The annual general meeting of the Peninsula Players will be at 3 p.m. this Sunday, February 26, at the River City Playhouse in Ilwaco. You must be a current member to vote, but memberships will be available on the spot and they are only $10 for the whole year! Please join us for a look back at our accomplishments, some proposed changes to the bylaws, and the election of officers. For more info, call President Sherry Ahlers, 642-7203
The Cast has been chosen, the production crew is in place and the rehearsals are in full swing in preparation for the opening of the musical Little Mary Sunshine slated for March 16 for a three weekend run. This will be the sixth musical by the Peninsula Players.
Leading the cast is Madison Baker as Little Mary Sunshine. Most of you will remember her as the female lead in Fantasticks last season. At her early age, she has become an outstanding singer and actor. She is one of those who seem to have that ability to take the stage and entertain her audience as if she is an old pro. Baker has returned from the Seattle area to be part of the upcoming musical.
Frank Lehn, a veteran of several Player’s productions, will be playing the not- too-bright Billy. Billy is given the responsibility of leading the troops and all he has as a leader is the manual. He has a love interest in nasty Nancy Twinkle. She will twinkle for many of the troops and she is played by Mary Evelyn Long. Long is best remembered as Annie in Annie Get Your Gun.
Of course Little Mary Sunshine has to have a love interest as we well. She is enamored with the captain of the troops. Captain “Big Jim” Warrington is being played by veteran actor John Fugitt, appearing in many of the Player’s shows.
MME. Ernestine Van Liebedich, a veteran opera singer in played by the talented Penny Bierly. Bierly is a veteran actor on the Player’s stage as well as several community theaters on the west coast. The dirty old general role was given to Rob DeuPree. DeuPree worked with the Shanghaied cast across the river and with the Papas on the Peninsula.
Leading the Kadota tribe is Chief Brown Bear played by Michael Veland, who began acting with the players at the age of 13. Other members of the tribe are Yellow Feather and Fleet Foot. Fleet Foot known to be the best scout west of the Mississippi.
The cast is rounded off with a bevy of “lovely ladies” and a troop of rangers. Of course the “lovely ladies” from the east would have a French maid. Jeannine Miller returns to the stage as that very French maid.
Rita Smith is the production director. You will remember her directing Give My Regards to Broadway, Mame and last years production of The Fantasticks.
A musical production would not be complete without a musical director. We are fortunate to again have Barbara Bate as our musical director and accompanist. This is Barbara’s 4th musical with the Peninsula Players. We are so fortunate to have her share all her talents with us.
Sunday, February 26, is the date of our annual general membership meeting. At that time we’ll be voting for new officers, addressing possible changes in the bylaws, and looking back on our first year in our permanent new playhouse!
Now is a good time to renew your membership. It’s only $10 per year, although we certainly appreciate larger donations! Please mail your memberships to Peninsula Players, P.O. Box 383, Ilwaco, WA 98624. Come be a part of the excitement of live theater!
“Little Mary Sunshine,” our spring musical, now has a full complement of players, ready and eager to rehearse! Many of your friends and neighbors will be involved in this production. Check out this list!
BACKSTAGE:
DIRECTOR: Rita Smith
PRODUCER: Joyce Jones
ASSISTANT TO THE PRODUCER: Jan Bono
MUSICAL DIRECTOR: Barbara Bate
CHOREOGRAPHER: Rita Smith
SET DESIGNER: Rob Lindberg
ARTIST: Rose Power
COSTUMER: Laurie Carter
STAGE MANAGER: Diane DeSeranno
SET BUILDERS: Bill Nickila, Rick Newton
LIGHTING DESIGN: Rick Newton
CAST:
CHIEF BROWN BEAR: Michael Veland
CPL. “BILLY” JESTER: Frank Lehn
CAPT. “BIG JIM” WARINGTON: John Fugitt
“LITTLE MARY SUNSHINE”: Madison Baker
MME. ERNESTINE VAN LIEBEDICH: Penny Bierly
NANCY TWINKLE: Mary Evelyn Long
FLEET FOOT: Rob Lindberg
YELLOW FEATHER: Rose Power
GENERAL OSCAR FAIRFAX, RET.: Rob DeuPreé
CORA: Tracy Roach
HENRIETTA: Rita Smith
GWENDOLYN: Theresa Fuller
BLANCH: Gretchen Goodson
MAUD: Marya Butler
MABEL: Joyce Jones
MILLICENT: Laurie Carter
PETE: Everett Pace
SLIM: Robert Scherrer
TEX: Ken Olson
BUSTER: Karl Johnson
TOM: John Adams
HANK: Ed Ahlers
FRENCH MAID: Jeannine Miller
Mark your calendars now for this wonderful show! Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, March 16 through April 1st!
Always wondered what it would be like to act in a community playhouse production? Well, now’s your chance! Rita Smith, the director of “Little Mary Sunshine,” is looking for 10 men and 10 women to fill the stage for the Peninsula Players’ 2012 musical. Yep! You’ll even get a chance to sing!
Auditions are Tuesday and Wednesday, January 3 and 4, at 7 p.m. at the River City Playhouse, 127 Lake Street, Ilwaco (across from the post office). No experience necessary, just come on out and see how much fun you can have being a part of this event.
Call Rita at 665-0028 for more information, or you can go to the official Little Mary Sunshine website to read a synopsis of the play and listen to clips from the songs. www.littlemarysunshine.com
See you at the playhouse!
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