One of the most loved musicals ever written comes to the Palace Theatre next week.  "My Fair Lady," based on the play "Pygmalion" by George Bernard Shaw, opens next Thursday, February 22, and runs the 23, 24, 25, and March 1, 2, 3, and 4. Showtime for all performances is 7:30 PM, with the exception of the Sunday matinees, February 25 and March 4, which begin at 2:00 PM.  The production is sponsored by Clingman Pharmacy.

This enchanting classic, set to music by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Lowe, has been a smash hit with audiences since its premiere in 1956.  Featured songs "The Rain in Spain," "I Could Have Danced All Night," and "Let a Woman in Your Life" are as fresh today as when the show was first performed 45 years ago.

Those lucky enough to take in our ACT I January Recital, Intermezzo, were treated to a rousing preview of next week’s production. Showcased at the end of the recital were three of "My Fair Lady’s" title performers. Veteran ACT I director and actor, Steve Arnold, brings to life the character of Professor Henry Higgins. Steve was seen recently as Ebenezer Scrooge in the ACT I Readers’ Theatre "A Christmas Carol," reprising the role he played for Theatre Cedar Rapids in 1999.

Kari Douma portrays Professor Higgins’ unpolished and unsuspecting student, cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle. Kari’s real-life husband, Greg Douma, plays Eliza’s erstwhile lover, Freddy Eynsford-Hill.

Greg and Kari take on the dual roles of actor and musical director, bringing to the stage a wealth of experience last viewed by Benton County audiences when both took part in "The Secret Garden." Kari brought the house down as Martha, and Greg directed the challenging, operatic score, even stepping in to portray Neville for one showing.

Other notable "My Fair Lady" appearances include Brian Larkin as Alfred Doolittle, and first-timer Rick Murphy as Colonel Pickering.

Larry Adams-Bowers, who has directed numerous ACT I shows, including "A Streetcar Named Desire" and "Marvin’s Room," has expertly staged this talent-filled production. He is assisted by ACT I veteran Rhonda Westergard.

Others in the cast include:  Lori Kerwin as Mrs. Pearce, Alexander Vasquez as Zoltan Karpathy, Sherry Stout as Mrs. Higgins, Beverly Adams-Bowers as Mrs. Eynsford-Hill, Linda Radcliffe as Georgette, Aaron Murphy, Greg Walston, Dave Gates, and Sue Gates as the quartet, and chorus members Kayla Comer, Stephanie Stout, Hallie Marble, Kaitlin Karrick, Camille Studer,  Elise Dickerson, Bonnie Carpenter, Alan Nebola, Kendra McChristian, Pat Lyons, Janet Woodhouse, Josie Rundlett, Kathy Tranel, Rhonda Westergard, and Larry Adams-Bowers.

The musicians for the show include Judy Mitschelen, piano; Judy Trytstad, flute; Murray Moening, trumpet; Vanessa Bahr, clarinet; and Jaimie Tucker, trombone.

The production staff for the show includes Technical Director  Alexander Vasquez, Choreographer Joan Cooling, Dance Master Aaron Murphy, Costume Mistress Ida Higgins, Property Mistress Shirale Hanson, Hair and Makeup Designer Elise Dickerson, Lighting Designers Austin Karr, Kevin Bookmeier, Lighting Operator  Michelle Sturtz, Sound Operator Chelsea Meyer, Stage Crew  Alexander Vasquez, Matt Meyer, Kate Westergard, Pat Lyons, and Greg Walston, Set Designer Alexander Vasquez, Publicity Directors Lu Karr and Julie Zimmer, Box Office Manatger Linda Radcliffe, and House Manager Marilyn Johnson.

You won’t want to miss this delightful addition to the ACT I Season of Theatre Classics. Please call 472-9957 for reservations.

There is a new look to the ACT I show tickets, beginning with "My Fair Lady."  ACT I is now using a computerized ticket program that will speed up our box office, make for more efficient ticket sales, and reduce errors.

Thanks to the efforts of Pat Lyons and Gerald Horst, new software has been installed for ACT I's box office which will greatly enhance our box office operation.  The Palace Theatre seating chart has been programmed into the software so that patrons may select their seat and have their tickets printed on the spot, with the data from the sale recorded for our own records.  This is a similar program to ones in use at Theatre Cedar Rapids and the Old Creamery Theatre and many (if not most) theatres managing live performances.

We hope that our new ticketing software helps enhance the local theatre experience for our patrons!

SAMPLE THE ARTS AND MORE, a book of discount coupons produced by the Cedar Rapids Area Cultural Alliance, is still available from ACT I.  The book contains hundreds of dollars worth of coupons for tickets to performances, events, exhibits, and merchandise, and are available for just $25.00.  Among the organizations giving free or buy-one-get-one tickets are ACT I, Theatre Cedar Rapids, The Old Creamery Theatre, The Cedar Rapids Symphony, Brucemore, The Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Children's Theatre of Cedar Rapids, The History Center, Starlighters 2000 of Anamosa, Riverside Theatre of Iowa City, The Science Station, Mount Mercy College, and many more -- virtually every cultural organization in our immediate area.

If you wish to purchase a Sample the Arts book from ACT I, please contact me at 472-5308 or e-mail me at SArnoldIA@aol.com and I will get your copy to you ASAP.

The History of ACT I Musicals:

1986    Lovingly Yours
1994    Bridge to Terabithia
           The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
1995    The Sound of Music
1996    How to Eat Like a Child
1997    Oliver!
1998    Bye Bye Birdie
1999    The Velveteen Rabbit
2000    The Secret Garden
           Hansel and Gretel
           Charlotte's Web
2001    My Fair Lady

As we prepare for our latest musical production, "My Fair Lady," this month we take a look back at the first musical ACT I ever presented, and our only world premiere.

The musical production "Lovingly Yours," written through the joint effort and talent of Skeet Powers and Tom Cunliffe, premiered at Tilford Auditorium in Vinton on February 7, 1986.

Skeet Powers, who composed the music for "Lovingly Yours," moved to Vinton in 1947 and lived and worked with his wife Evelyn as a houseparent at the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School for many years. Skeet had been writing the music for the production since the late 30’s. One of the selections, "You Waited Too Long," was played by several big bands, including the Ray Anthony Band, at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel during World War II.

After working on the music for over thirty years, Powers took his many scores to Tom Cunliffe to see how he felt about writing a play to go with it. C. Thomas Cunliffe performed multitudes of roles at the Old Creamery Theatre Co, directed several ACT I productions, and was featured in television motion pictures and series. "Lovingly Yours" was his first attempt to write a musical play.

After selecting about twenty songs from the multitudes presented to him by Powers, Cunliffe worked up a story line to fit the music. "Lovingly Yours" became a two act show covering every mood and musical range from the toe-tapping "Who Stole My Sweetheart" to the operatic notes of "A Chance For Me" in Act One entitled Serenade. The second act, This Side of Heaven, carried the storyline of the play. Set close to heaven, Act Two gave the audience a chance to meet the original Doubting Thomas and to hear the stories of many people on their journey to heaven.

Each person on his or her way to heaven eventually arrived at the Rest Stop. It was there that the folks gathered to tell their stories of life on earth. Thomas listened with the crowd and offered moral support.

Some souls making the trip included a group of juvenile delinquents who died while drag racing; three GI’s killed in semi-action, and one wild lady who ranted about her dreams. The cast involved over thirty local people of all ages, including a group of grade school cherubs.

Bill Rowley, band instructor at Washington High School at that time, assembled musicians for the production. A brass quintet opened the entire evening with the pre-show number "Opus I." Rowley’s group also offered accompaniment throughout both acts.

Janet Woodhouse is the only member of our cast for "My Fair Lady" who appeared in ACT I's first musical.  Other cast members for "Lovingly Yours" included Scott Sodergren, Jill Lockard, Chuck Weideman, Brent Rolland, David Nash, Dotie Anthony, Anne Jeanette Olsen, Michael Petersen, Rod Ohrt, Dave Nolte, Kichard Kerdus, Nancy Carson, Keith Ervin, Bill Garbers, Jr., Todd Dimmer, Ron Johnson, Tom Dimmer, Holly Koopman, Ralph Bright, Audrey Kay Bures, Skeet Powers, Marilyn Weideman, Mary Phillips, and the Wesley United Methodist Church Choir directed by Kathy Ripperdan.  The children's cast included Tracy Beau, Beth Calhoun, Micki Davis, Cassandra Fowler, Kelly Ketchen, John Mossman, Alexa Russell, Shea Woodhouse, and Emily Zimmer.

"Lovingly Yours" was well attended and well received by the Benton County audience.

Greg is in his third year as high school vocal music instructor for Washington High School in Vinton, and his tenure in that position has been marked by a dramatic increase in performance quality as well as new innovations such as the creation of the high school show choir.  Kari, who taught high school vocal music last year at Independence, joined the teaching staff of the Vinton-Shellsburg school district this year, teaching half time at Tilford Middle School, and half time at the high school assisting Greg.  ACT I first became acquainted with them last year when Greg served as music director for "The Secret Garden" and Kari appeared in that show in the role of Martha.  Greg also filled in on short notice for a snowbound actor in one of the performance of that show.  Greg and Kari, both of whom are graduates of Luther College in Decorah, were married this past August.

Greg, whose interests and talents extend beyond musicals to straight drama, will also direct ACT I's production of Harvey, which will run May 11-13 and May 18-20.  (Auditions will be March 19th and 20th at 7:00 PM at the ACT I Studio.)  This will mark Greg’s eighth directorial endeavor. In 1994, Greg directed an original cutting of Neil Simon’s Brighton Beach Memoirs at Marshall High School in Marshall, Minnesota, where Greg was raised. Later that year, he had his music directorial debut with the high school’s production of Little Shop of Horrors, in which Greg also played the role of Seymour.

From 1994-1998, Greg attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. In college, Greg’s pursuit of a music education degree took up most of his time. Music performance occupied a large part of his training, as well. Greg was a member of the Nordic Choir for three years and soloed in several capacities throughout his collegiate career. Theater still played an important role in his life. In addition to involvement in four productions, Greg was a founding member of an "improv" troupe. Greg also took classes in theater and dance in pursuit of a theater/dance minor (which, incidentally, was never completed). In 1997, Greg was selected to be the first student director of a Luther College mainstage production. The show was Celebration, a Schmidt and Jones musical (most famous for writing The Fantastiks). Starring in the lead role was Kari Nordli. Three years later, the two would become husband and wife.

The high school vocal music program in the Vinton-Shellsburg district serves 137 students with a projected 2001-2002 enrollment of approximately 185! In addition to two curricular ensembles, Greg directs DanSing Corps (the show choir) and the Chamber Choir. DanSing Corps received its third straight Division I rating at the State Contest this January. The Chamber Choir is planning its first ever tour, a three-day trip to Minneapolis in April. Greg also directs the music for the high school musical theater productions.

Some of Greg’s acting roles include Joe Hardy (Damn Yankees), Drummond (Inherit the Wind), Seymour (Little Shop of Horrors), Leonce (Leonce and Lena), Haemon (Antigone), Fyedka (Fiddler on the Roof), Cinderella’s Prince (Into the Woods), himself (Godspell), Tommy Djillus (The Music Man) and Wogglebug (The Marvelous Land of Oz).

Greg has two older brothers, both of whom are college professors – one in music and one in math. Greg is enrolled at the University of Iowa, where he is currently working on his master’s degree. His parents live in St. Cloud, Minnesota. When time permits, Greg enjoys camping and fishing, especially with family.

Kari's previous directing responsibilities include West Side Story last year at Independence High School. Earlier this year, Kari directed 150 seventh and eighth graders in Fiddler on the Roof Jr. at Tilford Middle School. This summer she is excited to be a director for the children’s theater production of The Emperor’s New Clothes.

Growing up in Minneapolis, Kari was exposed to a wide variety of theater at an early age. Some of her earliest roles included Puss Puss ‘n’ Boots, Annie Annie and Tock Phantom Tollbooth. At age 15, Kari debuted on the professional stage in The Sound of Music at Chanhassen Dinner Theater. After a nine month run, she continued at Chanhassen as Laurie in Brighton Beach Memoirs. Kari’s early acting experience led her into television, where she appeared in over 10 national and regional commercials, including Dairy Queen, Tony’s Pizza and Mattel Toys. Other stage roles include Adam As You Like It, The Waitress Working, Amahl Amahl and the Night Visitors, Angel Celebration and Nancy Oliver.

While attending Luther College, Kari traveled to Russia and Eastern Europe with the Nordic Choir. As a member and soloist with the choir, she also toured to both the East and West Coasts, as well as Texas. Incidentally, while on a train ride from Moscow to Warsaw, the choir was held hostage by armed guards for over eight hours. It was also during that tour that Greg declared his love for Kari by carving their names in a park bench in Poland.

Audition dates for the remainder of our Season of Theatre Classics have been set.

Those interested in participating in our Poetry Reading, entitled "What God Says to Me When I Am Alone," should contact Larry Adams-Bowers at 472-4637.  Performance dates are March 23, 24, and 25 at Wesley United Methodist Church.

Auditions for the second in our readers' theatre series, "The Crucible," by Arthur Miller, will be held March 12 (from 5:00 to 6:30) and 13 (from 6:00 to 7:30) at the ACT I Studio.  Le Cox is the director.  For more information, contact Le at 472-2081.

"The Crucible" requires a large cast including many teen age girls.  It is a fictionalized account of the actual events of 1692 in Salem Massachusetts, the horrifying historical episode known as the Salem Witch Trials.  Performance dates are April 19-22 at the Ray House.

Auditions for our final production of the current season, "Harvey," by Mary Chase, will be held Monday and Tuesday, March 19 and 20 at 7:00 PM at the ACT I Studio.  Greg Douma is the director.  For more information, contact Greg at 472-9659.

"Harvey" is an offbeat comedy about Elwood P. Dowd, whose best friend is an invisible six foot rabbit named Harvey.  Although Elwood's sister and two psychiatrists try to convince him Harvey isn't for real, the audience (as well as many of the characters in the show) slowly begin to realize that Harvey just may not be imaginary.

"Harvey" will be performed May 11-20 at the Palace Theatre in Vinton.

1. Puccini's Opera "Madama Butterfly"          MISS SAIGON

2. Puccini's Opera "La Boheme"                      RENT

3. Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew" KISS ME, KATE

4. Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet"              WEST SIDE STORY

5. Shakespeare's "Hamlet"                               THE LION KING