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228 Museum Dr. • PO Box 12249 • Lansing, MI 48901 • 517-482-5700 • Office Hours: Tues.-Fri. 10 am to 5:30 pm • e-mail: RWT@riverwalktheatre.com • web site: RiverwalkTheatre.com

What’s onat r i v e r Wa l k¯January 24-27 & Jan.31-Feb.

3, CHITT y CHITT y Bang Bang - family musical comedy - Director: Brian Farnham

n February 14-17 & 21-24 - THe a-TRaIn PLays - exploring connection - Director: Doak Bloss

®March 14-17 & 21-24 - THe eLePHanT Man - powerful drama - Director: Amy Rickett

A March 17-18, Sun/Mon. 7 pm aUDITIOns for Hairspray director: Sarah Hayner; music director: Angie Schwab

n March 28-31 & April 4-7 - a BeHanDIng In sPOkane - black comedy - Director: Heath Sartorius

C April 26 - May 5 - 7 pm Fridays; 2 & 7 pm Saturdays; 3pm Sun-days - days - THe WIzaRD OF Oz - Director: Tom Ferris; music director: James Geer; with All-of-us Express Children’s Theatre; performed at the East Lansing Hannah Community Center 819 Abbot Rd.

n May 9-12 & 16-19 - FReUD’s LasT sessIOn - intriguing debate with C.S. Lewis - Director: Rob Roznowski

¯June 6-9 & 13-16 - HaIRsPRay, musical comedy - Director: Sarah Hayner; Music: Angie Schwab

®PLays: 7 pm Thurs.; 8 pm Fri. & Sat.; 2 pm Sun. Fri./Sat./Sun. $15 ($12 sr/student/military) Bargain Thursdays $10/$8

¯MUsICaLs: 7 pm Thursdays; 8 pm Fri./Sat.; 2 pm Sundays $24 ($20 sr/student/military) ($12 age 12 & under)

n BLaCk BOX sHOWs: 7 pm Thursdays; 8 pm Fridays & Saturdays; 2 pm Sundays $12 ($10 sr/student/military) Bargain Thursdays $10/$8

A aUDITIOns - More info at RiverwalkTheatre.com

H sPeCIaL eVenT: see website

from the Community Circle Players at

Riverwalk TheatreJanuary, 2019 Season 30 • Number 6

Gear Up for Chitty Chitty, Bang Bang!

Laura Croff and Greg Martin as Baroness & Baron Bomburst photo by www.Ariniko.com

Pop quiz, parents and kids:What amazing British chil-

dren’s tale ranks right up next to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Mary Poppins for inventive-ness and heart?

If you picked Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, you’re right! And you can witness the fun first-hand when Caractacus Potts, the heiress Truly Scrumptious and Potts’ two children bring their adventures to the Riverwalk stage in the family musical January 24-27 and January 31-February 3.

The show is adapated from the 1968 movie by Jeremy Sams and Ray Roderick, starring Dick Van Dyke. The Riverwalk presentation is directed by Brian Farnham with a set that spans more than 20 locations, a cast of 28 and a variety of musical production num-bers as the kids, adults and the amazing car travel Europe to foil the Baron Bomburst and the fiendish Child Catcher. (Interesting side note: that movie was based on a book by “James Bond” author Ian Fleming and produced by Albert R. “Cubby” Broccoli, who brought James Bond films to the screen.)

“This is an exceptionally challenging show, which I knew going in,” Farnam said. “Making the magic happen in a new way was a big part of my push for this show. If there’s one thing that our characters teach us during Chitty, it’s that innovation and imagination can solve any problem. That is certainly true for mak-ing this production come alive.”

Part of making it all come alive is the elaborate set. Farnham is reluctant to release details so as to not spoil the fun, but promises that set designers Jay and Aja Jenks do not disappoint.

“I was pretty clear that I didn’t want to do a mini-malist set just because of the technical complexities of this show,” Farnham said. “We have developed a set which will always be interesting to look at as it transitions us from scene to scene. It has been a labor of love, for sure!”

Music Director Angie Schwab is helping bring the

production to life, along with that cast. Ben Holzhausen plays Car-actacus Potts, and Sarah Hayner is Truly Scrumptious. Phineas Reed and Isabella Edmonds-Hogan play the kids Jeremy and Jemima, and Bob Purosky rounds out the family as Grandpa Potts. Greg Martin is Baron Bomburst while Laura J. Croff plays his wife. Boris Nikolovski plays Boris, while Jimmy McCormick is Goran. Tim Edinger does his turn as the Child Catcher, and Jean Burk is the Toymaker.

The ensemble includes grownups Liz Andrews, Caila Conklin, Braden Cooley, Kate

Dickinson, Chris Didur, Tim Edinger, Kyra Macomber, Ethan Miller, Maribeth Robertson, Michelle Shat-tuck, Dale Wayne Williams and Justin Wilson and kids Ryan Betts, Camryn Cardwell, Savannah Cardwell, Megan Lavery, Apollo Reed and Lily Whitlock.

“I cannot say enough good things” about the cast, Farnham said. “We have an extremely diverse group of 28 actors, from veterans of Riverwalk to our 11 people who have never been on this stage. We have kids under 10 years old and cast members in their 50s. But they all share an amazing work ethic and a love of being together.”

A special performance for Lansing Reading is Fundamental (RIF) takes place Wednesday, Janu-ary 30 with a pizza dinner at 6 p.m., the show at 7 p.m. and a free book for each child attending the performance. Reserve tickets for this fund-raiser at 517-755-4966; they’re $25 for adults, $10 for ages 17 and younger.

(For regular performances call 482-5700 or reserve at www.riverwalktheatre.com. Reserva- tions recommended; this show could sell out!)

Director Brian says, “Come see Chitty Chitty Bang Bang to be transported into a story of love, adventure, and imagination. We are making some truly unique things happen on the Riverwalk stage and you won’t want to miss it!” Kathleen Lavey

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REVIEW

noises off is on PointNoises Off is a show-within-a-show

farce that displays what happens when the magic of theater (the unexplainable miracle that it always works out) falls apart. The script has a reputation for its borderline anarchist physical humor and very demanding set. Director Michael Hays has managed to capture the very spirit of the show and brought it to us in a way that left this reviewer crying from laughing so much — twice.

Everyone gave stellar performances in very physically demanding roles. Notable here was Nita Haberlein as Dotty Ottley/Mrs. Clackett. I was shocked to find that this was her first experience with theater!

David Dunckel played Lloyd Dallas, director of the show within in the show and “leader” of this dysfunctional troupe. He perfectly captured the sarcasm and frustration anyone deeply involved with a production should find very familiar.

David Bilbey and Cassie Little played Garry Lejeunne/Roger Tramplemain and Brooke Ashton/Vicki; both brought won-derful performances and talent. A special shoutout to Cassie for being such a champ with her skimpy costume throughout 80% of the show. John Liskey played Selsdon Mowbray/burglar, an alcoholic theatre

veteran who couldn’t seem to pull it together for more than thirty seconds at a time. Greg Pratt and Maureen Sawdon played Frederick Fellowes/Phillip Brent and Belinda Blair/Flavia Brent, the closest thing both shows had to straight players —but even that may be a stretch. Their performances, regardless, were top notch. Rounding out the cast and the pro-duction team of the show-within-a-show were Erin Hoffman and Gabe Weeks as Poppy and Tim, the poor stage managers who had to try to keep the train wreck going, no matter the cost.

Leroy Cupp’s set design was clever and pragmatic, using every inch of Riverwalk’s space and still makingit all seem plausible. The real treat was spending one of the intermissions

Riverwalk Holiday Cabaret DazzlesThis revue featured a fun mix of pop

songs, in the It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas vein — but added some more unusual tunes from musicals such as Elf, the Musical and Anastasia. I particularly enjoyed Travis Williams’ rendition of You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch, Laura Croff’s comic, vindictive

Surabaya Santa from Songs for New World, and Maggie Smith’s Santa Baby, where she charmed the entire male cast of Santas.

Meghan Eldred Woolsey assembled an all-star cast of singer/actors who had not only great voices, but also the stage presence to “sell” their songs — with artful staging by Director Meghan.

The dancers of The Karyn’s Dance Place

Company (Sarah Albrecht, Olivia Carpenter, Kendall Craddock, Rachael Dec, Kennedy Kirsch, Nora Laukkanen, Natali Mann, Harper Massey, Chloe Mayes, Frankie Nevin, Kyra Pohl, and Jennifer Tran) were an exciting change of pace from the soloists. We felt a little Busby Berkeley flair going on in their varied numbers.

All were supported by the John Dale Smith Trio — with music direc-tor John on keyboard, Jerry Krause on electric bass and Tim Thelen on drums. Their preshow music was a bonus to early arrivers.

We hope this fun, family friendly Holi-day Cabaret becomes a Riverwalk holiday tradi-tion. Jane Zussman

Maggie Smith, Racheal Raymer, Laura Croff, Larissa Gleason-Clark, Kelley Lofton, Travis Williams, Adam Woolsey, Brian Farnham, Ben Holzhausen, & Bob Purosky

REVIEW

(there were two) watching the set turn around to show what was going on backstage. This transition was done by a highly skilled run-ning crew in less than fifteen minutes, to the tune of the classic Benny Hill song, Yakety Sax. Chaos and hilarity ensued. Kudos to the crew, stage manager Michelle Smith and her assistants for that treat.

Noises Off did run a bit long but it was easy to forgive that due to the good-for-the-soul laughter that came along with it. I look forward to seeing whatever everyone involved in this show works on next, but would understand completely if they spent the winter in hiber-nation to regain their energy; they earned it.

Cody Skalmowski

Gregg Pratt, Erin Hoffman, Dave Dunckel, Cassie Little

Gabe Weeks, Nita Haberlein, David Bilbey. Maureen Sawdon

photo by www.Ariniko.com

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a u D i t i o N S Each Riverwalk MEMBER is a part of the foundation that supports Riverwalk for the benefit of all theatre lovers! Revenue from membership funds at least a quarter of our show budgets as well as general operations. Keep Riverwalk thriving for years to come! Please join at whatever level you can afford:actor — $15-24,

Ripples, voting on board members & Members Choice favorite show award.

technician—$25-49, Ripples, voting, program listing

stage Manager — $50-99, Ripples, voting, program listing, and one comp ticket

Director — $100-249, Ripples, voting, program listing, two comp tickets

Producer — $250-499, Ripples, voting, program listing, four comp tickets

star — $500-999, Ripples, voting, program listing, six comps, name on theatre seat

angel — $1000+, Ripples, voting, program listing, 12 comp tickets, name on a theatre seat and on the donor board in the lobby

Go to riverwalktheatre.com. Click “more” then “get involved” to join online. or just mail/give a check to Mike at the office. We’re 501c3 tax deductible. If you’re already a member, recruit a NEW member today!

Musical by Mark O’Donnell, thomas Meehan, Marc

Shaiman and Scott Wittman directed by Sarah Hayneraudition dates: Sun & Mon, March 17-18, 2019, at 7 pm.Production Dates: June 6-16, 2019

In 1962 Baltimore, plus-sized teen Tracy Turnblad’s dream is to dance on The Corny Collins Show. When Tracy wins a role on the show, she uses her newfound fame to launch a campaign to integrate the show… all without denting her ‘do! Hairspray is a comedy with a conscience, singing and dancing its way through the injustices of American societytracy turnblad: (16-25*, mezzo/belt,

Caucasian) A “pleasantly plump” teenager, who dreams of fame and fights to racially integrate The Corny Collins Show. Must be a strong dancer.

Edna turnblad: (30-50*, second tenor/bari-tone, Caucasian) Tracy’s kind, and slightly emotional, plus-sized mother (a drag role). Edna runs a laundry business out of her home.

Wilbur Turnblad: (30-50*, baritone, Cauca-sian) Tracy’s goofy father, who owns the Har-De-Har Hut joke shop. He encourages Tracy to follow her dreams. (Caucasian, 30-50*)

Link Larkin: (16-25*, second tenor/baritone, Caucasian) Teenage heartthrob and one of The Corny Collins Show Council Members who falls in love with Tracy. Handsome, clean-cut, goodhearted and down to-earth. Must be a strong dancer.Penny Pingleton: (16-25*, mezzo/belt, Cauca-sian) Tracy’s slightly dorky, devoted, and perky best friend. Seaweed J. Stubbs: (16-25*, tenor, African-American) A hip “Negro Day” dancer and the son of Motormouth Maybelle who falls in love with Penny. Must be a strong dancer.amber Von tussle: (16-25*, mezzo/soprano, Caucasian) Bratty, selfish resident princess of The Corny Collins Show. She is willing to do any-thing to win the Miss Teenage Hairspray pageant. Must be a strong dancer.Velma Von tussle: (30-50*, mezzo/belt, Cauca-sian) Amber’s scheming mother and producer of

The Corny Collins Show, who pushes her daughter to seek the stardom that she never had.

Motormouth Maybelle: (30-55*, mezzo/belt, African-American) The owner of a downtown record shop and the host of “Negro Day” on The Corny Collins Show. Self-described as “big, blonde and beautiful”.

Little inez: (13-18*, high mezzo belt, African-American) Seaweed’s spunky younger sister who is a very talented dancer but is turned away from The Corny Collins Show because she is African American. Must be a strong dancer.

Corny Collins: (20-35*, tenor, Caucasian) The charismatic and confident host of The Corny Collins Show.

Prudy Pingleton: (30-50*, mezzo, Caucasian) Penny’s overprotective and often close-minded mother. Might also be cast to play additional ensemble roles.

the dynamites: (16-25*, African-American) Female trio that sings on “Negro Day”, similar to the style of The Supremes.

Corny Collins dancers: (16-25*, Caucasian) IQ, Shelly, Brenda, Sketch, Fender, Tammy, Lou Ann and Brad. Must be strong dancers.

Ensemble: Additional roles will be played by members of a multi-racial ensemble. “Negro Day” dancers, Prison Matron, Doll House singers, Mr. Pinky, etc.

* Note: Ages are guidelines onlyPlease come to auditions prepared to sing, dance, and

read sides from the script. Bring sheet music (16-32 bars) to a song of your choice in the style of the show. An ac-companist will be provided. Be sure to wear appropriate clothes and shoes to learn and perform choreography.

PeRUsaL sCRIPTs for all shows are available at the Riverwalk office, Tuesday - Friday, 10 am - 5:30 pm. Call 517-482-5700 to check availability: rwt@RiverwalkTheatre.com audition forms are available online at www.riverwalktheatre.com/auditions.html

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Shannon BowenBernie CampanellaDee FreemanLeon GreenSarah HaynerErik LarsonScott Mandel

Ripples is published by Riverwalk Theatre, 228 Museum Dr., P.O. Box 12249, Lansing, MI 48901. Submit info to Editor Jane Zussman (jszussman@gmail.com) or Riverwalk Manager Mike Siracuse (rwt@riverwalktheatre.com) office hours: Tuesdays thru Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Reservations and info at: 517-482-5700 or RiverwalkTheatre.com

riverWalk theatre2017-2018 officers President, Jeff Magnuson Administrative VP, Darrin Fowler Production VP, Rita Deibler Treasurer, Michele Booher-Purosky Secretary, Brian Farnham

2018-2019 Board of DirectorsScott Pohl Leo PoroshinBrett RobertsonHope RollinsLinda WidenerJane Zussman

P.O. Box 12249 • Lansing MI 48901

Next to Impression 5, 228 Museum Drive, south off

Michigan Avenue, across from the Lansing Center

Jan. 24-27 & Jan. 31-Feb 3, 2019

Richard and Robert Sherman Jeremy Sams and Ray Roderick

A beloved musical for the whole family by

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.MTIshows.com

Adapted for the stage by

Green Room refreshed

New paint! New Furniture! Our backstage actors’ lounge has gotten an update thanks to the decor and organizational skills of board member and Hairspray director, Sarah Hayner, with her energetic crew of volunteers. Step backstage and check it out next time you’re at the theatre.

A probably incomplete list of volunteers includes: Adam Bright, Diane Cooke, Liz Cooke, Ashley Hampton, Bernie Lucas, Jeff Magnuson, Scott Pohl, Taylor Rupp, Jordan Taylor, Meghan Eldred Woolsey, Glora Vivalda Purosky, and Jane Zussman

Clockwise top to bottom: Jeff Magnuson, Bernie Lucas, Ashley Hampton

& Scott Pohl

supported in part by MICHIgan COUnCIL FOR aRTs anD CULTURaL aFFaIRs • naTIOnaL enDOWMenT FOR THe aRTs • COMMUnIT y FOUnDaTIOn • aRTs COUnCIL OF gReaTeR LansIng