Review: PIPPIN at Florida Gulf Coast University

"Pippin," the magical Stephen Schwartz fable, launches both the FGCU season and (maybe?) its musical theatre program. Here's my review.


FGCU blazes magical, musical trail with 'Pippin'
http://www.gonaples.com/news/2013/oct/04/review-fgcu-theatrelab-pippin/

While not perfect (no one expects it to be), "Pippin" captures the rambunctious, free-spirited delight of its rowdy '70s origins. A diverse cast, beaming with smiles and dressed in a rainbow of borrowed costumes unite in a bright, funky circus vibe. Full credit to the ensemble - from first to last - each commits to the outrageous, fun-loving and over-the-top spirit. The array of stripes, prints, glitter, flowers, feathers, sequins, greasepaint and more - all looking as if it emerged from the bottom of a moth-eaten trunk - gives "Pippin" an air of tattered, faded decadence. Occasional squeals of feedback, a bare stage and voices that aren't Martha Raye or Irene Ryan give the show a ring of authenticity. This is college theatre. This is the 1970s - and the Janis Joplin feel of the lyrics never felt so beautiful. read the full review...

Talking "Pippin" and musical theatre with Sawyer True
http://ndnstagedoor.blogspot.com/2013/10/pippin-preview-sawyer-true.html

The Oakride Middle student, who shared the role of Gavroche in the Naples Players production of "Les Miserables" this summer, appears throughout the second act as droll, deadpan, drop-dead-funny Theo. "I'm Theo," Sawyer told me over the phone. "I'm Catherine's son. I carry around a duck. He's like my best friend." read the full preview...

PREVIEW: Talking "Pippin" and musical theatre with Sawyer True

Updated: Read the review of the FGCU production of "Pippin" here.

Stephen Schwartz (music and lyrics) and Roger O. Hirson (book) musical "Pippin" tells of a young prince on his search for the meaning of life. How appropriate then that FGCU plays host to this latest production.

One face that might be a few years away (we hope) from the beer bongs and all-nighters - and familiar to Neapolitans is 12-year-old Sawyer True.

Sawyer True as
Gavroche in the
Naples Players
production of
"Les Miserables."

The Oakride Middle student, who shared the role of Gavroche in the Naples Players production of "Les Miserables" this summer, appears throughout the second act as droll, deadpan, drop-dead-funny Theo.

"I'm Theo," Sawyer told me over the phone. "I'm Catherine's son. I carry around a duck. He's like my best friend."

In the context of "Pippin," the characters of Theo and Catherine help Pippin realize that an ordinary life might be fulfilling after all. And Theo gets some great one-liners.

Musical theatre wasn't always in the cards for True, although mom Sharon has appeared in a half-dozen Naples Players musicals, including "The Producers," "All Shook Up," "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels," "Hello Dolly!" and "Pinkalicious."

A few years ago, after being signed up for a youth theater show in Fort Myers, Sawyer tells me that his response was "Sure. I'll try it out."

"It was fun," Sawyer told me. "I like it a lot.

"Laughing Phantom" led to "Schoolhouse Rock." And to dance class, voice lessons, parts in the Naples Players KidzAct program. When I talked to Sawyer, he'd just started with the Naples Youth Chorale.

The role in Pippin appeals to True because Theo is a "more challenging" part - vocally - than he's used to. "His voice is changing," Sharon True interjects, "and it's a wider range for him."

"Pippin" also offers experience.

"I like working with new people," Sawyer True said. "I like seeing how other theaters work … everyone was very welcoming."

The youth will get that chance to see how theaters work. Once "Pippin" closes, he and FGCU faculty member Gerritt VanderMeer, the Leading Player, will head into "Whistle Down the Wind" at TheatreZone.

And he's pretty sure that he wants to pursue musical theatre as a career.

"I'd do it [musical theatre] anywhere," Sawyer told me. "Not just Broadway."

"Pippin," directed by Dominic Missimi, the founder of Northwestern University’s musical theatre program, runs October 4, 5, 6, 11, 12 at 7:30 p.m. with matinée performances on October 12 & 13 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $7 and available at http://theatrelab.fgcu.edu.

Naples Players set auditions for Gurney play "Black Tie" on Oct. 26

The Naples Players will hold auditions for "Black Tie," the A.R. Gurney play, at 2 p.m. Saturday, October 26. Get the complete

The Naples Players (and other regional theaters) have gone back to the Gurney well several times. The playwright is a natural fit, especially with the area's heavy seasonal population, especially from the Northeast. "Sylvia," "Crazy Mary" and "Later Life" have all played in recent years. The playwright distills the experiences of Buffalo's vanishing WASP population in touching fashion; his small, keenly felt plays often wrap big themes inside small moments. The Florida Rep production of "Indian Blood" remains one of my favorite shows ever.

"Black Tie," about one father's struggle to produce the perfect wedding toast, takes a torch to a lot old High WASP traditions like oyster stuffing and cuff links. Florida Rep produced the show in April 2012. Of the many works in the Gurney canon, "Black Tie" isn't a superb show, but it does offer an interesting culture clash. Read my review of the "Florida Rep" show here.

"Black Tie" runs Jan. 15-Feb. 8, 2014. Call (239) 263-7990 or naplesplayers.org.

Alliance for the Arts releases "Fall for the Arts" performance schedule

Here's the schedule for the Lee County Alliance for the Arts "Fall for the Arts" performance schedule.

Basically, there's lots of fun stuff on Saturday, Oct. 19 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.  The event is completely free. There will be live performances, games, art & craft stations, a dunk tank and face painting.  Families will be able to explore Florida Rep’s Costume Trunk, Gulf Coast Symphony’s mini Musical Discovery Zone and the Southwest Florida Symphony’s Instrument Petting Zoo. There's also something call Trooper the Blind Raccoon.

Five Questions With: Randall Kenneth Jones, Norbert in "The Great American Trailer Park Musical"

Randall Kenneth Jones as Roger DeBris
in the Naples Players production
of "The Producers."

Randall Kenneth Jones will be familiar face to Naples audiences when he takes the stage as tollbooth collector Norbert in upcoming "The Great American Trailer Park Musical."

The Washington, D.C. transplant has appeared in shows with the Marco Players ("The Fourth Wall"), Shakespeare in Paradise ("A Midsummer Night's Dream") and both plays and musicals at the Naples Players. He had roles in "Annie," "The Producers" and "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels." He also starred as David O. Selznick in "Gone With the Wind" send-up "Moonlight and Magnolias."

"The Great American Trailer Park Musical" visits a wrong-side-of-the-tracks community in Starke, Florida. Jones's character leaves (or does he?) his agoraphobic wife for a stripper named Pippi. Other inhabitants of the Armadillo Acres trailer park are named Linoleum and Pickles. There's a shootout. Someone sniffs Pam (the cooking spray - not the person). And THEN things get strange... (Read my review of the show from its run at the Off-Broadway Palm in April if you want a few spoilers)

Directed by Dawn Lebrecht Fornara, "The Great American Trailer Park Musical" includes Jessica Walck as Pippi, Debi Guthery as Betty, Lisa Frederico as Linoleum, Greg Jensen as Duke, Randall Jones as Norbert, Alyssa Lee as Pickles, and Laura Needle as Jeannie.

"The Great American Trailer Park Musical" runs Oct. 9 - Nov. 2 at the Naples Players. Tickets are $40. Call (239) 263-7990 or naplesplayers.org.

We caught up with Jones, but left the rest of the surprises in "Trailer Park," along with the cans of Natty Light and Hamms, in the cooler. You'll have to see the show to find out exactly who takes exactly what off at the Litter Box Show Palace.

Naples Players release cast for "Our Town"

Here's the cast for the Naples Players production of "Our Town."

"Our Town" runs Nov. 27 - Dec. 21. Tickets are $35. Call (239) 263-7990 or naplesplayers.org.

Jim Corsica: Stage Manager
Brigic Wallace: Emily Webb
Michael Frank: George Gibbs
Ray Kane: Doctor Gibbs
Nancy Menaldi-Scanlan: Julia Gibbs
Sharon True: Mrs. Webb
Greg White: Mr. Webb
Thomas Richardson: Wally Webb
Larry Shoop: Simon Stimson
Sophia-Bella Carrasquillo / Diliana Gresbrink: Si Crowell 
Joe Byrne: Joe Crowell
Andrew Ciliberto: Howie Newsome
Carla Grieve: Mrs. Soames
Len Becker: Constable Warren
Jessica Daniels / Amanda Pasler: Rebecca Gibbs

Townspeople: Douglas Casement, Rhonda Davis, Scott Doucette, Cynthia Graf, Michelle Langlas, Preslie True, Denise Villarreal, Carolyn, Weinand and Mariel Weinand.

Hello season.

Hi folks.

Season kicks off with a vengeance this month. I'm doing "Pippin," "Venus in Fur" and then catching a Sunday matinée of my dear friend Laurie Nienhaus' "A Teatime Travesty" on Sunday.

Next week, we get the premieres of "The Great American Trailer Park Musical," "Cats" and "Miss Witherspoon." The NEXT week, we get "Woyzeck," "All My Raisins in the Sun" and "Afterlife of the Rich and Famous."

I finally found some time to do some work on the blog.

■ Check out the new menu bar, in green (now in sexy gray!) above.

■  "for actors" has a direct link to the five-question actor survey. "for directors" goes to the director survey. We've finally started to get traction on that. Thank you to Andrea White and cast/crew members of "The Great American Trailer Park Musical" for sending those responses in. Look for those in the upcoming weeks. Please take advantage of this quick, easy way to get some publicity for your production. I can't make it any easier for you.

■ "the season" is the list of every theater and presenting house and their shows. In all but a few cases (marked with an asterisk) I plan to review the productions. If you see an error or omission, please email me.

■ If you are planning *anything* that is not already on the calendar, please be warned that I don't have a lot of free dates left. There are ten (10) four-show weeks on my calendar so far, as well as three five-show weeks. Between Jan. 1 - April 3, 2014, I plan to see 46 productions.

■ In that same vein, if you want to pitch a story idea, four days before you open is too late. Three weeks before you open is better.

■  Thanks - and break a leg everyone.