THIS MONTH IN PLAYHOUSE HISTORY

OCTOBER
By Hedges MacDonald

1956: Longtime Playhouse volunteer Hedges Macdonald saw his first play on the 26th.  "Androcles and the Lion", directed by and starring Sir Cedric Hardwicke, with Ernest Truex and Frances Reid of "Days of Our Lives",  performed at the Studebaker Theatre on Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago.  That theatre's space and the adjacent World Playhouse art film showcase, which was a pioneer in exhibiting foreign films outside New York,  were later combined into the present day Fine Arts movie multiplex, although the Studebaker name can still be seen on an exterior wall.

1964: "The Girls of 509",  directed by Pat Hager.

1973:   "Inherit the Wind", directed by Fred Tank.

1974:   "The Diary of Anne Frank", directed by Reed Zitting.

1975:   "The Miser", directed by Reed Zitting.

1976:   "Little Mary Sunshine", directed by Mel Mrochinski.

1977:   "Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris", directed by Haroldee Koch.

1978:  "Company", directed by Bill Stokes

1979: "Godspell", directed by Phil Murphy.
    Mike Gorman was a memorable Jesus in a cast that included Carlene Saints (Peregrine), Ann Murphy, Eric Simon, Phil Wallace, Christine Wall, Mark Williams, Lisa Powell, and Mary Lentz.

1980: "Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon",   directed by Kasey Kilpatrick (her last directorship to date). 
Kathy Kocevar made her Playhouse debut playing the girlfriend of Mike Norton's one-legged character.  Steve Morse had recently moved back to the area and did his part in a wheelchair. Bridget Kilpatrick and Leelanau Players' Lesley Redmond were nurses, and Ellen Fivenson had a role.

1981:  "Promises, Promises",  directed by Steve Morse.
Many newcomers, including Denny Bechtelheimer, Jimmy Groya, Doug Rutherford, James Russell, and Linda Mueller. Katie Steed, the aunt of Albert Steed ("Mr Fair Lady", 1998) played a floozy secretary. Morse, also, played the role of Dr. Dreyfus.

1982:  "The Mikado" was Mike Nunn's mainstage directing debut and Hedges Macdonald's first show as head of props.
The unusally small cast (for Gilbert and Sullivan) included Mike Norton as Koko (plus a touch of Groucho Marx) and Susan Littlefield debuting in the chorus.

1983:  "Hair", directed by Denny Bechtelheimer".
A true family happening, with sisters Carrie Roberts and Kelly Curtis, plus husband Jeff making their OTP debuts. Mark Williams was Berger. Anne Marie Oomen's then husband Andy Roberts had a leading role.

1984: "Cloud Nine" directed by Denny Bechtelheimer, in the Studio.
Terri Heffron's OTP debut.

1985:  In the Studio, Mike Nunn directed two Edward Albee one-acts, "Zoo Story" and "The American Dream".
Hedges Macdonald, portraying Albee, introduced each play.

1986: Terri Heffron made her directing debut in the Studio with "The Real Inspector Hound.
Hedges Macdonald was Inspector Hound, Thom Wagner (brother of today's Catherine) and real life journalist and critic Matt Roush were critics Moon and Birdboot, Jeanne Curtis and Michael Blashill were in the cast.

1987:  Steve Clark debuted as director and playwright with "Circus Dancers".
Bryon Kuhlman will be remembered as a Jim-Morrison fanatic rock musician who dies and comes back as a ghost

1988: "Bleacher Bums" in the Studio. Don Kuehlhorn's OTP directing debut.

1989:  "The Nerd" in the Studio.

1990:  "Papa Whampa Boo" in the Studio.

1991:  In the Studio, "Equus", directed by Chad Larrabee.
Robb Rountree had the lead. Anne Marie Oomen and Kris Hains were in the cast.

1992:  "Romance, Romance", directed by Phil Murphy.
A compact 5 actor show that opened immediately after the 1992 renovation construction.

1993:  "On Golden Pond" on the mainstages directed by Cinder Conlon and John Hoffman.
Frank Sisson and Delphine Welch played the leads.

1994:  "Dracula" on mainstage.
MaryScott O'Connor had a major role.

1995:   Two one-acts in the Studio.
"Barstool Words", an Interlochen student's original script, was directed by Don Kuelhorn, and "Freeze Tag" was directed by Denni Donn Hunting.

1996:  In the Studio, Cindy Leo made her OTP directing debut with two one acts, "The Laundromat", with Florina Kapitzka and Michelle Perez (playing a middle-aged woman) and Jan Dalton and Justin Trapp in "Fam and Yam".

1997:  "Wait Until Dark" on mainstage.
Mike Kelly's OTP directing debut. Leads Rick Korndorfer and Michelle Perez were outstanding.

            "The Sunshine Boys"  in the Studio. John Hoffman directed, with John Kelly as assistant director . Steve Morse, Mike Carney, and Doug Grant were excellent in the leads. Hedges Macdonald and Brian Davis made return appearances after long absenses.

1998:  "Dial M for Murder", a mainstage show directed by Mike Kelly was presented at West Senior High.
OTP bid fairwell to H.T. and Lauren Snowday with this show.

1999:  "Crossing Delancey", directed by Bette Wilette, debuts in the Studio October 28.
Julia Jasenska-Brabenec will once again offer us one of her classic senior citizen portrayals.