Grease Paint Online; July, 2002

Friday, July 12 marks opening night of our children's theatre production and of Season 2002 - 2003: A Cast of Outcasts

Three children's theatre one act plays comprise our opening production of ACT I's twenty-third season, collectively titled The Good, the Bad, and the Ogre. The triple bill, sponsored by Expressions! / Lori Smith, features nearly seventy elementary and middle school age children. The production, which is produced by our youth program, ACT I STAGE!, is the culmination of our Summer 2002 theatre camp, directed by Marcy Horst.

In addition to the sponsorship of Lori Smith and Expressions!, the production is funded in part with a grant from the Iowa Arts Council, the Vinton Community Foundation, and the Gilchrist Trust.

The three plays all have an "ogre" theme. Opening the trio will be Ogre Here, Ogre There by Jerry Kraft and Thomas Kenfield and directed by Mary Horst. The cast, which mixes an oversized puppet with live actors, includes Nate Horst, Rebecca Fisher, Patrick Horst, Corey Cooling, Wesley Lyons, Megan Horst, Rose Huber, Jackson Tranel, Jamie Becker, Sara Walston, Kate Martin, Laura Wilberg, Tonia Mauer, Laura Van Steenhuyse, Rob Hanson, Zach Hyland, Nick Cory, Andy Schanbacher, Jacob Cory, Ivy Huber, Miranda Bauer, Katie Hanson, and Willow Huber. The Ogre is played collectively by puppeteers Rob Hanson, Zach Hyland, Andy Schanbacher, Nick Cory, and Jacob Cory. Assistant directors are Blake Hanson and Abby Hilton, and the accompanists are Annie Horst and Michon Mulder.

The second play is entitled Once Upon a Vine, by by Judith Weinstein and Arnold Somers, with Music by Alissa Oppenheim Schreiner and Sunnie Miller. The play is a version of the story of "Jack and the Beanstalk" with a twist -- Jack becomes Jacqueline. The play is directed by Theresa Werner and Jaimie Walker, both in their ACT I directing debuts. The cast includes Annie Horst as Jacqueline and Chelsea Hessenius as the Ogre. Also in the cast are Brittney Werner, Clare Horst, Trevor Walker, Rachael Larkin, Felicia Hertle, Kali Timmermans, Clare Cooling, Maria Covington, Amanda Smith, Ashley Strong, Brittney Werner, Kylie Miracle, Kaia Monson, Sydney Monson, Kolton Sellers, and Dakoda Sellers. Assistant directors are Brittany Hamling and Abby Larkin, and the accompanist is April Noeller.

The third play in the triple bill is The Truly Remarkable Puss-in-Boots by Patricia Clapp, with special music written for the show by Tom Jessen, brother of director Marcy Horst. The play features Max Nguyen as Puss-in-Boots and Billy Beyer as the Ogre. Others in the cast include Ellen Franzenburg, Curtis Lueckenotto, Emma Clingman, Ben Hyland, Nick Hyland, Evan Lueckenotto, Luke Owens, Adam Smith, Ellie Horst, Emma Horst, Tess Noeller, Mattison Walker, Zach Fennern, Alyssa Hanson, Brian Fischer, Taylor Hoffman, Katie Larkin, Jane Martin, Rachael Monson, Calvin Franzenburg, Aric Hanson, and Nicholas Stout. Assistant director is Erin Horst, and the accompanists are Clare Horst and Tom Jessen.

The production staff for The Good, the Bad, and the Ogre include Music Director April Noeller, Choreographer Joan Cooling, Technical Director Gerald Horst, Set Designer Mary Horst, Stage Manager Allen Lueckenotto, Property Manager April Noeller, House Managers Greg and Diane Walston, and Volunteer Coordinator Shirale Hanson. The program is by Gerald and Marcy Horst, the logo design is by Mary Horst, with publicity by Marcy Horst. Mary Horst also served as grant writer.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ogre runs Fridays and Saturdays, July 12, 13, 19, and 20 at 7:00 PM and Sundays, July 14 and 21 at 2:00 PM. Tickets are $9.00 for adults, $6.00 for students through age 18, and $3.00 for children through age three. Call 472-9957 for reservations.

For additional information about this production (including a full cast list and more pictures) go to the Good, the Bad, and the Ogre page of this website at www.act1.org/ogre.htm. To read more about ACT I STAGE!, visit the STAGE! page at www.act1.org/stage.htm.

An audience estimated at 2000 was on hand for the single performance of our final production of Season 2001 - 2002, our free vocal recital Family Affair, presented as the 7:30 segment of Party in the Park -- more than doubling the attendance of any of our other productions from the season just concluded. This salute to family, performed by our ACT I family, had a cast of over 50 and was presided over by MCs Kurt and Lu Karr and directed by Gerald and Marcy Horst.

Featured in the cast were three different vocal groups from area churches, all of whom have performed previously in ACT I variety shows -- Messenger, Sonshine, and St. Mary's Unplugged. Also performing were "the Duckies," a group of ACT I little girls (with great costumes by Shawn Gerber!); The ACT I STAGE! Kids, drawn from the cast of our upcoming The Good, the Bad, and the Ogre; and Starshine, a vocal group of ten high school students who have all previously appeared in ACT I shows.

Highlights of the one hour show include the comic number "Man of Constant Sorrow" performed by the "Unplugged Saggy Bottom Boys," (Soloists Don Weideman, Alan Woodhouse, and Gerald Horst, with trio verse by Greg Walston, Jeff Peterson, and Frank Van Steenhuyse); "I'm Gonna Wash that Man Right Out of My Hair," sung by the St. Mary's Unplugged Ladies (joined by Gerald Horst for comic effect,) and a Beach Boys medley, sung by the company with the high school kids acting out the numbers.

Family Affair proved a great way to end our season and a great reminder to the community of the vitality ACT I has achieved with its program for all ages!

For more information about this production, including a complete cast list, go to the Family Affair page of this website, www.act1.org/affair.htm.

At the ACT I board's organizational meeting held Monday, July 8 at the Pizza Ranch, Marcy Horst was elected President for the 2002 - 2003 season. Marcy, who served last year as Vice President, succeeds Joan Cooling, who was elected our new Vice President. The new secretary is Ron Baldwin, succeeding Steve Arnold, who stepped down from the board. Linda Radcliffe was re-elected Treasurer. The remaining three board members are Alexander Vasquez, Mary Horst, and Alan Nebola, all of whom were newly elected to the board last month. Congratulations to our new officers and board members!

The ACT I Ticket information line and Palace Theatre Box Office number is 472-9957. Call now for reservations for The Good, the Bad, and the Ogre!

Season Tickets STill on Sale for Season 2002 - 2003 - A Cast of Outcasts

ACT I of Benton County is selling season tickets for the upcoming season, A Cast of Outcasts, which opens in July with our ACT I STAGE! production of The Good, the Bad, and the Ogre. Season tickets cost $28.00 for adults and $20.00 for students, which gives admission to all six of next year's shows, which includes our Main Stage series of Kiss Me, Kate, The Reluctant Dragon, and Lost in Yonkers. Regular admission to the children's theatre and Main Stage Series are $9.00 for adults, $6.00 for students, and $3.00 for children under six. Also part of the season ticket package is the Events Series, performed at the Ray House, consisting next season of Monster Medley Spooktacular and Intermezzo III, for which the regular admission is $2.00. Another bonus for season ticket holders is the opportunity to make advance reservations for any show in the season at any time, as well as getting one's paid membership in ACT I with the ticket.

Please contact Linda Radcliffe, Marcy Horst, or plan to buy your season ticket during The Good, the Bad, and the Ogre!

Director Steve Arnold, Music Director Rob Glass, and Assistant Director Sue Freet have announced their cast for the opening show of our 2002 - 2003 Main Stage Series, Cole Porter's Kiss Me, Kate.

The 1948 musical, which enjoyed a highly successful Broadway revival late in 1999, is a "play within a play," about a theatre company producing a musical version of Shakespeare's very politically incorrect play The Taming of the Shrew. Producer, director, and leading actor Fred Graham has cast himself and his ex-wife, Lilli Vanessi, as the quarreling Kate and Petruchio in Shrew. Fred, who flirts with second lead Lois Lane, and Lilli, who is herself engaged to a Senator, show no sign of reconciling their prior relationship, and instead carry their onstage fireworks back to the dressing rooms. The play takes place in a Baltimore theatre in June of 1948, where it is definitely "Too Darn Hot."

Sherry Stout, a veteran of supporting roles in two previous ACT I musicals, My Fair Lady and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, takes on the title role of Kate / Lilli Vanessi. Sara Arnold, who appeared as Philia in last season's production of Forum as well as two other ACT I productions, returns as Lois Lane / Bianca. As Bill Calhoun / Lucentio, the Broadway dancer who provides a love interest for Lois, is Jeff Cumberlin, a UNI student returning for his third major role for ACT I. Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School Superintendent Dennis Thurman makes his ACT I debut as Senator Howell. Greg Walston and Cody Robison add their own special brand of comedy to the cast as a pair of gangsters who arrive unexpectedly, thowing in some additional complications to the already wacky goings on. Others playing supporting roles in the production include ACT I Veterans Ron Baldwin, Alan Nebola, Kevin Bookmeier, Travis Hendricks, and Nick Schumacher. The cast also includes ACT I veterans Erin Horst, Megan Christy, Heather Happel, Natalie Stout, Abby Hilton, Kaitlin Karrick, Kayla Comer, and Blake Hanson. Making their debuts in the production will be Josh Hale, who has recently moved to the Vinton area, WHS student Kathy Brereton, and BHS students Kara Stumpff and Rachel Parr.

The orchestra for Kiss Me, Kate will be largest ever used for an ACT I musical, and rather than being tucked away in a corner, will be featured prominently in the stage picture, befitting their importance to this song and dance extravaganza. The players will include ACT I veterans Judy Trygstad, David Arnold, Derek Ferguson, along with newcomers April Larkin, Aaron Pingenot, and Quentin Mussig. Heather Happel will serve as choreographer, and assistant choreographers will be Erin Horst and Megan Christy. Kevin Bookmeier and Mary Phillips will lend their talents to create what promises to be a very unique stage picture for ACT I audiences.

For additional information about this production, go to the Kiss Me, Kate page of this website, www.act1.org/kate.htm

As the ACT I STAGE! production of our triple bill The Good, the Bad, and the Ogre comes to production, this month we feature our ACT I STAGE! music director, April Noeller, and her daughter Tess, who appear this month on the stage of the Palace, as our Members of the Month for July.

We have seen this mother / daughter musical duo many times in the past; currently, April is both Music Director and Property Mistress for The Good, the Bad, and the Ogre. Her daughter Tess, who has ACT I credits as a singer, dancer, and actress, is an incoming third grader, and is appearing as the Princess in The Truly Remarkable Puss-in-Boots, the third of the three one acts that make up our Ogre triple bill.

April and Tess live in Mount Auburn where April does bookkeeping for her family's farm. She also operates Song Space Studio in downtown Vinton where she gives piano lessons. She has been a part of our children's theatre program for the past three years.

During our September, 1997 production of Oliver!, we made note of the wrapt attention given the show by one of our youngest patrons, three year old Tess Noeller. Tess was completely absorbed in the nearly three hour long show, even to the point of wanting to name her baby brother, born shortly after the run, Dodger. (Her parents wisely opted for Sean instead.) Seeing Oliver! left Tess hooked, and the next year, at the ripe old age of four, she made her ACT I debut as a Sweet Apple Dancer in Bye Bye Birdie. Yet that same season, she appeared in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe as a skunk, one of our many animal characters in that production.

April, following the pattern of so many ACT I families, became involved in ACT I after her daughter became active. She began her involvement as part of the makeup crew for The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe -- one of largest makeup crews ever, as much of the cast was transformed into animal characters. She created her daughter's makeup for her skunk role.

Tess Noeller in her second ACT I role, a skunk from the mythical kingdom of Narnia, portrayed in our 1999 production of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

As well done as Tess's makeup for that show proved to be, April's talents were not going to destine her for our makeup crew. April, known in the area as an excellent pianist and a very sought after piano teacher, would soon make her impact on our children's theatre in a totally different area. In July of 1999, April made her performance debut with as music director for The Velveteen Rabbit, rehearsing all the musical numbers and playing the piano for that enchanting musical. In addition to taking charge of the musical elements of that show, she also worked with costume design for that production. Tess was on hand for that show as well, playing the Baby Doll, one of the many fellow toys to the Velveteen Rabbit.

Music Director April Noeller (right) rehearses a vocal number at St. Mary's Church with actors Ryan Calderwood, Dustin Kearnes, and Dan Greaser, who played a trio of very hip bunnies in our 1999 ACT I STAGE! production of The Velveteen Rabbit.

Just a few months later, in November, 1999, came a very memorable and momentous event for ACT I -- the opening of the Palace Theatre. Tess and April were on hand together, and the honor fell to five year old Tess, appearing in her fourth ACT I production, to be the opening act in ACT I's opening production in the new facility. Tess played a piano solo for our Variety Show, I'll be Home for Christmas, and was joined by her mother to perform the closing act in that production as well.

At the age of five, Tess Noeller became the first ACT I performer to ever take a bow upon the stage of the Palace Theatre in Vinton with a piano solo at the top of our variety show production, I'll Be Home for Christmas.

Tess and April were back at the Palace in March of 2000 for our third Palace production, our children's theatre musical version of Hansel and Gretel. April wa on hand as our pianist and also served as a member of the prop crew, while Tess was a member of our corps de ballet. April also worked on publicity for that show and helped paint the set.

Tess (left) slugs it out with Brook Swift in a stage combat class sponsored by ACT I STAGE! held at the Palace two years ago.

In the Summer of 2000, ACT I put its largest cast ever on the Palace stage, the ACT I STAGE! musical Charlotte's Web, in which April was back as Music Director and Property Mistress. (She was wielding a paint brush again as well!) Tess once again danced in that production, as one of our baby spiders. April was then featured as a pianist in Encore! Encore!, our variety show for Season 2000 - 2001. Last summer, when ACT I STAGE! performed its "two shows in repertory" summer series in July of 2001, April w as Music Director for the season opener The Emperor's New Clothes as well as for two of the three one acts in our triple bill that alternated with Emperor, Henny Penny and Stone Soup. Tess appeared as a Dancing Jester in Emperor and in an acting role in our one act The Red Shoes, which completed last year's triple bill. And brother Sean (whom Tess wanted to name Dodger) made his ACT I debut as a member of the small children's ensemble in Stone Soup. Most recently, prior to The Good, the Bad, and the Ogre, Tess and April Noeller once again appeared behind the keyboard for our Intermezzo II classical recital in January of this year at the Ray House; and both appeared in our recent production of Family Affair.

We are very pleased that April and Tess are willing to share their talents with our audience in our children's theatre and musical programs and hope for their long term involvement in ACT I STAGE! for years to come.

View the past articles in our Member of the Month series! All previous Member of the Month features (beginning with September, 1998) have been archived and can be accessed in one convenient place. Older articles have been updated to make the members' accomplishments current! To visit the Member of the Month Archives, go to www.act1.org/mom.htm.

Late 30's vintage or older, make and color unimportant; stock condition -- nothing customized. Convertibles desirable but not necessary. Needed for photo shoots and at least one for occasional live appearances (owner driven) to promote next season's two 40's era shows, Kiss Me, Kate and Lost in Yonkers. Needed between now and mid September, and again between April, 2003 and mid May. Terms negotiable. If you or someone you know has such a vehicle that might be available, please contact Steve Arnold at 472-5308 or SArnoldIA@aol.com. Thanks!

Children and youth have had many opportunities to participate in theatre during most of our history. On July 12, The Good, the Bad, and the Ogre, the eighth production by our youth program ACT I STAGE!, opens at the Palace Theatre. This month's quiz tests your knowledge of the productions of ACT I STAGE! as well as other youth productions.

1. The acronym STAGE! was created by a committee of five students and one adult. After the committee settled on the word to be used, they struggled to come up with words to fit the letters. What words did the committee settle on for this acronym?

2. What was the first show ever produced by ACT I STAGE!? And in March of what year was this show performed?

4. Name the show which had the following youth cast: Tracy Beau, Beth Calhoun, Micki Davis, Cassandra Fowler, Kelly Ketchen, Johnny Mossman, Alexa Russell, Shea Woodhouse, Emily Zimmer

5. In which other ACT I production had John Mossman appeared earlier as a young child?

8. Which youth cast had the unfortunate experience of collectively learning what it feels like to be victims of a crime? (And none of us who were there will ever forget it.)

1. Name the plays ACT I produced during the period which were written by the following well known authors:
                    a. Agatha Christie    The Mousetrap
                    b. Woody Allen       Don't Drink the Water
                    c. James Thurber     A Thurber Carnival
                    d. Noel Coward       Blithe Spirit

2. In September, we present the Cole Porter musical Kiss Me, Kate, with the book by Sam and Bella Spewack. Name another play by Sam and Bella Spewack produced during our early years, directed by Dick Paulus.
My Three Angels

3. Which three members of the cast of ACT I's first show in 1980 appeared onstage during Season 2001 - 2002?
        Ron Baldwin (Forum, Titanic Disaster Hearings)
        Colleen Stufflebeam (Words and Music by Skeet Powers)
        Linda Radcliffe (Titanic Disaster Hearings, It Runs in the Family)

4. Name the popular Old Creamery actor who directed five of our shows during our first five years. Steve Shaffer

5. Name the first play produced by ACT I that was NOT performed at The Old Creamery Theatre. Lovingly Yours by Skeet Powers

6. Name the early ACT I show in which actor Keith Mossman played a man haunted by the ghosts of two ex-wives. Blithe Spirit

7. Which show produced by ACT I is celebrated for the fact that its original London production is STILL running, now fifty years after it first opened?
The Mousetrap by Agatha Christie

The next meeting of the Board of ACT I of Benton County will be Monday, August 12, 2002, at 4:00 at the Pizza Ranch.

Members and visitors are always welcome at board meetings!

Minutes of all meetings of the ACT I board from July, 2000 on can be accessed from a link on the "Everything You Need to Know About ACT I" page, or on the "Minutes" page of our website, www.act1.org/minutes.htm.

With this edition of Grease Paint, we begin our twenty-third ACT I season, and our ninth year of Grease Paint. Marcy and I both apologize for the fact that Grease Paint and Grease Paint Online are coming out just a tad late in relation to opening night of our latest show. With both of us involved in different shows, mine opening July 11 at Brucemore in Cedar Rapids and Marcy's opening July 12 at the Palace, our schedules have both been pinched a little too tight to nail this particular deadline. Marcy has been a very busy lady of late, with one production she is directing running two weeks ago and another one she's directing running this weekend! As ACT I's archivist, I can assure you that directing back to back productions just thirteen days apart is a feat no other director in ACT I's history has ever accomplished! (Not only that, but she's just been elected ACT I's new president!) Congratulations, Marcy, and thank you for your dedication to ACT I as well as the performing youth of Vinton.

Join us this weekend and next for the eighth production by our youth program, ACT I STAGE!; it's always a treat to watch young talent develop! And of course, join us for the rest of Season 2002 - 2003: A Cast of Outcasts.

That's Grease Paint for July, 2002, Grease Paint and our new season, A Cast of Outcasts!

Season Tickets STill on Sale for Season 2002 - 2003 - A Cast of Outcasts

Answers to Last Month�s Quiz ACT I -- The Paulus Years (Our First Eleven Years)

Answers to Last Month�s Quiz

ACT I -- The Paulus Years
(Our First Eleven Years)