® 83/~:}·1 WEST VALLEY LIGHT OPERA Staged & Choreographed by RAY TONEY Music Director • • • • • • • • •• Choral Director JEAN NARUNSKY GLADIE TUSCHER Produced by MARGE HAND SONGS TO REMEMBER "Manhattan" "rhou Swell" "Johnny One Note" "This Can't Be Love" "Falling In Love With Love" INFORMATION AND RESERVATIONS SARATOGA CIVIC THEATRE 268-3777 or 358-1896 13777 Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga VISA or MASTER CHARGE ACCEPTED NOBMINDIN (!NRYSLER • PLYMOUTH SINCE 1875 OVER 106 Years OF SALES & SERVICE LEADERSHIP • AUTHORIZED SERVICE FOR On the ALL CHRYSLER BUILT CARS Avenue of Flags • BODY & FENDER REPAIRS • CAR & TRUCK LEASING • QUALITY USED CARS • PARTS HEADQUARTERS CHRYSLER - MOPAR 900 WEST CAPITOL EXPRESSWAY • SAN JOSE. 266-9500 395·3101 LOS GATOS WINCHESTER BLVD. WEST VALLEY LIGHT OPERA Concept by Richard Lewine and John Fearnley Staged & Choreographed By: Ray Toney Produced By: Marge Hand Music Director: Jean Narunsky Choral Director: Gladie Tuscher Performances: June 23, 24, 29, 30; July 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 27, 28 Fridays &. Saturdays - 8:30 PM Sunday Matinees - 2:30 PM "Rogers & Hart, A Musical Celebration", is presented thru special arrangement with Rodgers & Hammerstein Theatre Library, 598 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10022 West Valley Box Office Saratoga Civic Theater % Jean Hutchins 13777 Fruitvale Ave., Saratoga 1411 Redmond Road 741-95081 Hour Before Curtain San Jose, CA 95120 268-3777/358-1896 PLEASE NOTE: By order of the City Council and the Fire Marshall, smoking, refreshments and recording or taking photographs' during performances are not permitted. CAST (In Alphabetical Order) Marcia Bell Stewart Lyle Margaret Bergeson Brien Timothy Mahoney Steve Completo Cliff Mills Denise Curtis Walt Shannon Sandi L. Ferry John Walsh Lisa K. Howard William S. Wilson DANCERS Nancy Hand, Patricia M. King, Robin Erin Reynolds, Diane Stoerger RODGERS & HART - A UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP Richard Rodgers was exposed to music at such and early age that by the time he was six, he had taught himself to play the piano with both hands. His parents and grandparents took him every Saturday to a matinee downtown or at the 125th St. Theater and thus began his dedication to the "musical world of glamour and beauty" he had never known existed. After writing scores for two high school productions, he was encouraged by Phillip Leavitt to contact Lorenz Hart, a Columbia graduate, who could quote Shakespeare by the page, was a passionate theater goer, loved good music and who had high hopes of becoming a writer. They met in 1918 and the creative union was immidiate. Hart admired Rodgers' easy gift for pleasi ng melody and Rodgers admi red the refinement and good taste of Hart's lyrics. Their collaboration lasted from 1918 to 1943 and produced 31 stage musicals and 10 motion picture scores. Of their first 17shows, 7were major successes, 10 were failures. Of their final 10 shows, 8 of the 10 were highly successful with 7 smash hits coming in succession. Lorenz Hart revolutionized lyric writing; he took what was once a functional commodity for a melody and charged it with wit, imagination and charm. Rodgers & Hart were leaders in thei r field, not followers. Every show had its own idea, plan, strategy and execution. Rodgers was reserved, methodical, responsible and professional. Hart, on the other hand, was erratic, irresponsible, careless and moody. They grew apart gradually during the late 30's when it became obvious that Hart was a deeply disturbed person. When Rodgers confronted his partner with the professional problems caused by his alcoholism and irresponsible behavior, Hart just said, "I've never really understood why you've put up with me all these years." Then Larry Hart walked out, Rodgers cried and it was over. Larry Hart died in 1943, just months after the opening of Oklahoma". ORCHESTRA Conductor Jean Narunsky Woodwinds Gene Tyacke, Linda Jackson, and Clarence Savage Bass Cole Hamlin Percussion Jeff Spector Piano . .. Diane Reynolds PRODUCTION STAFF Set Designer Wayne & Associates Technical Director Ed Hand Technical Consultant Gene COllinge Costume Designer Norma Howarth Costume Construction Norma Howarth, Celia Beebe, Judy Pincus, Betty DeTar, Bea Mignosi, Kim Nutini Lighting Designer Don Carlson Scenic Artist LaJoi West Stage Manager Robert Griswold Stage Crew Gary Ferry, Paul Lara, Gene Pincus Lighting Crew Allen Whittle, Kathy Dortland Sound Reinforcement Gary Sanders, Bill Johnson Sound Effects Gene Pincus Make-Up Brien Timothy Mahoney, William S. Wilson Properties Cele Pincus, Eileen Chavarria Program & Poster Graphics . .. Tom Peterson House Manager . .. Celia Beebe Programs '. .. Marge Hand Lobby Design & Decoration Dawn Meidinger Photographer . .. Carl Ballou Rehearsal Pianists Diane Reynolds, Cathy Howard Reservations Brian Hutchins, Jean Hutchins, Enid Maurice, Gladys MacArthur Box Office Brian Hutchins Cast Hospitality Celia Beebe Set Construction & Painting Sandi Ferry, Iryne Hack, Ed & Nancy Hand Paul Lara, Stewart Lyle, Jim Nash, Dick Meidinger, Gene Pincus, Gerry Scott, Bill Shepard, Rod Whitehouse Set Construction & Painting ... Sandi Ferry, Iryne Hack, Ed & Nancy Hand, Paul Lara, Stewart Lyle, Jim Nash, Dick Meidinger, Gene Pincus, Gerry Scott, Bill Shepard, Rod Whitehouse DID YOU KNOW? ? ? ... that Richard Rodgers composed his first melody at the age of 9? ... that the first Broadway show Rodgers & Hart wrote was "Garrick Gaieties"? ,.. that the last song they wrote together was "To Keep My Love Alive"? ,.. that Lorenz Hart was offered the opportunity to write the lyrics for "Oklahoma" and turned it down? d. that the three-sided revolving set piece used on our stage is called a periaktos? .,. that Rodgers' partnership with Oscar Hammerstein, II, lasted 17 years - from 1943 to 1960? ... that Hart died in 1943 at the age of 48 and Rodgers in 1979 at the age of 77? MUSICAL NUMBERS ACT I "Overture" . .. Orchestra "Jupiter Forbid" . .. Company "Falling In Love With Love" Margaret "Thou Swell" Lisa and Brien "The Girl Friend" ,............... Scott and Brien "Where or When" Cliff "With a Song In My Heart" Stewart, Denise, Nancy and Diane "Everything I've Got" Stewart and Denise "This Can't Be Love" Sandi and Steve, Patricia, Nancy, Robin "Wait Till You See Her Scott "My Heart Stood Still" Marcia "Isn't It Romantic?" Steve and Denise "Here In My Arms" , Margaret "My Romance" Cliff "Where or When" "Glad To Be Unhappy" Company "I Wish I Were In Love Again" Cliff, Margaret, Brien, Lisa, . .. Denise and Scott "It Never Entered My Mind" Sandi "Happy Hunting Horn" Scott and Brien, and Robin and Diane "Love Me Tonite'' Scott and Marcia "Mountain Greenery" Denise and Stewart "Little Girl Blue" Marcia "To Keep My Love Alive" Sandi "Mimi"; Chorographed By: Diane Stoerger . Cliff, Scott and Robin "Blue Moon Sequence" Walt and John as Rodgers and Hart A. "Prayer" . .. Lisa B. "The Bad In Every Man" Sandi C. "Manhattan Melodrama" Scott D. "Blue Moon Sequence" Marcia "Johnny One Note" Steve, Cliff and Brien "Way Out West" Stewart "Give It Back To The Indians" Denise, Steve, Patricia, . .. Nancy and Robin "I Gotta Get Back To New York" "Manhattan" ".. .. Company INTERMISSSION ACT II "Entr'acte" Orchestra "Any Old Place With You" Brien and Lisa "On A Desert Island" Stewart and Marcia "The Most Beautiful Girl In The World" Steve "Great Big Town (Chicago)" Girls "Song of' Paree" Guys "Dear Old Syracuse" Company "Ten Cents A Dance" ., Denise "I've Got 5 Dollars" Brien "She Could Shake The Maracas" Lisa, Steve and Brien "I Didn't Know What Time It Was" Marcia "You Took Advantage Of Me" Sandi "You Mustn't Kick It Around" Scott "Sing For Your Supper" Sandi, Marcia, and Lisa "Dancing on the Ceiling" Cliff "It's Got To Be Love" . .. Scott and Denise "He and She" Stewart and Margaret "Blue Room" Marcia and Steve "I Could Write A Book" Stewart "A Ship Without A Sail" Lisa "Nobodv's Heart" Steve "Spring Is Here" Margaret "You're Nearer" Cliff "There's A Small Hotel" Brien and Margaret "This Is My Night To Howl" Denise, Scott, Cliff, and Stewart "Bewitched, Bothered & Bewildered" Sandi "I Married An Angel" " Scott and Cliff "The Ladv Is A Tramp" ..................•............... Lisa "Have You Met Miss Jones" Steve "Lover" Margaret "Jupiter Forbid" (Reprise) Finale Ultimo Company THE OVERTURES-traveling troupe of West Valley Light Opera Association, Is currently searching for additional male singers and, particularly, a pianist to complete their ensemble for future performances. If interested in auditioning or if your organization is planning a luncheon, banquet, .,convention, etc., and needs entertainment at reasonable rates, please call: Marge Hand 356-7340 or Gladie Tuscher 996·0485 RAY TONEY - After his successful directorial task of "Perfectly Frank", we welcome Ray back for an encore with this delightful revue of some wonderful Rodgers & Harttunes. A familiarpersonalityto local community theater, Ray is best remembered at WVlOfor his portrayals of Jerry Cohan in "George M" and Pooch in "Good News." He has directed TV commercials and staged and choreographed several musical revues in the Orient as well as in the US. He choreographed ,"F.inian's Rainbow" and WVlO's "Kiss Me, Kate", then teamed with wife, Barbara to choregraph WVlO's "Pal Joey" and SDG's "70, Girls 70". The recipient of several awards, he gave memorable performances in local productions of "Mr Roberts", "Marathon 33", "Sugar" and "Finian's Rainbow". An excellent composer in his own right, Ray hopes to someday have his songs published. We're betting on him reaching that goal, but in the meantime, we'll be happy to utilize his talents in any capacity. JEAN NARUNSKY - Jean is well-known to our audiences for she has been Music Director for several wvt,o productions, including "Camelot", "South Pacific" and "Good News". Since she holds a degree in Music Education and plays the French Horn, she has often been a member of orchestra when she waS not. Music Director. Her latest staff position as Music Director was for Sunnyvale Community Players' "Damm Yankees".