Anzerican Classics SUMMER THEATRE
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
IPFW Department of Theatre's - Anzerican Classics SUMMER THEATRE A Three Rivers Festival Event Music by Henry Krieger Lyrics and Book by Tom Eyen Directed and Choreographed by Larry L Life Musical Direction by Stephen W. R. Sheftz July 12, 1;_J.8, 19, and 20 at 8 p.m. •July 14 and 21 at 2:30 p .m . IPFW DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE presents MUSIC BY HENRY KRIEGER BOOK AND LYRICS BY TOM EYEN Director and Choreographer LARRY L. LIFE Musical Director STEPHEN W. R. SHEFIZ Scenic /Lighting Designer Assistant Conductor and Accompanist SEAN STEWART STEPHANIE AMBROSE Costume Designer Associate Conductor CRAIG A. HUMPHREY JEREMY BANKSON Properties Designer Assistant Director MARTY KERCHEVAL MARTY KERCHEVAL Sound Designer ToMTEMPEL WILLIAMS THEATRE July 2002 WARNING The photographing or sound recording ofany performance or the possession ofany device for such photographing or sound recording inside this theatre, without the written permission of the management, is prohibited by law. Violators may be punished by ejection, and violations may render the offender liable for monetary damages. Out ofrespectfor the actors, we ask thatyou remain in your seat until the curtain call is finished. Please tum offall cellphones andpagers. This play was selected for its artistic and academic value. The selection and performance of the play do not constitute an endorsement by Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne or Purdue University of the viewpoints conveyed by the play. Dreamgirls is produced by arrangement with, and the music and dialogue material furnished by, Tarns-Witmark Music Library Inc., 560 Lexington Ave., New York, NY 10022. NOTES ON DREAMGIRLS On the evening ofJune 6, 1982, euphoria swept both the audience and the presenters at the 36th Antoinette Perry (Tony) Awards as Dreamgirls (1981), the latest in a suing ofsuccessful black musicals, earned the major awards for performers in a musical. This dramatization ofthe life of the Dreamgirls, a Supremes-like singing group, became both the critical and the box office hit of the season. Frank Rich of the New iOrk Times, who had issued few raves during his tenure, declared that the first act finale (Tony Award-winner Jennifer Holliday's performance of"And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going") made "Broadway history." A follow-up review almost a year later revealed that his enthusiasm was undiminished. He praised the show for its daring, which he found was preferable even to Charles Fuller's Pulitzer Prize-winning A Soldiers Play (1981). The most resoundingly successful black musical in several seasons, it seemed to herald new life for the genre as once again the black musical had begun to rework the Broadway musical in its own image. Nonetheless, while black musical theatre may once again suffer hard times on Broadway, it may be argued that these shows may have changed the face ofAmerican musical theatre as a whole. Black musical theatre, initially a separate and unequal stepchild ofAmerican musical theatre, has slowly been integrated into the musical comedy mainstream as it helped to Americanize and modernize the structure, music, and dance of musical theatre between 1898 and the 1920s and ultimately in the 1960s and 1970s bring important political issues to an art form that had hitherto been dismissed as "escapist." While the socially conscious black musical that existed in the 1970s may have disappeared, the potential for new black contributions to the world of musical comedy remains strong. Despite long droughts in the past, black artists have often returned to this cultural form and in the process changed both the shape and direction ofthe black musical and American musical theatre as well. (from Black Musical Theatre from Coontown to Dreamgirls by Allen Woll, Louisiana State University Press. 1989.) ABOUT THE CAsT Shauna Leigh Alexander (Effie) appears through the courtesy of the Actors Equity Association. Alexander has a musical theatre degree from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York. Alexander performed in Hercules as Clio and in Disney Dreams as the Circle ofLife soloist, both at Disney Magic Disney Cruise Line, and performed the roles of Nell in Ain't Misbehavin'and Doris in Damn Ytlnkees at Naples Dinner Theatre in Naples, Fla. Her favorite role was in Yo, Alice as Chub Girl at the Radio City Music Hall in New York. Alexander is a self-employed performer and loves doing jingle and back-up singing in her spare time. Jane Bitting (Ensemble) received a B.A. in English and linguistics in May 2000 and is returning for a theatre major. She is an English and drama teacher at Central Noble High School. Bitting is married to Brandon Bitting. Terra Brantley (Michelle Morris) is a graduate of Ohio University with a B.S. in communication. Her most recent roles include Ruth in A Raisin in the Sun at Civic, Stella in Steal Away at the Florence Theatre in South Carolina, and Cheerleader in Bones and a Dancer in Music Man, both in Cleveland, Ohio. She was a dancer for the Florence Ballet Company as well. Brantley is a news anchor for Wane-1V 15, writes for Ink Newspaper, and is a radio announcer for 106.7. Brantley is vice president of Fort Wayne Urban League Guild and a board member for the Civic Theatre. She has two children, Monty and Taylor. Kirk Brittain (Ensemble) has a B.S. in PR/communications from Ball State University. Brittain is the staffing and communications manager in human resources for the International Truck and Engine Corp. He is originally from Indianapolis and relocated to Fort Wayne one year ago. Shannon Clark (Ensemble) attends the IPFW Department ofNursing and will be an RN in one year. She has recently been seen in the past five 24 Hour Playhouses. She also performed in Hair as Chrissy, Gypsy as Electra, and She Loves Me as Waitress, and has received a Director's Award and Best Actress in a Minor Role Award. Clark is married to Todd and has two children, Hannah and Noah. The family dog is Carol Florence. Margie Conley (Ensemble) has just finished her first year at Indiana University majoring in biology and has future plans ofa theatre major. She has performed in Colored Girls at IU as Lady in Orange and in Little Shop ofHorrors as Chiffon, Grease as Frenchy, and Pippin as Fastrada, all at Paul Harding High School. Conley is a recreation leader for Jennings Recreation Center. She is also a MAP scholar and president of Central Black Student Union and was Miss National Youth Conference 1999. Conley would like to thank God, family, and friends for all of their love and support. Benita Cooper (Ensemble) has an A.S. from Southwestern Christian College and is majoring in elementary education at IPFw. Dreamgirls is Cooper's debut performance at IPFW She is a childcare assistant for YMCA Southeast and has two children, Jiair and Admiria. Jason Ehlerding (Ensemble) is a junior and has attended Ball State University for voice, IPFW for business, and is currently attending Ivy Tech. Ehlerding recently performed in and won an Anthony Award for his work in Proposals as Vinnie Bavasi at the Civic Theatre. He is a water safety instructor/lifeguard for the YMCA and a sales representative for Kayak Pools. Jane Rebekah Frazier (Ensemble) is a graduate ofthe IPFW Department of Theatre. Some ofher favorite roles include Edith in Edith Stein, Jackie in The Hot L Baltimore, and the Baker's Wife in Into the WOodr. Frazier was the assistant director ofCivic's most recent production of The Sound ofMusic and has taught theatre all around town to all ag~: She is currently associate faculty for the theatre department, director ofthe Community Arts Academy, and assistant to the dean of Visual and Performing Arts, all at IPFW. Frazier is excited to be on stage with so many wonderful old friends, new friends, and boyfriend Billy. Brian Kelly Qames "Thunder" Early) has just finished his first year at IU School ofMedicine. He is a full-time student, and while he has the summer off he is making his stage debut at IPFW William Michael Marshall (Ensemble) was most recently seen in Sound ofMusic as Herr Zeller at the Civic Theatre. Marshall was also involved with Harding High School's production of From Whence 'Wt- Came performing the roles ofSlave Driver and Abraham Lincoln. Marshall is the atmospheric director at Club Soda. He would like to thank Jane Rebekah Frazier for supporting his comeback to theatre. Jenn Nickell (Ensemble) is an IPFW theatre major. She was most recently seen in Little Shop ofHo"ors as Chiffon at the Arena Dinner Theatre and On the Town as Flossie at IPFW Nickell has worked extensively backstage for the shows The Rivals and Picasso at the Lapin Agile. Nickell also played the part ofSc. Mary Hubert in Nuncrackers for Ed.wards Productions. Nickell is a coffee connoisseur and surrounds herself with the irresistible aromas ofa coffee house by working in one called the Firefly Coffeehouse. Sue:iette Phillips (Lorell) is making her debut appearance on stage in Dreamgirls. Phillips is an employee ofSalin Bank, and she is bank manager. Andrew Shade (Ensemble) will be a sophomore next school year at Snider High School. Shade was been a member ofthe ensemble in Hello Dolly at Wayne High School, Ito in Mame at Memorial Park, Tootles in Peter Pan at Civic, Toomai in Jungle Book at the Youtheatre, and his favorite role, Cab Calloway in 'Wt- Hold on to the Dream for the Village Touring Company. Shade has also worked backstage as stage manager for Charlotte's 'Wt-b at Youtheatre and as a crew member for A Raisin in the Sun at Civic.