Cast:.    Noah.... Don Kuehlhorn           Esther... Billie Thompson          Shem... Brandon McQueen          Leah.... Denise Olmstead           Ham... Bill Thompson           Rachel... Miriam Pico     Japheth...... Matt Archibald           Goldie...... Amy Warner

Production Staff

DIRECTOR   Fred M. Szczepanski   ASST. DIRECTOR    Sarah Hampton PRODUCER    Peg Brace STAGE MANAGER    Jenn Miles ASST TAGE MANAGER Dale George STAGE CREW Carey Allen, Crystal Lane MUSIC & VOCAL DIRECTOR  Fred Szczepanski MUSIC    Paulette Parsons CHOREOGRAPHER    Judy Sines	SET DESIGN      Wendi Roberts   SET CONSTRUCTION   Al Lien, Joe Whall, Jeff Kroeger, Chuck Barnell, Kasey Kilpatrick, Kelly Curtis, Billlie Thompson. Brandon Bartkowiak, Cheri Correll, Ruthy Gillen, Christie George, Alex Gillett, Denise Olmsted, bill Thompson. Wendy Roberts PROPS   Ann Harrison , Pat Hyde,                      Sandy Rodes     SOUND   Casey Wolff	LIGHTS     Ron Murden,   Dale Cobb LIGHTING CREW  Terry Lawrence, Ruthy Gillen, Michelle, Christie George COSTUMES    Kathy Verstraete COSTUME CONSTRUCTION Dale George, Christie George, Pat Kelsey, Bobbi Hudson, Julie Kelly, Jennifer Vasquez POSTER DESIGN    James Russell BOARD LIASON     Phil Murphy PHOTOS               Steve Morse

  Journals:
Don Kuehlhorn, Fred Szczepanski, Denise Olmsted, Brandon McQueen

Preview - Review

NANCY SUNDSTROM
Special to the Record-Eagle

At the end of the singularly most tragic week in American history, Old Town Playhouse in Traverse City offered a welcome respite in the form of Richard Rodgers' 1970 musical "Two By Two." The show opened this past weekend.
Rodgers used this contemporary reworking of the Genesis story of Noah, his family, the ark and the flood to mark his 50th anniversary as a Broadway composer. Along with lyricist Martin Chapin, he delivered a show that is *arm, funny and full of heart. While it may remain one of Rodgers' lesser known scores, it has a number of magical musical moments that will be a pleasure for the audience to discover in a year that also marks the centennial of Rodgers' birth.
The show's tight ensemble cast is headed by Don Kuehlhorn as Noah, who plays an average 600year-old working-class guy with a devoted wife, Esther (Billie Thompson), three very different sons (Brandon McQueen as Shem, Bill Thompson as Ham and Matt Archibald as Japheth), two daughters-in-law (Denise Olmsted as Leah and Miriam Teresa Pico as Rachel), and a chicken farm.

One day, God appears to Noah and informs him that he plans to destroy the world and wants Noah to save two of every living creature, along with his own family. There are a couple of other catches, as well. If Noah wants to survive, he must build an enormous ark to hold everything and survive a torrential downpour that will last 40 days and nights. With the "two by two" rule being in effect, there needs to be a mate for the single Japheth, a solution provided in the form of Goldie (Amy Warner) from the nearby Temple of the Golden Ram.

There are rich comedic possibilities to explore in this scenario, along with a jumble of family conflicts - from variations of opinions on how to build the ark to marital problems - to create dramatic tension. Director Fred Szczepanski and his talented cast find the right balance at most every turn, making this great family fare.
Kuehlhorn clearly relishes his role of Noah, once a star vehicle for Danny Kaye. Whether he's understandably questioning the choice of selecting him to save the world ("Why Me?") or feeling recharged when God decides to shave 510 years off his life to make him more capable of performing the task (the hilarious "Ninety Again"), Kuehlhorn's comedic skills and timing lend themselves well to the role.

Veteran actress Thompson absolutely shines as Esther, making her character straightforward loving and the heart of her family. She is in good voice, anchoring the show with her fine, under stated performance. Her death scene (the lovely "Hey, Girlie" was moving and poignant.

"Two By Two" continues its run from Sept. 20 to Oct. 6, Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m., and on Sunday, Sept. 23, at 3 p.m. Tickets are $18, with student and senior citizen discounted tickets at $16 for Thursday performances, and children's tickets $12 on Thursday and Sunday only. Reservations can be made at the OTP box office from 4 to 8 p.m. and two hours prior to weekend shows or by phoning 947-2443.

TWO BY TWO TICKETS ON SALE 9/4-10/6

TRAVERSE CITY --- Tickets for the Old Town Playhouse mainstage production of Two by Two are on sale beginning Tuesday, September 4, 2001 through the show’s conclusion on Saturday, October 6, 2001. The play opens Friday, September 14, at Old Town Playhouse, located at the corner of Eighth and Cass Streets in Traverse City.

Two by Two is a Richard Rodgers musical about Noah’s Ark. Mr. Rodgers entered his seventh decade of writing for the theatre with this somewhat modern-day retelling of the relationship between Noah and God. It seems that the building of the ark was only the first of Noah’s many daunting challenges in a journey that wasn’t always smooth sailing. By turns inspirational and hilarious, we discover that being chosen by God for great things doesn’t necessarily simplify the daily demands made of a father and husband. It’s good fun from The Good Book and when the land dries, man and beast alike are invited to go forth and prosper in a bright New World.

Two by Two is directed by Fred Szczepanski of Traverse City, who is the music director for St. Francis Catholic Church. Szczepanski previously directed the summer 2000 production of Cinderella and performed in Chapter Two, City of Angels and the Black and White Gala for Old Town Playhouse. Cast members include Don Kuehlhorn as Noah, Billie Thompson as Esther, Brandon McQueen as Shem, Denise Olmsted as Leah, Bill Thompson as Ham, Miriam Pico as Rachel, Matt Archibald as Japheth and Amy Warner as Goldie.

The show runs September 14-October 4. Show times are Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. There will also be a Sunday matinees on September 23 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $18. Student and senior discounted tickets are available for $16 for Thursday performances, and children’s tickets are available for $12 on Thursday and Sunday performances only. Reservations can be made, beginning at 4 p.m. on September 4, by calling (231) 947-2443 or visiting the Old Town Playhouse Box Office located at 128 East Eighth Street at Cass in Traverse City. Box office hours are 4-8 p.m., Mondays through Fridays and two hours prior to weekend shows.

For more information, contact the Old Town Playhouse business office at (231) 947-2210.

Please have any song prepared. You can bring music or choose from the songbook that our pianist will have.   Everyone will learn something from the show and will sing a portion of a song from "Two By Two", also. You don't have to prepare anything to read except scenes from the  show.   

Here is Just a short run  down on the characters:

Noah:  A cantankerous man of 600 years old. Constantly arguing with his three sons.  Kind of bored with his life until God visits him and asked him for a teeny favor.

Esther:  Wife of Noah.  Around the same age. Busy keeping house and peace between her husband and three sons.  

Shem:    Eldest son. Probably around 300 yrs. old. Heir to Noah. Business is his game. Always looking for a way to make a buck. Loves his family but is very loyal to his wife, Leah.  

Leah:    Wife of Shem. Very sharp tongue. Very annoying to everyone, including the audience. Always looking for a way to make a buck.  

Ham:     Second  son of Noah. Kind of lazy.  Couldn't care less about anything. Not overly  fond of his wife, Rachel.  Has a roving eye and loves the ladies.

Rachel:   Wife of Ham.  Quiet, soft spoken. Does what she is told. Not in love with Ham but is  secretly in love with Ham's younger brother, Japheth. Although she has never  expressed these feelings with anyone.  

Japheth:    Noah's youngest son. (Maybe around 100) Not a happy camper. Very rebellious with his dad (and God!) Makes no qualms in expressing his standing on the Big Flood. Secretly in love with Rachel.  

Goldie:  She's a gal who rides in the processions of The Golden Ram every sunset, minus her  wardrobe. She is intrigued by the building of a big boat and wants to come along. Noah thinks she'd make a nice daughter-in-law. (wife for Japheth) Instead, she  catches Ham's eye and a romance blossoms.  

Well, that gives a little insider to the characters of "Two By Two" without giving any surprises. "Two By Two" promises to bring a smile to your face and a tear to your eye as you journey with Noah and his clan through the making of a boat, 40 days and nights of precipitation, and the promise made by God to man which ends in a beautiful symbol of life, a rain-bow.  

Hope to see you there.  
Fred M. Szczepanski Director "Two By Two"

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