Volume 12, Number 7                  February, 2006

 

Events Series Continues!

On Broadway

Runs February 18 and 19

 

This year's Events Series concludes with On Broadway, a variety show to be produced at the Palace Theatre this weekend, on Saturday, February 18 at 7:00 and Sunday, February 19 at 2:00.  The production is being coordinated by Doug Martens and Michelle Bookmeier.  Doug acts as the program's emcee.  A variety different musical and other acts will feature varied styles from Broadway to classical to rock to country, as well as comedy routines and dance.  Performers include Doug Martens, Kevin Bookmeier and Jordan Yessack; Emma Clingman, Logan Halstead, Samantha Jorgensen; Jessica Baldridge and Suzie Westlund; Mike Burkhardt; Mark Pingenot; Mark and Will Hancock; Britney Werner; Billy Hahn and Heath Hupke; Zac Svoboda; Ally Canaday and Katie Hancock; Sherry Stout; Rachael and Mary Kramer; Sarah Allyn and Molly Ternus; Amber Ling; Tony Bopp and David Canaday; The Vinton-Shellsburg Boys Show Choir; The Vinton-Shellsburg Girls Show Choir; Ray Knopf and Judy Trygstad; Ray Bookmeier, Ed Dickerson, Dave Gates, and Pat Lyons; Gina Lahue; Bethany Martin; Faith Brown; Sheila Monson and LuAnn Urlaub; Willow Huber; Estell Torgerson, and the band Last Mile Walked.  Accompanists are Nancy Jorgenson, Lois Martin, Julie Canaday, Clare Horst, and Conni Huber.

Technical director is Kevin Bookmeier.  The sound board is run by Jill Lockard-Bopp and the light board by Michelle Bookmeier.  The stage crew is Kevin Bookmeier, Perry Martens, and Jordan Yessak.  Set construction was by Kevin Bookmeier, Ray and Barb Bookmeier, Doug Martens, and Anita, Jason, and Jordan Yessak.

The show runs approximately two and a half hours.   The set for the production suggests the stage door to a Broadway theatre at the corner of Broadway and 42nd Street in New York City.

Tickets are $5.00 each.  On Broadway is sponsored by Firstlight Publication.

 

For additional information about this production go to On Broadway show page of this website at www.act1.org/broadway.htm.

The ACT I Ticket information line and Palace Theatre Box Office number is (319) 472-9957!  Call soon for Reservations for On Broadway and our remaining upcoming Main Stage Series Productions, Lend Me a Tenor and Love, Sex, and the IRS!

 

Audition Notice:

Love, Sex, and the IRS

Monday, March 13 at 7:00 PM
and Tuesday, March 14 at 7:00 PM
The ACT I Studio, above Clingman Pharmacy

Needed:  5 Men, 3 Women

Click this link to download printable audition sheet!

Just print this page, fill it out, and bring it to the auditions!

If you wish to preview a script before the auditions, contact Mike Modrow at mojophryman@yahoo.com or Grace Weber at 319-270-3413.

Love, Sex and the I.R.S.
Synopsis:


In this play, two young male roommates, Jon and Leslie share an apartment, and Jon decides that posing as a married couple on their tax returns will cut their tax bills. But can they pull off the con when the IRS comes to investigate? Can they convince friends and neighbors to cooperate, and most importantly, can Leslie convince the man from the IRS that he is really Jon's wife?


There are 5 men and 3 women in this play, preferably all with a New York/New Jersey accent:

Lead Characters:

Leslie Arthur (ideally age 25-30) – main character who is required to dress as a woman in part of the play, passionately kiss 2 women in the play and fall off a ledge.

Jon Trachtman (ideally age 25-30) – main character who is required to passionately kiss one woman; kiss and hug his “mother”

Kate Dennis (ideally age 25-30) – main character who is required to passionately kiss the 2 main male characters, dress (or undress) seductively and seduce the IRS agent, then hit the IRS agent with a bottle.

Supporting Characters:

Mr. Jansen (ideally 30 – 65) – Rough, gruff, obnoxious landlord, must wear hockey mask in one scene; will always have a cigar hanging out of his mouth.

Floyd Spinner (ideally 40 – 50) - Geeky IRS agent, real nerd who becomes tipsy and tries to make a play for Kate Dennis; ends up being hit over the head with a bottle, must feign being knocked out.

Vivian Trachtman (ideally 50- 65) – Typical Jewish mother who ends up getting drunk. Must act drunk for majority of her role.

Connie (ideally age 25-30) – Ditsy girlfriend of main character, very small role, but important part; must kiss main character.

Arnold Grunion (age unimportant)– Preacher, somewhat smarmy, very small role, but important.

For additional information about this production, go to the Love, Sex, and the IRS show page of this website at www.act1.org/irs.htm.

 

In Rehearsal:
Lend Me a Tenor

Opening March 10, the Main Stage Production Lend Me a Tenor is currently in rehearsal at the ACT I Studio above Clingman Pharmacy.  Clingman Pharmacy is also the production sponsor.

For additional information about this production, including photographs and a complete cast list by character, go to the Lend Me a Tenor show page of this website at www.act1.org/tenor.htm.

 

 

On Our Stage
5 - 10 - 15 - 20 - 25 Years Ago  

This month we look back at shows produced in previous seasons during February!

10 Years Ago

 

 

Ten years ago, on February 16 - 24, 1996 at the Vinton Country Club, ACT I presented the interactive dinner theatre production of Knock 'Em Dead by Tom Oldendick and Will Roberson.  The play was one of three murder mystery dinner theatres presented by ACT I and was directed by Edwon Yedlik.  (These were frequently known within the group as the "Ed Shows!")  Technical Director was Mary Dee Phillips, one of ACT I's most faithful contributors during the 90s.  The dinner theatre shows, which were noted for audience participation gimmicks and scripts that were, shall we say, not literary masterpieces, were popular with cast members and a recurring group of participants were seen on stage in the series.  Featured in Knock 'Em Dead were Casey Cooling, Jim Hilliard, Mary Dee Phillips, Patti Upmeyer, Greg Kilberger, Stacey Bruemmer, Nich Radcliffe, and Eric Upmeyer.  Production crews included Dean Beckman, Matt Salger, Dave Bruemmer, Lu Karr, Maggie Karr, and Linda Radcliffe.

At right, Patti Upmeyer, principle ingenue for the three "Ed Shows," is seen in the typical wig and artificial body parts which she frequently donned for our dinner theatre productions.

For additional information about this production, including photographs and a complete cast list by character, go to the Knock 'Em Dead show page of this website at www.act1.org/knock.htm.

20 Years Ago 

Twenty years ago this month, on February 7, 8, and 9 at Tilford Auditorium in Vinton, ACT I presented its first ever world premiere production, Lovingly Yours by local musician Skeet Powers.  The was directed by the late Tom Cunliffe of the Old Creamery Theatre Staff, who also wrote the book that accompanied the music.  The original music in the production was performed by a large cast that included the Wesley United Methodist Chuch choir under the direction of Kathy Ripperdan, as well as several children.  The production was ACT I's first musical and our first production performed away from the Old Creamery.  In November of 2001, ACT I presented our second production by Skeet Powers, Words and Music by Skeet Powers.

 

For additional information about this production, including photographs and a complete cast list by character, go to the Lovingly Yours show page of this website at www.act1.org/yours.htm.

 

 

ACT I TRIVIA QUIZ

On Broadway


On Broadway, our variety show for Season 2005 - 2006, has a Broadway theme.  How many of these Broadway shows previously produced by ACT I can you name?

1.  This record setting Broadway play, which opened on Broadway in 1965 with Walter Matthau and Art Carney, ran for 966 performances and was one of four plays by the same author running concurrently on Broadway in the late 60's.

2.  This Broadway musical opened on March 15, 1956 starring the then unknown twenty-one year old Julie Andrews, running for 2,717 performances.

3.  This Broadway comedy has held the record for 50 years since its closing as Broadway's longest running non-musical.

4.  This musical which opened on Broadway in 1977, ran for 2,377 performances and also holds the record as ACT I's most attended production.

 

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 Our Last Quiz

Variety Shows


On Broadway will be the sixth variety show presented by ACT I since 1998 with the format was first used.  What do you remember about past variety shows?

1.  Who was the first ACT I member to ever perform at the Palace Theatre and in which past variety show did this occur?  Tess Noeller, I'll Be Homr for Christmas, December, 1999.

2.  In which variety show did we first feature a group of men tap dancing?  That's Entertainment, January, 1999

3.  In which variety show did we feature a group of singing nuns?  Be Our Guest, January 1998

4.  In which calendar year did ACT I produce two variety shows?  (Though they were parts of separate seasons)  1999  (January, December)

Congratulations to Lu Karr who got all four answers correct!

5.  ESSAY QUESTION:  What do you consider the oddest, most unusual, most unique, or most bizarre act ever to grace a variety show?  (You pick the adjective!)

Lu Karr writes:  One of the most memorable acts occurred in last year’s variety show with Tony and Jill Bopp.   I can still see Tony standing behind Jill with his finger in his ear!   It was their return debut after a long break and it is wonderful to have them sharing their “talents” with us again!

 

 

 

That's Grease Paint for February, 2006!

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

 

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