Moore's, though higher, as a tenor.
The two little children who play de Becque's half-Polynesian, half-French children, are just as cute as can be as well as talented. They are Courtney Kramer and Mitchell Siefker.
The rest of the large cast does a fine job supporting Wims and Moore.
“South Pacific: is a fine fall production, just what one needs to get ready for the Christmas season.
• Evening performances are offered Tuesday-Sunday with doors opening at 6 p.m., buffet served 6:30-7:30 p.m. And the show beginning at 8 p.m.
• Weekday matinee shows are on Wednesdays and select Thursdays. Sunday matinees are also offered. Doors open at noon, buffet is served 12:15-1 p.m. And the show begins at 1:30 p.m.
• Ticket prices range from $29-$51 and can be purchased by calling the box office at (317) 872-9664.
• Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre is located in front of the pyramids, east of Michigan Road on Indianapolis's north side.
By FRANK and LINDA PHILLIPS
frankphi@hotmail.com
“South Pacific” is a triumph for Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre and for its star, Deb Wims.
In 1999, we first saw and reviewed “South Pacific” at Beef & Boards. Some could argue that cast was more experienced and had been around more than the 2006 cast. And, we must admit, we wondered if Mrs. Wims could carry the production as “Nellie Forbush.”
She has been in many shows at Beef & Boards over the past decade, but I do not think she has ever been given the lead.
We were not disappointed. If the measure of a production is its ability to move the audience, then Mrs.Wims and her fellow cast members succeed.
Linda saw Cynthia Thomas (Bloody Mary) and Steven Edward Moore (Emile de Becque) as strong performers, of course. We were both taken with Deb Wims' Nellie and Jeff Stockberger's Billis.
I thought Stockberger's Billis character came across a little too strong at times. It was in danger of going over the top, but Linda disagreed. She just thought he was just funny.
Seven years ago, Billis was played by a different actor. The 2006 Billis is much funnier and relies far more on physical comedy – get the picture. But the whole cast is just excellent.
Joseph Sark as Lt. Joe Cable has a voice as good as Moore's, though higher, as a tenor.
The two little children who play de Becque's half-Polynesian, half-French children, are just as cute as can be as well as talented. They are Courtney Kramer and Mitchell Siefker.
The rest of the large cast does a fine job supporting Wims and Moore.
“South Pacific: is a fine fall production, just what one needs to get ready for the Christmas season.
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