Fall, 2002

I will begin my musings for fall with a quick look back at summer.  Several Playhouse people have gone to hopefully greater things as life's pathway curves.  Lisa "Peanut" Drake has joined the Navy; Miriam Pico, who just finished a play with a song called "Beauty School Dropout" is studying to be a beautician; and Shelby Lewis, so memorable as Wendy in "Peter Pan" and Patty Simcox in "Grease" over at the State Theater, is going to Interlochen to study theater with an eye toward a career.  I wish them all well and hope that some will find time to pay us back here at OTP a visit.

For other Old Town Playhouse members, this fall offers the opportunity to branch out and perform in theaters in other communities.  Several OTP players, including Brian Dungjen, Jessica Cerutti, and T..J. Berden will be in the cast of the Leelanau Players production, "Great Expectations".  All 3 were in "As You Like It" over the summer, and T.J. and Jess improv'ed many a Monday night away at the place affectionately known as "Hollyrock" (Holiday Inn), so who says you can't go home again?

 Back at OTP, we welcome the return of Jeff Curtis's sister Andrea Rothney, who is in the cast of "Wings" after a 21 year absence.  Her last appearance was in "Promises, Promises" in 1981, two years before Jeff and Kelly arrived .  She is sharing the stage with another Andrea, sweet little Allix Geiger's equally sweet mom, who is making her debut in the show.  There are some other new faces, working alongside veterans Mollie Thompson, Margaret Anne Slawson, and myself.

Another veteran returning to our stage this fall is Nancy Sundstrom, playing the role of Rose in "Gypsy" after years of wearing a director's hat for a variety of shows.  Playing the daughters, Louise and June are familiar performing faces Kristie George and Ashley Moggenberg, with Kristie's mom and little sister also aboard.  In the show Louise/Gypsy is 2 years older than June, but Ashley  has that same seniority offstage over Kristie.  Ashley did a lot of school shows both at St. Francis and T.C. Central and was Frenchy in "Grease", but has only "Cinderella" for an OTP credit.  She's currently an NMC student, and since they don't do musicals, welcome!   Also returning are several of those wonderful Peter Pan kids, who will be wonderful again.

Much has been said about the first anniversary of the 9-11 disaster in New York, but that date is significant in other ways.  It is Nicolle Girard's birthday and Tim and Paula Hall's anniversary.  If folks would stop dwelling on tragedies of the past and think of the positive and joyous events that, while less exploited by the media, have significance in their own small way in our world on those selfsame occasions, perhaps that world would be a bit better.      Let those for whom this day is a celebration of life be glad.