Summer, 2007

What do you do if you're a longtime theatergoer at OTP who relocates to another community?  If you're like Stacy (Griffith)  Livingston, who got married and moved to Battle Creek last Fall, you do theater.  For the Christmas Holidays she directed a readers' theater rendition of IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE for the Battle Creek Civic Theatre, using a 1947 radio script.  Her new husband helped with some of the technical things, which would indicate she made a very good choice.  It's nice to see her getting involved so soon after relocating, and we hope she does many theater activities in the future (she looks particularly good on film).   ******Another former Playhouse actor, Don Swan hasn't moved away but has switched his allegiance to another great passion of his, music.  He has his own company (North Star Productions) and a studio which services other musical groups.  He recently performed a weekend gig at Union Street Station and has been hosting the Sunday "Battle of the Bands" competitions there.  His wedding is scheduled to take place July 7.   ***********  THE HEIDI CHRONICLES marked Joe Kilpatrick's OTP directing debut, and was a solidly done show.  Meg Parker, who will resume her L.A. theater work with studies at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts this Fall, was excellent in the title role, and Daniel Mello was solid as male co-lead Peter Patrone.  Joe's sister, Deb Curtis was hilarious with her colorful description of marital relations on FATHER KNOWS BEST, and Philip Krull is growing as an actor in this play and in HAY FEVER.  Alissa Korson must have experienced a MAMA'S FAMILY moment doing her southern belle  character.   ********   THE FULL MONTY might not have been for everyone's taste, but it was a very well done show, with the ridiculous question of how much male anatomy would be shown to create a little controversy.  Sherry McCarty delightfully opened the show, while Rob Stow's incredible physicality always stood out.  Lauren Snowday lost her father during the run, and director Michelle Dungjen had to replace her some nights.  Lots of husband and wife couples were in the cast, and Jeff and Kelly Curtis shared some bedroom scenes together.  Don Cox was welcomed as our first new African-American male performer in several years (he also did our Gala show  this month).   ********  AS IS in the Studio also had some controversy with its depiction of gay life and the 1980's aids crisis, but it proved once again how skillful Al Lien is at directing offbeat shows.  Abby Alexander made her Studio Theatre acting debut playing an aids infected pregnant woman beautifully.  Ashleigh Hanchett made a welcome return in several parts and joined Turner Sato for an amusing turn as a couple of stud guys (she even wore a moustache).  Our first Studio black actress left the cast during rehearsal and was replaced by our first Studio Asian actress, Ranve Martinson, who was a flirtacious delight in a major role.  Jeannie Cole, a frequent backstage worker years ago, came back to be this show's stage manager.  The cast staged a benefit performance for the Thomas Judd Center at Munsom Hospital.  I think that was a first for downstairs.   ***************    HAY FEVER saw Karen Cross making her mainstage directing debut with a beautifully crafted show that utilized half the cast from TARTUFFE and gave Ed Mulcahy a chance to do a comic cross gender.  I was producer; Becca Walton did double duty as assistant director and stage manager; Newcomers Ginny Hamilton and Kristin Buchholz were set designer and props worker respectively, and husband and wife Phil Callighan and Joanie were on stage, but not in those roles. Some audience members were confused by the addition of Noel Coward songs, warbled by non cast members (Karen had done this, in Northport when she directed PRIVATE LIVES) but it was a nice touch; Lars Kelto's rendition of WHY DO THE WRONG PEOPLE TRAVEL came off best.   Production assistants Abby Alexander and Geoffrey Wallace were kept busy; Geoffrey was assistant stage manager, and during strike proved his proficiency with basic tools; Abby got her first taste of using power tools, helped with props and marketing, and did house duty in a flapper outfit, tearing tickets.  Many of this same crew (including set builder, Al Thompson, whose amazing set work on the Leelanau Player production of TALLEY'S FOLLY 20 years ago, in collaboration with director, Kathy Kocevar, who did the actual design, was erroniously credited in the program to someone else) will work on ANGEL STREET, the show I am directing this Fall.  ********  Margaret Parsons, Paulette's darling daughter, who grew up around the Playhouse, played Portia in the Children's Theater  production of THE MERCHANT OF VENICE.  She has watched attorney dad Grant at work in the courtroom many times, so her deliberations on stage were convincing.  The scene where Bassanio has to choose the right coffer was cutely handled.  Whenever he approached a wrong one, the gals had a coughing fit.    ***********            ALICE IN WONDERLAND, another children's show, saw Hannah  Rickard again playing the title role.  She had played Dr. Doolittle last year.  As she grows up. I would expect to see her in adult shows; she has great poise and confidence on stage and wonderful presence.   ********  This year's Playhouse Gala, where I spent a record $1,400.00, had something extra - the wedding of Brett Nichols and Kristina Godfrey, performed by Rob Stow in a sequence lifted from THE WEDDING SINGER.  Three days later Kristina was newly elected to the Board of Trustees  at the annual meeting.  The Gala show saw the return of Braden Jacobazzi and Jessica Elliott, who is maturing wonderfully as a performer (she's a senior at Central next year, so she'll get to do THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, a show that's been discussed but not chosen by us).   Kathy Kocevar Laguire's two nieces joined her at the Gala thus year; she and the older one almost look like sisters.  It was a fun evening for all.   ********** Congratulations to new mom, Sarah Hampton and expectant moms Miriam Pico, Grace Brauer Blackmer, and Michelle Dungjen (her second).

Hedges Macdonald

hedges@chartermi.net