MID-LIFE 2! (THE CRISIS CONTINUES) Makes its Regional Debut at the Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre

A production that has not been seen before in the state of Pennsylvania, Mid-Life 2! (The Crisis Continues), will be playing at the Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre from December 30th through February 14th.

Mid-Life 2! is a musical revue that takes a look at the aches, pains and even joys of getting older, featuring songs like "Zumba Warriors," "A Trip To The Drugstore," "Where’d I Put My Glasses?" and "The Senior Discount."

The small cast consists of three men and three women, and they are all Dutch Apple alums. Luther Chakurian, playing Man 1, was just seen as Tom Bailey in A Wonderful Life. The Houston native was a company member with The Masquerade Theatre for 15 years and was voted “Best Actor” by the Houston Press in 2007 for the title role in Sweeny Todd. Christopher Tefft, playing Man 2, was recently seen as Mr. Martini in A Wonderful Life and is a professional church singer who has appeared with St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Park Avenue Christian Church and St. Joseph’s in the West Village. Man 3 will be portrayed by Kirk Lawrence, who is no stranger to the Dutch Apple stage. Kirk recently appeared as the cold Mr. Potter in A Wonderful Life and was also seen in Hairspray playing “everybody else of the male persuasion.” Kirk, as Jane Street, is co-host of the monthly Berks Community Television talk show “That’s What She Said!” 

Dianne Stone Fussaro, playing Woman 1, actually got her start in professional theatre on the Dutch Apple stage the day that their doors opened. Since then Dianne has been in several productions, and she is the founding company member/producer for Theatre America, New York City. Woman 2 will be portrayed by Jennifer Hope. Recently seen as Mrs. Martini in A Wonderful Life, Jennifer has taken her career to five continents and 43 states, performing at The Kennedy Center, the Grand Ole Opry, and the Trump Taj Mahal. Lisa Coday will be performing as Woman 3. Lisa was recently seen as Milly Bailey in A Wonderful Life, and this will be her fourth show at Dutch Apple. During her 20 plus years as a performer, she has had the honor of performing with great artists such as Andy Williams, Glen Campbell and Bobby Vinton.

This production will be directed and choreographed by brothers Jim Walton and Bob Walton (who also wrote the script, music and lyrics). Jim and Bob wrote the hilarious predecessor Mid-Life! (The Crisis Musical), which was enjoyed by all at the Dutch Apple in 2008. Both Bob and Jim have appeared in productions on Broadway as well as off Broadway. In 1997 their musical My Brother’s Keeper won “Best New Musical” in the Backstage Bistro Awards.

Mid-Life 2! (The Crisis Continues) will be at the Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre December 30th through February 14th. It’s a hilarious comedy that will have you turning to your friends saying “That’s us!” However, you might want to leave the kids at home. Ticket prices range from $49 to $56 for meal and show. A limited number of show-only seats are available for $34. Call (717) 898-1900 to make a reservation, or order your tickets online at www.DutchApple.com.

Strand-Capitol Names Jody Keller Interim CEO

The Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center in York, PA, has hired Jody Keller to serve as an interim CEO. Keller brings over 30 years of consulting experience in the areas of management, organizational development and human resources management to this position.

Keller will be responsible for supporting staff and executing work plans as well as serving as a main Strand-Capitol representative. She will also assist in the search process for the next CEO and prepare a report to be shared with that person regarding the current state of operations.

“Jody has been a highly respected leader in our community for a long time,” said Loren Kroh, chairman, 2014-2015 Strand-Capitol board of directors. “Her skill set and experience are a great fit for our needs during this period of transition.”

Prior to joining the Strand-Capitol, Keller was a partner and chief administrative officer at ParenteBeard LLC, the 20th largest accounting firm in the U.S. She was a member of the executive management team and oversaw human resources, partner relations and the marketing and communications functions. Keller holds a bachelor’s of science degree in education from The Pennsylvania State University and a master of arts in human resources management and labor relations from St. Francis University. She is certified as a senior professional in human resources (SPHR) from the HR Certification Institute.

Keller is an active leader in the York community. She currently serves as chairman of the board for Turning Point Women’s Counseling Center and as a board member of the York County Library System and the advisory committee of the Byrnes Health Education Center. Additionally, she is a member of the Rotary Club of York where she has served as president, a member of the Penn State-York Campus Advisory Board and past chairman of the board of the York County Chamber of Commerce.

Elf The Musical at Hershey Theatre is a Recipe for Holiday Fun

I love to bake cookies at Christmastime. I don't know if it's the way it makes the house smell, the joy on my kids faces when they dump a year's supply of sprinkles on a sugar cookie, or the way the cookies look when they're all done and assembled on a platter on Christmas day. Probably it's all of those reasons.

Another thing I love about this time of year is the abundance of holiday plays and musicals that are playing at local theatres. Come to think of it, holiday shows are actually pretty similar to Christmas cookies. For example, take the chocolate chip cookie. A Christmas Story is kind of like the chocolate chip cookie of holiday shows. It's reliable, good, and you can be sure someone you know will make it every year. Then you have the sugar cookies, which are shows like It's a Wonderful Life and A Christmas Carol. They're nice, sweet, and go back years and years. And finally there are the special cookies. They're the cookies that not everyone makes, but when you find someone that makes a good special cookie you want to make sure you get your hands on one before they're gone. Elf the Musical at Hershey Theatre is just this kind of cookie...I mean show.

Elf tells the story of Buddy the Elf, who's not really an elf but thinks he's an elf. You see, Buddy was orphaned as a child and accidentally crawled into Santa's sack, ending up at the North Pole where he was raised with all the other elves. Upon learning he's actually human, Buddy sets off on an adventure to New York City to find his true dad.

I make a special cookie at Christmas that I like to think is pretty darn good. It's a chocolate mint cookie, and as with most cookies, it starts with flour. The flour in Elf is Santa. You pretty much can't make a cookie without flour, and well, it just wouldn't be Christmas without Santa. Santa is played by Mark Fishback, and other than the fake beard, Fishback is a pretty convincing Saint Nick.

After the flour comes the sugar. The sugar is the sweetest part of the cookie and what makes the cookie taste so delicious. Of course this is Buddy, who is basically a kid in an adults body. He's almost always happy, and he has such a youthful innocence about him. What's not to love about a guy who thinks nothing of dressing in striped green tights and eats spaghetti covered in maple syrup for breakfast? At the performance I attended, Buddy, typically played by Daniel Patrick Smith, was played by understudy David J. Wiens. Wiens stepped up to the plate and didn't miss a beat. While I wouldn't say he had an outstanding voice, when combined with natural acting talent it was good enough to pull off the role.

Next it's time to mix in some butter, the indulgent part of the cookie that you cringe when you add. This is Buddy's real dad, Walter Hobbs. Walter, played by D. Scott Withers, is a workaholic that puts his job before everything, including family. Withers does a fantastic job playing the guy you love to hate (though by the end of the show you might not hate him so much).

Then come the eggs, not the key ingredient but very important nonetheless. Emily (Walter's wife and Buddy's stepmother) and Jovie (a Macy's North Pole employee and quickly Buddy's love interest) are the eggs in Elf. Emily is played by Allison Mickelson, and Jovie is played by Daryn Harrell. Both Mickelson and Harrell have pleasant voices and shine in their respective roles.

Then it's time for the surprise in the cookie... the mint chips. They're just little, but they add so much to the cookie. This ingredient in Elf is Michael, Buddy's younger stepbrother. At the performance I saw, Michael was played by Benjamin Elias Harding, and boy was he a treat. He's one of the best child performers I've seen, and honestly I feel that he is one of the most talented cast members. This 7th grader can act, dance, and sing, and he looks so natural doing all of it. Harding's voice blends perfectly with Mickelson's, making for an absolutely beautiful duet in "I'll Believe in You." Not to mention his pitch-perfect voice singing the phrase "It's the story of...Buddy the Elf," which is guaranteed to get stuck in your head (don't say I didn't warn you).

After the mint chips come the chocolate chips. These chips are the other minor roles and ensemble members, each adding a nice touch to the show. From tap dancing elves in the North Pole to singing fake Santas in a Chinese restaurant, the talented ensemble members make sure that everyone leaves the theatre in full-blown holiday spirit.

Finally there are the ingredients like salt and baking powder, which are the necessary ingredients that ensure that a cookie turns out perfectly. These ingredients are the orchestra, choreography, sets, and costumes. The orchestra provides a solid and powerful presence, and the choreography is high energy and top notch. Much of the set and scenery is comprised of a stacking of intricately decorated curtains, which works well for easily transitioning between the North Pole and NYC. And the costumes are about as colorful, Christmas-y, and elf-y as they can get.

Oh, and I can't forget about the secret ingredient... (You didn't think I would give away my entire recipe, did you?) We'll just call the secret ingredient "Santa's magic."

And of course, what Christmas cookie would be complete without the help of children. I'm lucky to have two young boys who like to help me make my cookies, and they came along with me to see Elf as well. My 4-year-old told me that he liked the part when Buddy took the paper and put it in the "machine thing" (his words - not mine) and turned it into snow and yelled "Snooow!" He also liked when Buddy fixed Michael's toy. And my almost-7-year-old was quick to point out that his favorite parts were the ones in the North Pole. Despite his two trips to NYC, he still said that "I like the parts in the North Pole better than the parts in New York." I guess in a kid's world, the Big Apple just can't compete with the the Big Guy in the Red Suit! He also said he liked the part when Santa had Candy Crush on his iPad.

My boys (ages 6 and 4) loved Elf the Muiscal and sat with complete interest the whole time.

I'm not even going to delve into the realm of the musical versus the movie. First of all, I haven't seen the movie in years so I wouldn't consider myself qualified to make accurate comparisons. Secondly, I've found that you should never go into a musical expecting it to be the same as the movie. I mean, you would never expect my chocolate mint cookies to taste exactly like someone else's, right?

When you mix all the ingredients together, Elf the Musical is a special holiday treat that the whole family can enjoy. Filled with plenty of laugh-out-loud humor, a little bit of love, and a good holiday message, this is one show you should catch before it flies back to the North Pole. In other words, make sure to get your hands on this cookie before it's all gone!

Overall I give this production 6 out of 10 standing ovations.

Elf the Musical is playing at Hershey Theatre December 9-14. More details and ticket information can be found at www.HersheyTheatre.com. (A quick note for parents... Minor language is occasionally used, and a recurring theme in the show is the idea of some people not believing in Santa, although most of this will likely go right over the heads of younger children.)

It's Time for Intermission

A year or two ago, one of my favorite musicals was playing at a local theatre. My calendar was open, the ticket prices were very affordable, I was feeling great, and the weather was perfect. Yet I didn't go. But the reason I didn't go had nothing to do with my schedule, ticket prices, my health, or the weather. In fact, the one and only reason that I didn't go to this particular show was that I didn't even know it was playing until after it was over! Needless to say, I was devastated to learn that I had missed out on an opportunity to see one of my favorites and support the local theatre scene (I still have nightmares about it).

One of the main reasons I started the Row L Seat 1 theatre blog (and more specifically the Central PA page of the blog) was to spread the word about local theatre. After all, if a hardcore theatre fan like myself managed to miss a production of one of my favorite musicals when it was playing right down the road, how many other people in Central PA are missing the exact same opportunities and not even aware of it?

Well, I'm happy to say that there is now a way to make sure this doesn't happen! I am pleased to announce the creation of "Intermission," Row L Seat 1's monthly e-newsletter dedicated to theatre in Central PA.

Each month, "Intermission" will deliver information on what's happening in theatres across Central Pennsylvania. Signing up is easy! Just go to the end of this post, where it says "Subscribe to Intermission now!" and you'll see a place to enter your email address to subscribe. You can also subscribe any time by by visiting the Row L Seat 1 blog or by clicking the "RLS1 Newsletter" tab on the Row L Seat 1 Facebook page (though these methods might not work if you're on a phone).

Whether you're a serious theatre fan like myself or you just enjoy an occasional performance, don't let what happened to me happen to you! Subscribe today to make sure you never miss out on your favorite show when it's in town.

To view the inaugural December newsletter and see what's playing this month, just click here!

As always, I welcome any and all feedback on ways to improve Row L Seat 1. If you have an idea for the newsletter or any comments in general, feel free to email me any time at kim@rowLseat1.com.

Subscribe to Intermission now!

PRiMA Theatre Announces Fifth Anniversary Season

PRiMA Theatre in Lancaster has announced their fifth anniversary season. The 2015 season features two creative cabarets, an immersive theatrical experience, and two rarely produced musicals.

Money-saving ticket subscriptions and tax-deductible sponsorship opportunities can be found at primatheatre.org/2015 or by calling 717-327-5124. PRiMA productions are produced at a variety of local venues with dates announced approximately three months prior to each production.

The season includes the following productions:

FIVE

A special anniversary cabaret featuring PRiMA’s finest talent and the unforgettable show-stopping tunes from the past five seasons.

 


SHOSHANA BEAN: Concert & Master Class 

Broadway’s green witch lands in Lancaster for an exclusive solo concert and public master class. Best known for playing Elphaba in Wicked, Shoshana is one of Jason Robert Brown’s favorite singers. From Hairspray to Godspell, singing with Michael Jackson to the Enchanted movie soundtrack, this powerhouse vocalist brings her vocal prowess and unique experience to the PRiMA stage.
 
CHESS IN CONCERT

Chess is a monumental musical about political and romantic gameplay. By the composers of Mamma Mia and the lyricist of Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita, this intense story is woven together in what Time Magazine calls ‘one of the best rock scores ever produced!’ Join us for a fresh anniversary revival of one of PRiMA’s early artistic successes.
 
CHILDREN OF EDEN

From the composer of Wicked comes this expansive and heartfelt musical. Loosely based on the stories from the Book of Genesis, Children of Eden is a tale about the challenges of parenting, breaking generational patterns, and the power of second chances. Experience this moving musical in concert staging within the magnificent St. James Church in Lancaster City.
BROADWAY VILLAINS
Celebrate All Hallow’s Eve weekend with this chic cabaret featuring songs from the Great White Way’s darkest characters.

 

 
SNOW QUEEN’S PARTY

Mrs. Claus is throwing a wild, theatrical party for the holidays...and you’re invited! Join the sassy leader of the elves for an immersive experience; a live version of a sugar-induced North Pole dream.

Extreme Makeover: Broadway Edition (Part 2)

So I had a conversation with my husband a few months ago that went a little something like this:

Me: You know what would be a really cool idea for a musical?

Chad: <rolling eyes> Here we go again…

Me: What if there was some kind of show that changed every time you saw it?
Chad: What do you mean?
Me: Like the ending changed or certain things in the show changed. So someone who saw the show one night would have a completely different experience than someone who saw it a different night.

Chad: Ok, that’s actually a decent idea.

Me: I mean, can you imagine the buzz this would generate? Not only would people want to know what happened in the show when others saw it, but some people would probably go to see the show a second (or even third or fourth) time.

And then I think he tuned me out while I rambled for another hour or so about the possibilities this idea could lead to and how it could actually work.

In my introductory Extreme Makeover: Broadway Edition post, I talked about the trend of Broadway shows closing, and how I feel like Broadway needs to make some changes to prevent this from happening. This trend has continued over the past weeks with the closing announcements of quality shows like Once and Pippin. And I think the conversation I had with my husband is a perfect example of one of the changes Broadway could make to keep shows around a little bit longer.

Once will play its last show on Broadway on January 4, 2015.

Sadly, good quality just isn’t enough to keep a show running anymore. Sure there are exceptions, like Wicked or The Lion King, but for the most part, a Broadway show is lucky if it makes it past a year or two on Broadway. This year's Tony-hopeful Holler if Ya Hear Me only lasted six weeks on Broadway before closing. SIX WEEKS! I realize that there are a limited number of theatres on Broadway, and one show needs to close in order for another to open. But six weeks (or even 1-2 years) is just too short of a run.

I've always felt like theatre should be more than a show. It should be an experience. The better the experience, the more successful the show. Shows like Cats and Les Misérables provided enough of an experience to keep the last generation of theatre-goers going to see them year after year, but today’s generation of theatre-goers want more. Maybe "more" isn't the right word to use; maybe "different" would be better. Either way, Broadway just isn't catching on to this. Flawless voices, moving music, a hot celebrity leading the opening cast for a month or two, and a few martinis with the right people will get a show to Broadway, but keeping it there now takes a more modern approach.

I’ve seen a few theatres testing out more modern approaches, and I like what I'm seeing. For example, London-based Punchdrunk's Sleep No More has been around for a while now. In this immersive theatre experience, audience members freely move through different rooms, going on a unique journey based on Shakespeare's Macbeth. And a new production called Blank! The Musical recently opened off-Broadway, where the audience chooses the plot by voting on their smartphones.

Now Broadway just needs to catch on to this trend. Call it what you want: immersive theatre, interactive theatre, modern theatre. Whatever you decide to call it, I think it's a huge -- and necessary -- step in the theatre world. In order to succeed, a show still needs a solid base of talent, of course. But adding some kind of interactive element to a show really brings it to a new level...a level that Broadway needs to find.

Hershey Theatre to Welcome Elf The Musical

NETworks Presentations, LLC, Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures and Unique Features, bring the Broadway musical Elf to Hershey Theatre from Tuesday, December 9 through Sunday, December 14.

Tickets for this show start at $25.00, $58.00, $73.00 and $78.00 (tax and applicable fees apply) and are available at Hershey Theatre Box Office. They can be charged by phone at 717-534-3405 and online at www.HersheyEntertainment.com or www.TicketMaster.com.

Elf is the hilarious tale of Buddy, a young orphan child who mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported back to the North Pole. Unaware that he is actually human, Buddy’s enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father, discover his true identity, and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas. This modern day Christmas classic is sure to make everyone embrace their inner Elf.

Based on the beloved 2003 New Line Cinema hit, Elf features songs by Tony Award nominees Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin (The Wedding Singer), with a book by Tony Award winners Thomas Meehan (Annie, The Producers, Hairspray) and Bob Martin (The Drowsy Chaperone). The production will feature direction by Sam Scalamoni and choreography by Connor Gallagher.

For more information, please visit www.ElfTheMusicalOnTour.com.