CALLBOARD racine theatre guild May 2018 Opens May 11 Season 80 at the Racine Theatre A Note From RTG Director Guild closes with the foot-tapping musi- Doug Instenes cal Sister Act, which opens May 11 and SISTER runs through May 27. Based on the 1992 Put the Boogie In Your Soul movie of the same name, which starred ACT Music by Alan Menken It has become an RTG tradi- , the musical has mu- tion to end the season with a big sic by Alan Menken and lyrics by Glenn Lyrics by Glenn Slater Slater. The book was written by Cheri musical, and this year we are ex- Book by Steinkellner and Bill Steinkellner, with Cheri Steinkellner & cited to present Sister Act, a fun Bill Steinkellner story about a misplaced, brash additional book material by Douglas and worldly singer who finds her Carter Beane. The movie’s only music Sponsored by groove in a nunnery. was when Deloris or the nuns were sing- Rasmussen Diamonds ing, but the musical play is filled with Even though I have directed a CAST number of big musicals, I am al- songs sung by all of the characters. The setting for the musical is 1977 Deloris ...... Jasmine Ridgell ways amazed by the dedication Eddie ...... Norgie Metzinger and hard work of our volunteers. Philadephia. Deloris Van Cartier is a struggling lounge singer who acciden- Curtis ...... Bob Benson You see the actors on stage, who Joey ...... Patrick Schneider have worked hard in singing tally sees her gangster boyfriend, Cur- tis, murder someone. Curtis sends his TJ ...... Malcolm Jae O’Shea and choreography rehearsals for Pablo ...... Paul Marquez months. But in the booth and back henchmen Joey, Pablo and TJ, to find Deloris and kill her. She runs to the po- Ernie/Ensemble ...... Peter Jones stage, we have a stage manager, Monsignor ...... Anthony Lazalde sound and light technicians, as- lice where they decide to find a place for Deloris to hide out until she can tes- Mother Superior ...... Robbyn Wilks sistant stage managers, wardrobe Sister Mary Lazarus ...... Dawn Van Ess crew, props crew, and people do- tify against Curtis. Officer Eddie Souther knows Monsignor O’Hara at the Queen Sister Mary Roberts ... Waverly McCollum ing makeup, among many others Sister Mary Patrick .. Anne Mollerskov that keep the show going. of Angels Catholic Church, and they plan to hide Deloris among the nuns. Sister Mary Martin ..... Betty Petersen I can’t possibly describe all the Sister Mary Theresa ..... Karen Magee jobs of the many volunteers, from The Mother Superior is the only one who knows Deloris’s real background, Ensemble ...... Kerra Allen, those who sew the costumes to Madeleine Anderlik, Erin Barnlund, those who help build the set. Ul- and she reluctantly lets the worldly and mouthy singer stay, disguised as a nun. Alex Benitez, Chazmire Carothers, timately, all the volunteers make Laura Cuthbertson, Jessica Kathryn Cwik, the Racine Theatre Guild pos- Conflict develops between Mother Superior, who is very strict and proper, Juliana Garcia-Malacara, Mark Geisler, sible, and I am overwhelmingly Kimberly Gibson, LeShel Gotberg, grateful to them all, for giving and Deloris, who is not. That is, until Deloris is put in charge of the choir. She Ellie Hammond, Bernie Hoff, of their time and talents, both on Jennifer Larsen, Carri Prange, stage and off. takes the off-tune nuns and molds them into upbeat, doo-wop style singers. This Lori Stefanski, Taylor Anne Stefanski, Our volunteers are the RTG’s Rebecca Weaver, Dedrick Woods, lifeblood, and I know they will Continued on page 4 Jenna Zeihen be willing to jump in and keep us going through Season 81. I hope May - Production Calendar - SISTER ACT we can count on you. Either as a FRIDAY, May 11 7:30 pm patron, or why not try volunteer- TH SATURDAY, May 12 7:30 pm ing? It’s lots of fun, and you get to S M T W F S SUNDAY, May 13 2:00 pm meet some wonderful people. 11 12 FRIDAY, May 18 7:30 pm I hope we are able to “spread SATURDAY, May 19 2:00 & 7:30 pm the love around” with this heart- 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 SUNDAY, May 20 2:00 & 7:00 pm warming musical. Trust me, it THURSDAY, May 24 7:00 pm will “put the boogie in your soul.” 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 FRIDAY, May 25 7:30 pm Please join us for Sister Act and SATURDAY, May 26 2:00 & 7:30 pm continue on next season. 27 SUNDAY, May 27 2:00 pm Racine Theatre Guild’s 2018 - 2019 Season

The Racine Theatre Guild is proud to an- RRAACCIINNEE TTHHEEAATTRREE GGUUIILLDD''SS nounce our 2018 - 2019 season. Entering our 81st season, we invite you to take a break from your busy lives and join in adventures to other SUMMER CLASSES worlds, near, far, and fantastical. Full season subscriptions are on sale now, starting at just $55 and include Blithe Spirit, Lom- bardi, Things My Mother Taught Me, Wait Until Dark, and 9 to 5 The Musical. Limited run bonus shows, Peter and the Starcatcher,A Christmas Car- ol: The Musical, and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe can also be added on to subscriptions. For audience members with varying sched- ules and interests, flex passes are also available. They allow patrons the opportunity to pick and choose which shows they would like to see dur- ing times and dates that work best for them. In- dividual tickets will go on sale for Peter and the Starcatcher on Friday, May 11 and the rest of the season on Sunday, July 1. Season ticket packages, flex passes, and more information can be found online, www.ra- cinetheatre.org, by phone, (262) 633-4218, or by visiting the box office, Monday through Friday, 12 to 6 p.m.

The Callboard is written by volunteer Nancy Moldenhauer, a freelance writer Backstage Robbyn has been a busy Spotlight on Robbyn Wilks volunteer, too. She worked props in both versions of Willy Wonka, for Chi- cago and for the second Beauty and the A “Superior” Volunteer Beast. She was assistant stage manager in Don’t Cry for Me, Margaret Mitchell, The actress who plays Mother In all three years of Scrooge the ran sound for A Night at the Nutcracker, Superior in Sister Act will look fa- Musical (2005 – 2007) Robbyn was in and ran lights for a couple of Chil- miliar to regular RTG audiences, but the ensemble. Audiences may remem- dren’s Theatre shows. She also ushers they have never quite seen her like ber the stripper Mazeppa who played and serves on the nominating commit- this. “I am usually cast as someone a trumpet in the musical Gypsy in tee. “I work full time for We Energies,” who is brassy and loud and bold,” 2007. That was Robbyn in another Robbyn explains, “and my husband is says Robbyn Wilkes, “and it will be featured role. She was in Beauty in the a farmer, so I am selective about what a real stretch for me to do the Mother Beast in 2008. Then came the summer time of year I choose to audition to be in Superior role in Sister Act. But I wel- musical Honky Tonk Angels in 2009, a show or work on crew.” come the challenge and hope it will one of Robbyn’s favorite roles. Playing Mother Superior in Sister make me a more versatile actress.” “I love country music, so that Act is making Robbyn work hard. “I Robbyn always loved singing, show was right in my wheelhouse,” am not Catholic, so I had to learn a lot

and sang in children’s choirs, adult she says. “With such a small cast of about the body language and how to choirs and sang many solos. She three women, we became so close. play a nun. I’ve usually had very com- grew up in Raymond and attended The role of Angela was another bold ic roles, and this one is very serious. I Union Grove High School where she character, who wasn’t afraid of what am the antagonist and contrast to the played saxophone in the pit band for people thought of her. It was great character of Deloris, and I have to be the school’s musicals her first two that I got to sing ‘Harper Valley PTA.’ very refined, straight-laced and but- years of high school. “When I was a Then came one of my favorite shows, toned up. So far rehearsals have been a junior, I read for a part in Oklahoma, I Do, I Do in 2011. Again, that was a ball. It will sound and look awesome, and ended up playing Laurie,” Rob- small cast, just Bob Benson and me, with talented people in the cast and byn recalls. “I loved every minute of and in addition to singing so many great volunteers on the crew. Besides it, and I was in Pippin my senior year. songs, it included a lot of acting, to great music, this show has a wonder- Then my love of theatre went into show the many facets of a marriage.” ful story, and I’m sure audiences will the background, while I did a year of Robbyn was in A Funny Thing love that.” college, then returned to the Union Happened on the Way to the Forum Robbyn feels drawn back to the Grove area, got married, had two (2013), Les Miserables (2014), The Dixie Racine Theatre Guild because she children and worked a full-time job.” Swim Club (2015) (“my first non-mu- loves that every show is top quality. Robbyn’s friend Bob Benson sical”), Calendar Girls (2015) (“I can “If I devote so much time for all the urged her to audition for The Music now say I’ve been on stage naked!”), rehearsals, especially for a musical, Man in 2005. Robbyn ended up in the and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor I know I will be in a great show. I so cast, as part of the ensemble, and the Dreamcoat (2017). much appreciate the many volunteers joy of doing live theatre resurfaced. “I About Joseph, Robbyn says she who work unseen to make each show a was scared to be on stage for The Mu- was so amazed to be part of that bril- success. Being in a big musical means I sic Man,” Robbyn says, “but it turned liant cast with so many talented peo- get to spend time with my Guild fam- out to be so much fun. I bonded with ple. In addition to having many roles ily, and get to know new people, too, a group of fellow volunteers who in the ensemble, from being a wife who will also become family. I love have become my friends and second to being an Egyptian, Robbyn also my time at the RTG.” family. I found another place where I played Mrs. Potiphar, another brash And the RTG loves it when Rob- feel at home.” and aggressive female. byn spends time at the RTG! The Racine Theatre Guild 2519 Northwestern Avenue, Racine, WI 53404 Box Office 262-633-4218 www.racinetheatre.org

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Continued from page 1 revitalizes the entire church, which and lyricist Glenn Slater that skit- SISTER ACT - CREW had been nearly empty and slated to ters from Motown, to soul and Director ...... Douglas Instenes be closed, but soon is packed with funk, to disco and even a little jokey Music Director ...... Greg Berg parishioners each Sunday. Howev- Barry White.” Choreographer ... Mary Leigh Sturino er, Curtis is still on the lookout for “Big, glitzy numbers are the Set Design ...... Sarah Hunt Frank Deloris, and complications ensue. toast of Broadway musicals. The TD ...... Chris Reinhardt Songs include “Take Me to only thing better? Big, glitzy num- PSM ...... Bob Benson Heaven,” “It’s Good to Be a Nun,” bers… with nuns!” – New York Post. “The Life I Never Led,” and “Spread Whether you saw the movie Stage Manager ...... Eric Guttenberg the Love Around.” Critics loved the Sister Act or not, you’ll love this ASM ...... Jeff Hansen musical when it opened first in Lon- stage musical, with an uplifting Light Design ...... Mike Kurhajec don in 2009 and then on Broadway story and great songs. Light Techs ...... Karen Benson, in 2011. The New York version was Sister Act runs May 11 to 27, Karen Hamilton nominated for five , and tickets are already going fast. Costume Design .. Anna Marie Smetana including Best Musical. Call the box office at 262-633-4218 Wardrobe ...... Nat Cycenas “This is a musical that hits all to order tickets or for further infor- Props .... Ian Anderson, Robert Kroes the right spots, achieving something mation. Or visit the RTG web site at Digital Orchestration ...... Janet Petrik close to Broadway grace,” wrote racinetheatre.org. It’s just the thing Sound Mix...... Eric Goodwin Mark Kennedy, AP Drama Writer. to lift your spirits this spring! Sound Techs...... John & Colleen Whyte “The musical has great original Hair/Makeup ...... Jeanne Christensen tunes by songwriter Alan Menken Digital Sound Tracks ...... The MTPit