Author Archive
Greetings, friends!
We’re so glad you’ve found us here on our web site, designed and managed by our talented friends at Squid Ink Creative. With their help, we’ll continue to try to keep you posted on all the new developments in our upcoming season.
You can also find daily updates at Facebook and Twitter, and hundreds of wonderful photos are now featured at our website for set and costume rentals – www.MTWrentals.org
2011 will be our 40th Anniversary year, and we’re very excited to celebrate with four brand new titles for our audiences, plus one great returning favorite.
Amazing 2011 Lineup.
We open the season with The Music Man (June 8 – 12) – our fourth production of this great classic in our 40 year history. This ‘river city’ story was chosen to complement the River Festival, which will take place simultaneously. Handsome Ed Watts has been asked to star in this production, which will be directed by Mark Madama and choreographed by Peggy Hickey – both of whom have worked on other successful productions of this show. Happily, the wonderful Thomas W. Douglas will be returning to conduct all five shows next season.
From that point on, every show in our season is an MTWichita Debut!
Finian’s Rainbow (June 22 – 26), whose recent Broadway revival was greeted with the best reviews of the season, contains an embarrassment of musical riches – “How Are Things in Glocca Morra?,” “Old Devil Moon,” “Look to the Rainbow,” and “When I’m Not Near the Girl I Love,” to name just a few. Our audiences will now get to experience the lively and fanciful story that connects these wonderful songs. I’ll be directing, with former company members Lyndy Franklin Smith and Jeromy Smith returning for their first choreographic assignment with us. Bruce Brockman is creating the brand new scenery.
Sunset Boulevard (July 6 – 10) is the haunting musical drama that Andrew Lloyd Webber created out of the 1950 film noir classic. Silent film star Norma Desmond reclusively lives forgotten in her opulent Hollywood mansion, until struggling screenwriter Joe Gillis stumbles into her web. “You’re Norma Desmond,” he realizes. “You used to be big!” … prompting her famous response, “I AM big. It’s the pictures that got small!” Two of Norma’s ballads, “With One Look” and “As If We Never Said Goodbye,” became popular hits, but the whole score is terrific. Mark Madama is directing this one, too, with spectacular new sets by J Branson.
Xanadu (July 20 – 24) is just the silliest thing ever! Based on the notoriously unsuccessful 1980 film musical with Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly, the stage version has a wickedly funny sense of humor. The plot? A Greek muse springs to life out of a chalk painting, inspiring a handsome young artist to fulfill his greatest potential – by opening a roller disco! You have to see it to believe it, and we dare you not to tap your toes to songs like “Magic,” “Whenever You’re Away from Me,” and that catchy title tune. Director-choreographer Roger Castellano will get his ‘groove thing going’ on this one! New sets will be created by Robert A. Kovach, making his MTWichita debut, and the hip 80s costumes will be created by Tiia E. Torchia. Leg warmers are definitely welcome on this one!
Disney’s The Little Mermaid (August 5 – 7 and 10-14) is our season finale, and what a coup for us to get the rights! The Disney Company selected only three theatres in the country to present the post-Broadway regional debuts of this beloved tale. The 1989 film spawned the Oscar winning hit “Under the Sea,” but other intoxicating songs like “Kiss the Girl” and “Part of Your World” are equally memorable. Because of the amazing technical needs of this show, we’ll take a couple more days to rehearse it, opening on Friday August 5, playing out the weekend, and then returning for another full week, starting on Wednesday, August 10. (And for those with young Princesses in their family, the Saturday matinee on August 13 will also allow children 3 and 4 years old to attend, waiving for one performance only the restriction that children be at least 5.) I’m also directing this one, with sets by J Branson (who had done all our other Disney shows so memorably). Choreographer Linda Goodrich returns to MTWichita, after her stellar work on such shows as West Side Story, Seussical, Good News!, Cabaret, The Producers and Singin’ in the Rain.
There will be other events scattered throughout our 40th Season.
Memories of 2010
We were so pleased with the shows last summer, and got such good comments on all five of them.
During rehearsals for the 2010 season opener Gypsy, the son of Gypsy Rose Lee, Erik Lee Preminger, presented a memorable evening of film clips and reminiscences in the ideal setting – Wichita’s one and only Orpheum Theatre. This really added to our understanding of the show, and the woman who inspired it.
And the actual production of Gypsy provided a splendid showcase for several of our finest local talents – starting with its luminous star Karen Robu, giving a multifaceted and blistering performance as the ultimate stage mother. Other local artists lending solid support included Tim Robu as Herbie, John Boldenow, Richard Campbell, Michael Parker and Jacob Gutierrez in a variety of character roles, Faith Northcutt as the young Louise, and a trio of hilarious showoffs – Gina Austin, Patty Reeder, and Cynthia Atchison. Gypsy herself was played by lovely Lisa Rohinksy, a company member for two seasons, and recently a cast member of the Broadway Gypsy revival. Amy Baker, also a former company member and now a WSU faculty member, provided terrific musical staging.
Smokey Joe’s Cafe showcased returning artists Kimberly Fauré, Betti O, Darcie Roberts, Deb Walton and Lawrence Cummings, joined by new faces Kevyn Morrow, Grasan Kingsberry, Kolby Kindle, and Josh Sassanella. The onstage band, which included Thomas Douglas and Jesse Warkentin as vocalists and keyboard players, added to the zest and excitement of the show. Beautifully directed and staged by Darren Lee, with his associate Melanie Lockyer, the familiar tunes rocked Century II all week.
Crazy for You was probably the most extravagant show of the summer. Featuring wall-to-wall Gershwin music, and with its award-winning Broadway staging lovingly re-created by Jimmy Brennan and Alan Coats, the production was downright dazzling. MTWichita audiences finally got to experience Darcie Roberts in her Broadway role of Polly Baker, partnered opposite a spectacular performance from MTWichita newcomer David Elder as Bobby Childs. “They got rhythm,” indeed!
Annie seems to be the show that surprised everyone the most. Roger Castellano’s lively and heartfelt production starred Alyssa Danley from Edmond, Oklahoma, as the title character, with Michael DeVries an unforgettable Oliver Warbucks, Jennifer Perry a hilarious Miss Hannigan, Denis Lambert a deliciously oily Rooster Hannigan, Emily Mechler a gracious Grace Farrell, and Kaleigh Cronin a screamingly funny Lily St. Regis. Chuck Parker’s return to the role of FDR was so convincing, it seemed like the former President was actually on our stage. Audiences filled the auditorium (including a Thursday matinee for kids with special needs), and became completely absorbed in the story, as if it had never been told before.
Curtains, the musical murder mystery set in a 1959 theatre, and newest show of our summer, provided a lively season finale. Its presentation brought about the presence of its award-winning composer John Kander, who came to see how we did with his show. (He loved it!) Larry Raben as the detective created another winning portrayal, original Broadway cast members Paula Leggett Chase and Darcie Roberts were witty and wonderful, and new faces Claybourne Elder and Jody Cook were fantastic new additions to the family. Company members Emily Mechler, Kimberly Fauré, Johnny Stellard and Kevin Munhall once again showed they could hold their own with the best of Broadway.
THE FABULOUS 40TH SEASON will be on us before we know it. When you look at our ads and brochures this year, notice that our Dancing Star logo has been augmented with a beautiful “40,” and the whole thing is a deep red – since 40th anniversaries are celebrated with rubies.
We often get told that Music Theatre of Wichita is “the jewel in the crown” of Wichita entertainment. We shall try to live up to all your highest expectations as we launch into another challenging season!