The Joy and Passion of Swing Set

Playhouse on Park's resident dance troupe, the stop/time Dance Theatre is currently on stage at Playhouse on Park performing "Swing Set" A medley of rousing song and dance numbers under the direction of Darlene Zoller.

When you come see this show, you'll see Darlene's literal interpretation of the term swing set. Two swings are at opposite sides of the stage with a slide and monkey bars in between the swings. Most of the stage is free for dancing, however the dancers aren't limited to the stage, they bring their high energy take in to the crowd with the rhythmic thundering of their tap shoes.

Darlene was inspired to bring this show to life after a friend by the name of Shaun Laframboise gave her the song and suggested she do this show at some point in her career. "So I listened to it, I fell in love with it and the name of the song was Swing Set." Says Ms. Zoller.

As for selecting songs for a show, Darlene lets the songs speak to her "When I choose music it has to say something to me it has to physically make me want to get up and dance." The songs are a combination of current, popular music that people know like Christina Aguilera's "Candyman" to songs that people have never heard like Swingerhead's "Pick Up The Phone".

The stop/time dancers all pursue other careers during the day "Our company is unique in that we all share an incredible joy of performing and did not want to give that up simply because they've pursued other career paths." Says Ms. Zoller of her dancers. "This show and all of our shows are the result of that unbridled joy and passion for dancing and performing." she adds.

That joy and passion transcends individuality "We are a family." Ms. Zoller says of her company. She explains the two criteria in casting the show "Number one, everyone shares the passion for dance and entertaining and number two the passion to support one another." That support also shows itself when it comes to determining leads and back ups. "There are no divas in the group. It's all about the product we put on the stage and the joy that we have bringing it."

Darlene began dancing at the tender age of three and stopped only briefly when her father decided chauffeuring three daughters back and forth to every dance class was too much. "So he made us all quit and my two sisters decided that they would remain quited and I did not, I was miserable." One year later Darlene was back to dancing with a greater appreciation for it. With no ride, she resorted to walking "It was about a mile away, but back then it was safe and you could walk."

Darlene perfected her teaching skills as a self-described latchkey kid. "Instead of being latchkey at home I got latch keyed at the studio alot." While there she would watch the classes she was not taking and learned how to explain things.

Be sure not to miss "Swing Set" now playing at Playhouse on Park. There are only three shows left and tickets are going fast. Call Playhouse on Park at 860-523-5900 x 10 or go online at http://www.playhouseonpark.org/ to order. Prices range $17.50 to $22.50 for regular adult tickets, discounts for students and seniors. No matter your age, your sure to be dancing your way out of the theater!

The Chicago Auditions

Yes it's true, Playhouse on Park will be staging the musical "Chicago" this July, under the direction of Darlene Zoller, Playhouse Artistic Director. It is also true that Playhouse on Park held open auditions last Sunday night.

Sixty six talented singers, dancers and actors, 58 women and 8 men gathered at the playhouse to put their best foot forward, literally. The order was mostly determined on a first come, first serve basis, with a few appointments scheduled before hand.

The actors entered through the stage door and waited in the the theater for their chance to sing and act in the lobby.

With the singing and acting nearing its end, the first round of dancing warm ups began in the theater. Another warm up followed a short time later, as the remaining actors finished the singing and acting portion of their audition.

After being judged on their splits Ms. Zoller entered the theater and put the dancers through their paces, leading them in a choreographed routine to the song "All That Jazz", evaluating them in groups of ten that stretched across the stage. As one line was dismissed, the line of ten behind them stepped forward and so on.

The 8 men danced that same routine, and then split in to two groups of four. The women followed immediately in groups of eight. Ms. Zoller perched herself atop the center section, further evaluating the dancers. Many of the dancers, though not their turn continued to practice the routine off to the side.

The auditions had finished, the creative team retreated to the lobby to evaluate the talent. Unfortunately, this is when I left, so I'm going to have leave it there.

Regardless of who gets cast, "Chicago" is sure to be dynamite when it hits the stage at Playhouse on Park July 13th to July 24th. Call the box office at 860-523-5900 x 10 now to reserve your seat, or order them online at www.playhouseonpark.org.

Preposterous Post

My day started like any other day, at noon. I awoke to a beautifully warm and sunny day. Bluebirds sang happy tunes out my window. A scantily clad waitress served me a bacon cheeseburger, french fries and chocolate milkshake in bed. I gleefully chomped and slurped my through a high caloric, trans fatty meal as the waitress caressed my feet. Then the alarm went off.

My day actually started as I struggled to open my weary eyes to a bleak and cloudy day. I didn't know it, but the storm clouds were brewin' I slammed off the alarm clock with all the fury I could muster at such an early hour. I stumbled downstairs like a drunk party crasher and in to the kitchen, eager to settle the rumbling in my stomach. The present contents of my refrigerator, yogurt from a houseguest I had last October and a cheese wrapper. I chewed on the cheese wrapper, savouring the remaining taste of cheese, and put it back in the refrigerator. Tomorrow I'll scrape the astro turf-like greenness from the yogurt and chow down.

It was about one o'clock, five hours before I had to be at the playhouse to manage the front of the house for the night's performance of Comedy of Errors. What to do in the meantime? Ding dong ditching my neighbors brought a brief smile to my face, but alas that requires some degree of physical activity, besides it had started to rain a little. Remember storm clouds are brewin'. I settled on an afternoon of baking chocolate chip cookies. Seriously, I bake a tasty cookie.

Dressed in my swanky black uniform, cookies in hand I made my way to Playhouse on Park. The wind blew the light rain through the trees under the darkening sky. Undeterred, I drove through the crappy weather, the business of show must go on.

Just after I passed under the playhouse marquee. Sheets of glass rained down from above. To put it in perspective, I was like an action hero diving away from an explosion in a nick of time. Shards of glass were everywhere. Without hesitation I bounded back outside broom and receptacle in hand. To put in perspective, I was like Batman pulling just the right device from his utility belt.

The wind and rain were picking up, eager theater-goers were arriving. With my booming voice and super hero-like posture, I kept them at bay. In a flash I had dispersed the fallen glass, the crowd roared its approval. Surveying the situation I noticed a huge shard of glass dangling perilously off the marquee. To put it in perspective it was like a tanker truck loaded with explosives teetering on the edge of a cliff. Without regard for my own safety I dashed in to the playhouse and retrieved a large ladder. Hoisting it on my shoulder I raced outside, planted the ladder on the ground an scurried to the top. Just then a gust of wind blew the ladder out from under me. I grabbed on to the marquee as the ladder crashed to the ground. A collective gasp echoed from the crowd below. A concerned colleague raced from the playhouse to snap an iconic picture of my heroic deed.

With a fierce wind and a driving rain, I struggled to grasp the marquee with one hand and reach for the large shard of glass before it could blow across the way injuring some unsuspecting children. I had but one chance to prevent a catastrophe, so with a gymnastic-like kick of my leg, I launched the shard of glass in to the air, it fell through a sewer grate where its razor sharp ferocity would not endanger anyone anymore. I lost my grip and plummeted toward the unforgiving pavement. Like a nimble super hero or a gymnast, I landed on my feet. The crowd rushed to embrace me, hoisting me on their shoulders and parading me down the street as confetti fell from every building. Alas the show would go on!

And then there's the more mundane interpretation. The glass was broken before I got there. I swept it up. It wasn't raining at the time. There was a decent size glass shard half off the marquee. I climbed the ladder and removed it. The concerned colleague did snap a few pictures, which she'll probably use to ridicule me. I do sleep late and I have a bit more food in my refrigerator. I just wanted to set the record straight, in case you believed my preposterous post. If you did, I'd like to sell you some real estate.

Playhouse Profile: Mollie Cook

When you attend a show at Playhouse on Park, you see a lot of people working there; a house manager, box office employees, ushers and actors. What you don't see is the person working behind the scenes during the show. At Playhouse on Park that person is Wardrobe Mistress/Assistant Stage Manager Mollie Cook.

Mollie is a Senior at Hall High School who began working at the Playhouse during her junior year. She was approached by Hall High School Acting Teacher and Playhouse Artistic Director Sean Harris to fill in. Eight shows later she has become a reliable fixture backstage.

Before each show begins, Mollie is backstage doing a pre-show setting of props and costumes. Once the show begins, she positions herself at one of the prop tables with her computer which has a copy of the script and a run list of her duties which vary depending on the show. "It's either extremely chaotic or really boring." Mollie says of her duties. "During Comedy of Errors there's a lot going on. Sometimes there would be two quick changes happening at once which is extremely chaotic." She adds.

Quick changes is one of the most challenging parts of her work, especially for Comedy of Errors. " I was not present for a real time run until opening night, that was very difficult. Even though I knew what was going to happen, I had to learn the pace of it on the spot." Mollie generally joins the production the weekend before it opens and then the two weekends of the show. She also responds to the needs of the actors during the run of the show. "If they get sick backstage or they hurt themselves, I'm the person who's back there, who has to get them help."

Mollie says she's learned from all the different actors that have come through Playhouse on Park. "They all have different training and since I also perform, I get to learn from what they do on stage." Mollie appeared on stage as the Mouse's reflection in Playhouse on Park's production of "If You Give A Mouse A Cookie" last October. "That was one of my favorite roles I've ever done, because it was so much fun." She has also acted, worked behind the scenes and designed costumes at Hall High School.

Mollie plans to continue acting and designing costumes as she heads off to Umass Amherst in the fall to major in BA Theater Acting. "I love live theater. I think it's a more pure form of acting because it has to be the same every night. You have to do it more than once and you can't sit there and try to get the emotion out twenty times in a row, you have to get it."

As far as just sitting and watching a show she's not involved with, Mollie admits that it's very distracting. 'Oh look there's a techie backstage that I can see, I shouldn't be able to see you.' She quips. "It's almost impossible for me to sit and just watch a show."

Mollie displays an "I get to" attitude as opposed to an "I have to" attitude. No matter what aspect of her job she is doing, even the laundry. "I think I'm the lowest of all the employees here which I take with pride, because I really do enjoy what I do. I get to do the dirty work. I get to do the laundry. I get to fix stuff."

That kind of attitude will serve her well as she ponders her future ten years down the road. At the ripe old age of twenty-eight. "I hopefully see myself graduated from college in a theater somewhere. I don't really care where. I would love to work in a small theater or be in New York."

Whatever size theater or part of the country she ends up in, one thing is for sure, her positive attitude and hard work will propel her to great success in her professional career. Just remember, you heard the name Mollie Cook here first.

Charlie Brown Callbacks

They're baaaaack but not all of them. Fifteen out of the forty three that attended the open auditions last night received a call back. A second chance to perform in front of the creative team and move one step closer to appearing in Playhouse on Park's upcoming production of "You're A Good Man Charlie Brown" in June.

Once again seated behind the sign in desk, I greeted the familiar faces who made their way back to Playhouse on Park to audition for one, two or three different parts.

The quiet chatter in the Playhouse lobby abruptly ended after Stage Manager Dawn Loveland emerged from the theater with sheet music and script pages. She distributed them to the actors based on which of the classic characters they were called back to read for.

The actors immediately began pouring over their material, quietly performing their monologue and song. They retreated to different corners of the lobby, even in to the foyer as each sought to perfect their performance.

Minutes later the enthusiastic voices filled the theater. Fellow auditioners listened intently from the lobby where said voices could be heard clearly. Smiles or looks of fear stretched across the faces of those waiting in the wings, as undoubtedly each compared themselves to the current performer. It is a competition.

After all is said and done there will be a cast in place. Six actors, 4 men and 2 women will be cast in the coveted roles, then the hard work will begin. I'll post the cast list here as soon as it is made public.

Make time this June to see "You're A Good Man Charlie Brown" at Playhouse on Park. If you miss it, you may need to seek psychiatric help from Lucy. However, the five cent fee is probably more like five dollars now. Don't miss the show and save the five bucks, it's good for one gallon of gas.

Charlie Brown Auditions

The folding chairs in the lobby were soon filled with adult actors vying for a role as one of Charles Schultz's beloved animated characters in Playhouse on Park's upcoming production of "You're A Good Man Charlie Brown".

Twenty seven women and sixteen men, braved a rainy April evening in hopes of being cast as Lucy, Linus, Sally, Schroeder, Snoopy and the titular character Charlie Brown.

From my vantage point behind the sign in desk, I saw the hopefuls mouthing their monologues and flipping through their sheet music as they waited patiently for me to call their names. Once they heard their names, they proceeded to the "On Deck" chair and waited to be escorted in to the theater.

Upon entering, each actor was introduced to Director Sean Harris, Stage Manager Dawn Loveland Musical Director Emmett Drake and Stage Manager Ryan Bell. With their sheet music, resumes, head shots and themselves in place, the actors launched in to their songs and monologues, hoping to set themselves apart from the others and return for the callback tomorrow night.

The auditions that began at 7:00pm with a lobby filled with eager actors Ended at 10:30 as the last actor finished. The creative team talked amongst themselves, deciding who to call back for a second audition. So who made the cut? Only they know right now. Soon you will too, keep reading our blog and be among the first to know.

"You're A Good Man Charlie Brown" will be on stage at Playhouse on Park June 15th thru June 26th. Don't delay, get your tickets for this fun for the whole family show now by calling the box office at 860-523-5900 x 10 or online at http://www.playhouseonpark.org/. If you miss this show, you might feel like Charlie Brown does after Lucy pulls the football away.

Carolyn And Hillary's Cabaret Coming Soon

Playhouse on Park's veteran performers Carolyn Cumming and Hillary Ekwall are planning a fundraising cabaret to benefit Playhouse on Park. The ladies enlisted two other talented performers to assist in the planning and production of the forthcoming cabaret. Pianist Kevin Barlowski and Director Dawn Loveland.

As we all sat at a small bar table at the Cheesecake Factory, amidst notepads, drinks and appetizers, the featured four cheerfully discussed everything from song choices and singing ranges to lighting and advertising. Each of them freely presenting their ideas to each other.

The camaraderie between this talented quartet is apparent, because they're all friends and they've all worked together before. Carolyn, Hillary and Kevin last appeared on stage together at Playhouse on Park's "That Holiday Feeling." last December. Dawn directed Kevin in Playhouse on Park's production of "If You Give A Mouse A Cookie." last October.

If the cheerful jubilation exhibited in the planning meeting is any indication of what will be on stage, then the audience is in for a musical treat!

Carolyn and Hillary's still to be titled cabaret will be on stage at Playhouse on Park, Monday, May 23 at 7:00pm with a reception to follow. All proceeds from the cabaret will be donated to Playhouse on Park. Check back here for more information as the date approaches.

Who Knew I'd Have To Do Kung Fu

Catchy title huh? It's actually a direct quote that was spoken by Brendan Norton as he and his three other castmates; Vanessa Morosco, Brad DePlanche and Jesse Graham rehearsed a kung fu fight sequence for Comedy of Errors that opens Wednesday, April 6th at Playhouse on Park.

It's the Saturday before Comedy of Errors opens and I managed to get myself in to watch the rehearsal. Stage Manager Ryan Bell introduced me to director Will Ditterline. I asked him if I could watch some of the rehearsal for the blog. He happily agreed, so I took a seat in the center section with my notebook.

Mr. Norton and Ms. Morosco were choreographing their kung fu fight under the direction of Mr. Ditterline and Ms. Graham, with Mr. DePlanche supplying sound effects. Cast and director work diligently together to perfect the action, freely bouncing ideas off each other in an effort to obtain maximum laughs.

Laughter is sure to be plentiful as the audience will see the actors glide in and out of their characters with impeccable comic timing. Moving freely around the stage with an eager physical prowess, interacting with the audience in a farcical manner, bringing the age-old story to life with contemporary twists audiences of all ages will recognize.

"It's a play about two sets of identical twins and a whole ton of other people played by only four actors " Says Artistic Director/Casting Director Sean Harris of the story.

Comedy of Errors is reminiscent of another Shakespeare production from last season at Playhouse on Park, Shakespeare Abridged. "Three actors going through all of Shakespeare's plays, also interactive and ridiculous with unbelievably fast costume changes." Adds Mr. Harris about Shakespeare Abridged.

Having seen Shakespeare Abridged a few times last season and judging from what I saw in rehearsal, audiences are certain to enjoy Comedy of Errors just as much, maybe more. You'll just have to come see for yourself!

Shakespeare Would Not Approve

If William Shakespeare, renowned English Poet and playwright was alive today to hear the butchering of the English language, he would probably snap his quill pen in half and immerse himself in a large quantity of English ale.

Shakespeare wrote 37 plays. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than any other playwright. Dats cuz he da bomb. Translation: That is because he is the best.

Sometime between the early Modern English of Shakespeare's time and the Late Modern English of today our language went awry. Proper spelling and pronunciation has been hijacked and replaced with slang. According to the website www.urbandictionary.com slang is defined as "The ever-evolving bastardization of the written and spoken language."

Dis can mean "this". Dat does mean "that". A far cry from thee and thou. Surprisingly the website www.allwords.com defines dis, dat, thee and thou. Dis can also mean: to diss, insult. Dat is defined as a colloquial pronunciation of that. Thee and thou are ways to address a person. People speak and write like dis and dat all the time. Thee and thou are usually only heard in a Shakespeare production. Thou should know dat dis mispronunciation is giving me a headache.

Gangstas talk like dis all da time while they're chillaxing with the boyz. Boyz are gang friends. The boyz might have homies. Homies are just friends. Homies might have some peeps. Peeps are just people, acquaintances. Peeps are not those cute, colorful marshmallow treats we see in stores this time of year, at least not for this story.

Aight dats enuff of dat. I can't take it no mo' I could go on, but you git da idea dawg. Any word can be intentionally misspelled or comically misused or combined with another word to make a new word, like they do with celebrity couples. We all know who Brangelina is. Hopefully when it matters the users of these mispelled words are able to use proper grammar when it counts, like on a term paper or job application. In the meantime, let's practice proper English when speaking, texting, tweeting or posting on facebook.

Shakespeare would not approve of the way some of us communicate today. Though I'm sure he would approve of Playhouse on Park's upcoming production of his "Comedy of Errors" Starring Brad DePlanche, Jesse Graham, Vanessa Morosco and Brendan Norton. Mr. Norton was last seen as Sir Mullet in Playhouse on Park's production of "Trapezium".

Comedy of Errors is on stage at Playhouse on Park April 6th to April 17th. Call 860-523-5900 x 10 or visit www.playhouseonpark.org for your tickets. Preview night is April 6th. Tickets are only $15.00. Opening night is April 7th. Come early for a complimentary wine and cheese. Sunday April 10th features a talkback with the cast and director following the show.