The Online Newsletter of 

Volume 8, Number 2              August, 2001

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
Opens in October

The much loved musical farce by Stephen Sondheim, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, kicks off ACT I’s Main Stage Season for Season 2001 – 2002 in October. Director Larry Adams-Bowers and his excellent cast are busy at work bringing this delightful spoof set in Rome in 200 BC to life. The story focuses around the efforts of two slaves, Pseudolus and Hysterium, to secure for Hero, their young master, the young woman with whom he has fallen in love. Complicating the situation is that fact the girl – Philia – is a courtesan who has already been promised to the soldier Miles Gloriosis.

Heading the cast for ACT I’s first ever Sondheim production are several veteran performers. Alan Nebola, who first appeared last year in the chorus of My Fair Lady, plays the central character of Pseudolus, and his comic foil Hysterium is played by Rick Murphy, in a role that is light years from his portrayal of the stuffy Col. Pickering in his debut last year, also in My Fair Lady. The young love interest is provided by Sara Arnold as Philia and John Blix as Hero. Sara appears in her third ACT I show; John is making his debut. As Hero’s parents, we are once again treated to the comic antics of Greg Walston (seen recently as the Emperor in The Emperor’s New Clothes) and Halane Cummings as Domina. Halane has given us many strong characterizations in such shows as Marvin’s Room and Bye Bye Birdie. Brian Larkin returns for his second major role as Marcus Lycus, and long time ACT I performer Ron Baldwin is featured as Erronius. Director Larry Adams-Bowers portrays the pompous soldier Miles Gloriosis. Also in the cast are Elise Dickerson, Bethany Martin, Sherry Stout, Beverly Adams-Bowers, Paul Blix, Natalie Stout, Jennifer Wilder, Sarah Seemann, and Brian Seemann.

Sara Arnold and John Blix sing a romantic vocal duet during rehearsal at the ACT I Studio.

The production team includes Music Directors Judy Mitschelen and Sara Arnold, Technical Director Allen Lueckenotto, and Wardrobe Mistress Lisa Finch. The set design and poster design are by Erica Grindle.  Jai Tucker is the property designer.  Charlie Vogl, a veteran performer with us, debuts as Choreographer. Musicians for the show include Judy Mitschelen, keyboard; and wind players Barb Glime and Judy Trygstad. David Arnold plays with us for the first time as percussionist.

Choreographer Charlie Vogl leads the company in the finale, "Comedy Tonight," a production number involving the entire cast.

Production dates for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum are October 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, and 14.  The performance scheduled for Friday, October 12, is already sold out. It has been booked by the National Convention of the American Legion Women’s Auxiliary, being held in Amana. Sherry McLaughlin of Mt. Auburn is being installed as national president of that organization and contacted ACT I two years ago, asking for a performance on that date. ACT I congratulates Sherry on her honor and is very pleased to be asked to give this performance for this national convention!

A group of courtesans belonging to Marcus Lycus "show their stuff."

The ACT I STAGE! Summer Theatre Camp 2001 culminated at the Palace Theatre, during the last two weekends in July, with two productions running back-to-back. The Emperor’s New Clothes, a musical directed by Gerald and Marcy Horst, ran opposite the other production, a triple bill featuring The Red Shoes, a straight play directed by Shirale Hanson, Henny Penny, a puppet theatre directed by Mary Horst, and Stone Soup, a musical directed by Shirale Hanson. Many volunteers collaborated to make the camp and resulting productions a wonderful theatrical experience for all involved.

As this was the first time a summer project of this type was sponsored by ACT I STAGE!, a survey was distributed during the final week of production to parents and campers. The survey asked participants several questions designed to evaluate the camp in its entirety, from Orientation and Workshops to information availability and quality of the final productions.

Below are the results of the survey.

1. The majority of participants felt that our $20 registration fee was fair, and a few said they would pay more.
2. A few parents commented that ticket prices were too high.
3. Parents supported the multiple show format, and appreciated that all children were included in the productions. However, many requested that future shows be kept to one half hour, no more than three shows per production.
4. The evaluation consensus concerning information on Orientation/Auditions, Rehearsals, and Performances was positive, but most felt that Workshops were often overlooked and forgotten.
5. Although information concerning Workshops was weak, those who attended the Workshops praised them highly.
6. All grade school participants and parents liked the morning rehearsal time.
7. The evening rehearsal time was often wasted waiting for actors who arrived late.
8. Everyone surveyed enjoyed the final productions.
9. All participants agreed that the camp was a fun, worthwhile learning experience, one they planned to repeat.

MAKES ONE MORE APPEARANCE  AT THE LUTHERAN HOME ICE CREAM SOCIAL

On Sunday, August 26, two shows from the ACT I STAGE! Summer Theatre Camp reappeared and performed for the patrons of the Lutheran Home Ice Cream Social benefit. Members of the original casts all participated, save Emily Huyck from Stone Soup, whose family has moved out of the area, and Kate Martin from Henny Penny, who was ill. The Stone Soup role of Marie was played by Megan Horst, and members of the Henny Penny cast pitched in to fill Kate’s part.

The children enjoyed this unique opportunity to resurrect their summer roles. ACT I participants always feel a bit melancholy at the close of another show.

SLIGHT CHANGE IN 2001-2002
ACT I SEASON SCHEDULE

A Family Affair, an outdoor concert planned as part of the Event Series to appear at Riverside Park Band Shell on September 7 and 8, has been rescheduled. This fun-filled family event will now take place next spring, on June ?????? Look for a variety of light-hearted song and dance acts, skits, and a puppet appearance, all performed by ACT I STAGE! favorites.

Price of admission is $2.00 per person; grandparents will enjoy the show for free! Impromptu family photos will be taken, and many other hilarious highlights are sure to make this outing a memorable occasion for your family.

Season Ticket

Due to the change in schedule for the recital "Family Affair," the ACT I Board has voted to extend the deadline for the purchase of Season Tickets for Season 2001 – 2002. Season tickets can now be purchased until October 14, the closing performance of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Season tickets cost $28.00 for adults and $20.00 for students and give admission to all the remaining productions in both the Main Stage and Events Series, as well as a paid membership in ACT I. It’s quite a deal! Write to act1ofBC@aol.com or call 472-9957 for more information, or just get your season ticket when you buy your tickets to Forum.

The ACT I Ticket information line and Palace Theatre Box Office number is 472-9957.

AUDITIONS Announced for Music Revue . . .

Words and Music by Skeet Powers

September 24, 25  7:00 PM
Wesley United Methodist Church
Fireplace Room

The Events Series for Season 2001 – 2002 opens in November with the original music revue, Words and Music by Skeet Powers. The name of this show says it all – this show was created by local musician Skeet Powers, whose musical "Lovingly Yours" was performed by ACT I in 1986. Auditions for the production, directed by Pat Lyons and with music direction by Lori Ferguson, will be held in the fireplace room of Wesley United Methodist Church September 24 and 25 at 7:00 PM.

Those answering the call should prepare a vocal piece from the 40's, either a swing piece or a ballad.  You may bring your own accompanist or you can be accompanied by Lori Ferguson, the music director.  Please make arrangements to get your music to Lori in advance if she is to be your accompanist.

The show runs November 17th and 18th at the Palace Theatre.

Contact Director Pat Lyons
472-5698
for more information

BUY SEASON TICKETS!!!

Adults $28, Students $20!

For more information about our ticket prices, visit our E-Box page!

Member of the Month

The Allen and Bonnie Lueckenotto Family

by Mary Horst

This month Steve and Marcy asked me to introduce you to my good friends, recent ACT I members, Allen and Bonnie Lueckenotto. I was chosen for this task for one of two reasons: 1) I know them well and manage to involve them in all my own ACT I projects; or 2) I can both pronounce and spell their last name!

Since no woman is an island, I didn’t hesitate to throw out a line to Allen and Bonnie whenever a new theatre project presented itself this past year. We can all be grateful they took the bait—hook, line and sinker. Read on to discover all the wonderful work this family has contributed to community theatre.

Allen and Bonnie got their feet wet with ACT I last summer when their oldest son, Curtis, appeared as a baby gosling in Charlotte’s Web. Mid-rehearsals, Allen jumped in to strum a few bars on the guitar, enhancing the music for the production.

With one show behind them, the family was plunging ahead like ducks to water. Bonnie helped me with set construction for the 2000-2001 season’s variety show production of Encore! Encore! and Allen assumed set crew duties. Bonnie also contributed some of her photos to ACT I’s premiere photo exhibit, Picture This! With mom and dad already on board for this show, Curtis returned to the stage, this time cracking up audiences as a bubble-gum-chewing pantomimist in a "sticky situation."

The Lueckenottos dove into their first major project for ACT I this summer, when I lured them into building the set for ACT I’s first-ever puppet theatre, Henny Penny. Dedicating their garage to lumber, tools, paint, and wet, gluey newspapers, Allen and Bonnie did a phenomenal job creating a visually appealing, completely portable set that’s stable and capable of concealing a cast of 17. The Henny Penny set features six separate interlocking pieces, including special elements such as a rising sun, working barn doors, three-dimensional cave and pond units, movable tree eyes and a drawbridge that really operates!

Henny Penny will always be special to the Lueckenottos since Curtis tried his puppet skills as Turkey Lurky and younger brother, Evan, made his stage debut. At just five years old, Evan made a splash as puppeteer for the frequently dozing Groggy Froggy. Engineering the frog puppet with eyelids which open and shut was cause for moments of floundering among the set team, but in the end, the frog puppet maintained his dignity on the pond—despite the occasional unplanned wink.

In addition to Curtis and Evan, the Lueckenottos have a daughter, Megan. I can personally attest to her first near all-nighter at the theatre, as she accompanied us during a late night set session at the Palace preparing for Henny Penny. Megan still sings her favorite bars from the Charlotte’s Web score and she’s bound to perform swimmingly as a dancing baby something or other in a future ACT I STAGE! show.

Outside their devotion to the theatre, Allen works as an Advanced Quality Engineer for Square D Company and Bonnie is a daycare instructor at Little Works of Art Daycare Center. They both expend lots of energy volunteering in their hometown in Blairstown. Allen is a KC and music minister at St. John’s Church and Bonnie handles scheduling and baking pies for funeral dinners. The couple also teaches religious education.

In their free time, you can often find the Lueckenottos on the soccer field. Allen is a referee and coach and both Curtis and Evan play the sport. Bonnie joins Allen on the field during an informal adult league on Friday nights.

The Lueckenottos will be jumping right back in the water this fall, building set for the upcoming ACT I production, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.

You could say I’m a persistent fisherman, but I think I just snagged a great catch…

Mary Horst

ACT I TRIVIA QUIZ

Submit answers to: act1ofBC@aol.com or mail to:

ACT I of Benton County Trivia Quiz
Box 222, Vinton, Iowa 52349

 REMEMBER:  You do not need to have all the answers in order to submit an entry!  

Answers to Last Month’s Quiz

First Things First

   We look back at some unusual ACT I firsts that relate to our this season's Children's Theatre program.

1.  Seven members of the Gerald Horst family sang "Blue Suede Shoes" in Encore! Encore!, our 2000 Variety Show.

2.  The first script by a local author presented by ACT I was Lovingly Yours by Skeet Powers, performed in 1986.

3.  A ventriloquist dummy appeared in Knock 'Em Dead.

4.  A life sized laughing mannequin appeared in Sleuth.

5.  In The Prince and the Pauper, Prince Edward is accused of stealing a chicken.

6.  An imaginary unicorn is seen by a character in A Thurber Carnival.

7.  Two children create an imaginary kingdom in the Virginia countryside in Bridge to Terabithia.

Congratulations to Ron Baldwin for answering four out of seven correctly!

The Next Meeting of the Board of ACT I of Benton County will be Sunday, September 9, 2001 at 6:30 PM in the ACT I Studio.  This is one of our quarterly membership meetings.
Members and visitors are always welcome.

Minutes of meetings from the current year can be accessed on the Board page of our website.  

              Message from
the Editors 

This season we're going to be handling the work of Grease Paint together, and already have the first seven issues mapped out.  We hope you enjoy our efforts! 

  Marcy and Steve

That's Grease Paint for August, 2001!  

To look back at previous online issues, visit our Grease Paint Archives page by clicking here!

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