WARREN DILLAWAY / Star BeaconBROCK DOBAS (inside the plant) is the puppeteer prepares for "The Little Shop of Horrors" with Rich Werman (Mr. Mushnick, left) Jeremy Verdi (Seymour, closest to plant) and Adrienne Archacki (Audrey). It opens tonight at Cabaret 1105 in the Ashtabula Harbor.
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By ROBERT LEBZELTER
Special Sections Editor
ASHTABULA - It's not every weekend you see a plant sing and eat people.
Amazing. Singing on a full stomach.
The next three weekends Ashtabula Harbor's new Cabaret 1105 theater presents
the musical "The Little Shop of Horrors."
It runs tonight, Saturday and Sunday, July 24, 25 and 26 and July 31, Aug.
1 and 2. It starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for children
10 and under.
Call the theatre at 964-6405 for reservations.
"It hasn't been done in a long time in Ashtabula," said director
Chris D'Itri of the play.
"We opened (the season) with `Annie,' which was more for the younger
kids. I thought we would do this because it's for people young and old.
There's a lot of 1950s music, a lot of good music. We've had a lot of fun."
The play has been made into a movie twice, most recently a musical with
Rick Moranis in 1986. A non-musical version was an early film for Jack Nicholson
in 1960.
The play is about an odd shop and the man-eating plants inside.
D'Itri said he rented the plants in Cleveland. "They look exactly like
the plants in the movie. Exactly," D'Itri said.
It took awhile to synchronize music, the voice of the plant and plant operation.
"We want people to believe as much as possible that a plant is talking.
The price of admission is worth it for the plants alone," D'Itri said.
D'Itri had other observations about the admission price.
"People complained about the price. But once they come and see the
show and know the place is centrally air conditioned, it makes the world
of difference to them."
D'Itri added, "There's lots of harmony in the show. It really showcases
local singers."
Besides synchronized talking plants, D'Itri had to contend with big plants
and a small stage.
"When I ordered the plants, the people in Cleveland said, `I hope you
have a big stage.' I didn't. I had a smaller stage. But I wanted the plants
to cover the whole stage and they did. It worked wonderful," D'Itri
said.
He said once "Annie" ended, work was already starting on this
latest endeavor.
"We had major, major dedication from the cast. They had to be here
five, six nights a week, plus what they had to do at home, learn lines,
learn music. All of these people have jobs. But they love the songs, they
love theater," D'Itri said.
"The tech crew did a wonderful job. These are the type of people you
find in an equity theater, where they get paid."
Jeremy Verdi plays Seymour, with Adrienne Arbhacki as Audrey, Rich Werman
as Mr. Mushnick, Bob Covert II as the dentist and Girard Payne as the voice
of the plant.
Brock Dobos is the plant puppeteer and the doo-wop girls are played by Diana
Cooper, Cathy Fasano-Varckette and Carrie Leininger.
When the play ends its run, the new Bridge Street theater will have a black
cultural weekend Aug. 21-23, with nights of jazz, reggae and gospel.
After a few weeks break, D'Itri said work will begin on the fall and winter
season.
ASHTABULA - The Ashtabula County Choral Music Society will again sponsor
a Children's Choir Camp for young people with unchanged voices aged 8-13
(entering grades three through eight.)
Music teachers and church choir directors throughout Ashtabula County are
being asked to recommend singers who have demonstrated above average ability
and aptitude for singing who would enjoy the opportunity for singing with
others of equal interest.
The camp curriculum will include instruction to develop vocal skills of
tone production, ensemble singing and music reading; rehearsal to perform
quality literature for children's choir, introduction to handbells and instrumental
accompanying, recreation and special activities.
Participants will also produce the mini-musical "Technicolor Promise"
by Allen Pote and explore the art of singing in a small theatrical medium
and with all the related elements of production (movement, costumes, sets,
props, acting, public speaking, etc.).
All work will culminate in an end-of-camp public concert and theatrical
performance in Friday, Aug. 7, at 7 p.m.
Both the camp and the concert will be held at the First United Methodist
Church in Ashtabula.
The goals of the camp will be : 1) to provide young people interested in
singing and developing singing skills with an opportunity to work and learn
with others with similar interests; 2) to provide schools and churches with
a resource for training and developing young singers who can provide leadership
in choirs and choruses wherever they sing; 3) to develop a core children
and families interested in creating a Children's Choir that has the same
Mission as the ACCMS; and 4) to explore the possibility of having an ACCMS
Children's Choir as an ongoing performing ensemble included in future ACCMS
Season performances.
The camp will be directed by Kathleen Milford, the founder and artistic
director of the Ashtabula County Choral Music Society. She holds a bachelor
of science degree in music education from Kent State University and a master
of music education from Youngstown State University.
Other staff members for this year's choir camp will be: Ann Usher, director
of choirs at Solon Middle School; Arlene Jacobs, director of Summit Choral
Music Society Children's Choirs, as well as returning local staff members
Kaye Peel, Mary Runyan, Heather Runyan, Bobbi Boles and Linda Eippert.
Every effort is being made to establish scholarship funding and transportation
plans to allow all young people recommended the opportunity to participate.
School parent organizations, churches and individuals are invited to help
sponsor a child. For more information about the Ashtabula County Choral
Music Society Children's Choir Camp, call (440) 224-2681 or write ACCMS
at P.O. Box 703, North Kingsville, 44068.
ROME - The Grand Valley Theatre Co. presents "Hee Haw Hayride,"
July 24-26 at Rome Elementary School.
The play, put on by younger students, takes place in Lonesome Polecat.
All performances are at 8 p.m. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for seniors
and students.
They can be purchased at the door or reserved by calling 474-4155.
The Grand Valley Theatre Co. is a joint project of Grand Valley Schools
and the Ashtabula Arts Center.
Cast includes Amanda Hosking as Grace, Valerie Johnson as Ruby Perkins,
Chip Weber as Dr. Dogweazel, Joe Valenti as Sheriff Dickens, Ben Gates as
Charlie Rhodes, Heather Sweeney as Sherri Gordon, Hope Reckart as Iris Hutton,
Laura Hunter as Antiquity Wormwood, Ashley Stewart as Polly Tolliver, Leann
Sitler as Pricilla and also appearing, Katherine and Elizabeth Sartor.
ASHTABULA - Circus, ballet, musical comedy, minstrel show, rock concert,
spectacle, vaudeville.
You'll find it all in "Pippin," the razzmatazz musical opening
at the Ashtabula Arts Center July 24.
Tickets are on sale at the arts center.
The show, under the direction of Catherine Lawson, even has a streak of
family situation comedy. Emperor Charlemagne's son, Pippin, is just back
from college and doesn't know what to do about his future. Sound familiar?
A lot of people give him advice, most of it bad.
It is not surprising that the story of a befuddled young man embarking on
an adventure of life originated as a college show.
The title character, a boyish hero, is based on an actual historical character.
The master of ceremonies character is played by Ken Gasch of Conneaut, who
warns the audience from the outset that they won't be given a history lesson.
The author tells the story of a young man's search for significance. The
events are described as happening in 780 A.D. "or thereabouts"
in "the holy Roman Empire and thereabouts."
But Nathan Peters of Perry, who will play the title role, will be seen as
a completely recognizable man of today who is impatient to find his place
in the world.
Mark Pendleton is the zestful, authoritative King Charlemagne, who wants
his son to learn the family business his way, and Cissy Hubbard of Ashtabula
will play grandma, a swinging old lady who knows the score - more than just
musically. Marcy Hudson of Ashtabula is Fastrada, Pippin's step-mother and
Laurie Mraz of Rome is Catherine, his love interest.
Others in the cast include Michelle Sterling, Meghan Sorohan, Molly Sorohan,
Amy Gustafson, Edna Robertson, Sarah Horrigan, Jaime Chutas, Maija Talikka,
Nicole DeNunzio, Polly Hubbard, Angela Pruett, David Overbey, Jacob Lowe,
Chris Hutson, Derek Lebzelter, Corey O'Brien, Joe Donatone, Randy Niemi
and Chris Bott.
The play runs July 24-26, July 30-Aug. 2 and Aug. 6-8. All performances
start at 8 p.m.
Monique Dudley of Rock Creek will sing gospel music at the Brown Bag concerts
Wednesday in Ashtabula and Thursday in Jefferson.
It's a free, weekly lunch time concert sponsored by the Star Beacon and
Gazette Publications.
Dudley has been singing for more than 18 years, crediting the Lord for her
music-writing talents. She performs at weddings, church events and other
special functions.
All concerts start at noon. They are Wednesdays at the gazebo in Ashtabula's
North Park and in the Village Green on East Jefferson Street in Jefferson.
In case of rain, they are held at Ashtabula's Fellowship Hall of First Presbyterian
Church on Park Avenue and in Jefferson, at the United Methodist Church.
The annual Kidsfest is Aug. 8 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Ashtabula Arts
Center.
The children will learn about world cultures by making more than a dozen
different art projects. There will be instruments, toys and artwork based
on the traditions of different countries.
This year's Kids Fest will also present music and dance traditions from
around the world. The hands-on projects will include Japanese printmaking,
African masks, Native American sand painting, a South American rainstick
and more.
As always, there will be a giant bubble pool. This is a tradition dating
from the art center's first even six years ago. There is no admission charge.
All of the art projects and performances are free.
"Big River," the musical comedy about the Mark Twain classic,
"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," will be produced for the
final two times, tonight and Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Ashtabula Arts Center's
Straw Hat Theatre.
Call for tickets at 964-3396.
Peter Culver of Ashtabula and a senior at Kent State University plays Huck
Finn. Nick Boyd is his slave friend, Jim.
Music was written by country music star Roger Miller. The production won
10 Tony Awards in 1985.
Last Saturday Gund Arena was packed with loud, yelling, screaming
excited fans...and all for one woman: Janet Jackson. One of the first stops
on her Velvet Rope Tour, the Gund, although not a total sell-out, was full
of excitement.
The show itself was fantastic. Usher opened up the show for Janet and was
well received by the crowd. I myself am not a huge fan, nor do I know all
that much about him, but he does put on a great show and puts many of the
female audience members into a total state of frenzy.
The part of his performance that impressed me the most was, of course, the
dancing. He and his troupe of skilled dancers put on a fantastic show. It
was very fun to watch.
After a short break, the house lights went down and the curtains opened
and then the show really began. The setup of the stage was interesting.
The first thing on the stage was a large storybook. On the cover it said,
"The Velvet Rope," a person on stage dressed almost like a ringmaster
opened the very, very large book and it separated into two huge screens
and on the screens began a series of pictures, almost like a kaleidoscope
of stars and such. The huge screen was moved up and from in between the
two screens came none other than the ultimate diva herself, Ms. Janet!
She opened the show with the song "The Velvet Rope," and continued
on with a medley of songs from her new album. From "Control,"
to "You," the song that was supposedly written about her brother,
Michael. After this came the first of many costume changes. It was a lot
like watching a Broadway show and a three ring circus all at once. There
was so much going on on the stage and it was very theatrical, with her talented
dancers and elaborate stage sets.
This first change brought the show back out with a very storybook appearance.
Complete with a large moon with a face, and some other things taken from
the pages of children's books, to the costumes which were very colorful.
Some of the dancers were dressed as flowers with petals surrounding their
faces and other had elaborate masks and jester-like outfits. Dressed in
this way Janet went on with some older, more upbeat songs, such as "Escapade,"
and many others. I didn't really realize just how many Janet Jackson songs
I knew until I found myself singing along at the top of my lungs to almost
all of them.
The next change in scenery got rid of the child's stuff and really got down
to business with such songs as "Throb," from her "Janet"
album, and really showed off the talents of her dancers and some of the
dancers from Ushers camp.
Later she slowed things down a bit and got a little racy when she picked
some lucky guy from the front row to come up on stage. As soon as this lucky
guy's face was shown on the big screen, you could hear a rumble of whispers
go through the audience. It was Kenny Lofton of the Cleveland Indians!!
What a surprise.
Janet's staff, knowing what a huge fan he was of hers and knowing that he
was to be at the concert that night, arranged for him to get a little closer
to the action. Once on stage he was strapped into a chair facing away from
the audience and was treated to a mild strip tease by none other than Janet
herself. The crowd was absolutely wild! Lofton went on stage with a stick
straight face but Ms. Jackson soon had him smiling.
Once the show was over no one was leaving their seats in hopes for an encore
and here and there you could hear little out breaks of chanting, "Janet!
Janet!" So of course, back out they came. But before actually performing
anther song, Janet went on to introduce her band members and dedicated dancers.
Also, she urged all those present to help in any way possible a program
called America's Promise, to which she is donating a portion of her tour
proceeds. Approximately 150 tickets were also donated to Cleveland's Big
Brother's/Big Sister's program by Janet to attend the show. After all this
she went on and did her remake of Joni Mitchell's "Don't Know What
You Got (till it's gone)" and her own hit from the Velvet Rope, "Together
Again."
The concert was a hit with audience members and was charged to the max with
energy. One thing I noticed and was pleased to see, was that the people
attending the concert, were of such diversity. People of all ages, from
2 to 92, and of all races and ethnicity had come together that night to
support a very talented and accomplished artist and it made the whole experience
much more enjoyable. Live music of any kind is great, because it brings
you that much closer to the source.
What Puzo didn't mention is she choreographed the dancers. Really. When
you see her, ask her to do a few steps for you. She'll be glad to.