Summer, 2000

1963 (July) Open house skit: If Men Played cards as Women Do Director: Bill Morey.

1977 (July) The Fantasticks Director: Tom Schill. Choreographer: Meg Nutting. J.C. Owens played El Gallo, Phil Murphy was Matt, Carlene Saints (Peregrine) had one of her favorite roles, Luisa; Martin Wolf played Hucklebee; Tom Olkkonen was Bellamy; Stephen Noonan played Henry; Michael B. Spry was Mortimer; and Daryl Webster was the wall. This first full scale summer production did not benefit from our present day air conditioning, and playgoers chose to "try to remember" in a cooler place.

1978 (June) Luv Director: Haroldee.

1982 (June) You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown Director: Bryan Crough. The first Studio show staged during the summer. Denny Bechtelheimer played Charlie Brown, Jimmy Groya was Schroeder, Arnie Webster was Snoopy, Bridget Kilpatrick played Lucy, and Patty Murphy was Patty.

1983 Dark of the Moon Director: Denny Bechtelheimer. Performed in the Studio. Cast included Mike Nunn, Mark Williams, Michael Blashill, Gil Anderson, and Denise Dellacqua.

1983The Stepdown Director: Denny Bechtelheimer. Denny directed this simultaneously with Dark of the Moon. It was not an official OTP production. Brian Dungjen starred. .

1984 The Children's Hour Director: Pauline Tyer. Assistant director: Loraine Anderson. Costumes: Pinkie Hoffman. Props Suzanne Beers. The two teachers, Karen and Martha, were played by Ann Rausch and Anne Marie Oomen-Roberts. Peggy Nargis was Mrs. Mortar, and Nan Worthington was Mrs. Tilford. Michelle Breaugh had her best OTP role as the troublemaking schoolgirl, Mary, while other juvenile roles went to mostly newcomers: Anne Marie Hubbell (the one veteran), Julie Million, Laura Jeffery, Lisa Kiessel, Carrie Lawless, and Chris Roman. Jeffery came in as a replacement for MaryScott O'Connor  Brian Dungjen  played the lone adult male, Dr. Cardin. She went on to do other shows, as did Million and Kiessel. Jenny Rotier was Agatha the maid, and Mike Blashill was the grocery boy.

1985 One Thrilling Celebration (mainstage, June) Director: Jeanette Mason. A celebration of OTP's 25th anniversary, this compilation of musical numbers and dramatic scenes was conceived by Gary Garrison, who appeared as a master of ceremonies, assisted by newcomer Genny Scram. The ensemble cast had veterans like Pete Nelson, Steve Morse, and Carrie Roberts working with a few new faces like K.G. Preston-Irvine, who had one of the fastest costume changes in Playhouse history for one scene.

1985 I Never Saw Another Butterfly Director: Anne Marie Oomen-Roberts. An Anne Frank style holocaust drama, with newcomer Kendra Lutes in the lead. Betty Wilette-Groesser made her OTP debut in this Studio production. 

1986 A Midsummer Night's Dream Director: Betsy Decourcy-Wernette. Shakespeare's classic was attractively presented, with music by Interlochen's Ramon Araiza and good roles for Steve Clark (Bottom), Christine Laing (Puck), and Hedges Macdonald (Peter Quince). Terri Heffron and Thom Wagner co-produced, Steve Stafford stage managed, Annalee Buschbacher supervised hair, and Roger Brown house managed. Among the cast: John Kelly, Leana Lehr, Genny Scram, Betty Wilette-Groesser (as Hermia), Brian Dungjen (as Lysander), Kevin Tomaszewski, Sue Ellen Jensen, Lisa Kiessel, Russel Scram,Christopher Romney (Betsy's husband), Matt Heffron, Kathy Kocevar, Tom Schill (as Oberon), Anne Marie Oomen as Titania, Chris Smith, Eartha Melzer,Heather Brown, and newcomer Susan Brammer, who named her fairy character "Flutterby".

1987 Private Lives Director: Thom Wagner. A not very successful staging of the Noel Coward classic with James Russell, Leah Spaulding, Eric Simon, Christine Thomas, and Kathy Watzel. Simon's casting was offbeat, but he gave the best performance. Steve Stafford stage managed.

1988(June) Brighton Beach Memoirs Director: Steve Morse. Doug Schroeder Jr. played the juvenile lead, patterned after the young Neil Simon.

1989 (June) Biloxi Blues Director: Terri Heffron (Mainstage debut). Michael Blashill played the slightly older version of the Simon character. Matt McCormick made his OTP debut as the soldier arrested for homosexual conduct. Bryon Kuhlman got his shortest haircut for his GI role.

1989(July) Cinderella Director: Terri Heffron. Terri went straight into directing our first production of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical and launched a regular summer theater effort at OTP. H.T. Snowday debuted as Prince Charming and Susan Brammer was Cinderella. Hedges Macdonald and Judy Heffron (Terri's mom) were king and queen; Billie Thompson was the fairy godmother; Denni Don Hunting, Lisa Walter, and Karen Mikowski were the wicked stepfamily; Matt McCormick played the minister at the wedding. Kris and Suzanne Hains, Amy Horn, Brad Lerschen, and Kelly Curtis were in the chorus. Ty Curtis was a mouse. Steve Clark assistant directed.

1990(June) Picnic Director: Jacquie Guernsey. Tova Olson had her last role as a too pretty Millie Owens. She and Rob Rountree were sweet on each other then. Kathleen McCormick had her first role since Lady of Larkspur Lotion in 1981 as a schoolteacher. As designated by the director, Hal Carter did not remove his shirt a la William Holden in the movie.

1990 Bye, Bye, Birdie Director: Steve Clark. Clark debuted as mainstage director with a summer production held together largely by Gary Nault's talent and enthusiasm. Susan Brammer, Susan Littlefield, and Amy Horn had major parts; Gary played Brammer"s dad and sang "Kids". Jeremy Evans, Tricia Smith, and Marci Hall debuted. Nicolle Girard had her last OTP role until The Music Man in 1998.

1991 (June) Steel Magnolias Director: Bryan Crough.

1991 (July) Grease Director: Steve Clark. Joseph Callari's performance as Danny Zuko was the best thing about this first OTP production of this show. Brian Dungjen and Susan Brammer were an offbeat pairing as Kenicke and Betty Rizzo. Tricia Smith was Sandy; Michelle Rountree played Frenchy; Kris Hains was Patty Simcox; Marci Hall, who probably should have played Rizzo, had the role of Cha-Cha De Gregorio and reportedly traded costumes with Kris. Holly Heffron (in her last OTP show), Rob Rountree, and Jeremy Evans were in the chorus.

1993 (June) Deathtrap Director: Steve Morse.

1994(June) The Miracle Worker Director: Jacquie Guernsey. The dog in this production later was Sandy in our second Annie.

1995 (June) Lost in Yonkers. Kris Hains debuted as director with this show.

1996 (July) Hello, Dolly Director: Guy Molnar. Guy succeeded Gary Garrison and Joseph Bertucci as director of this troubled production, expensively staged at NMC's Milliken Auditorium, which proved a financial disaster for the Playhouse. Bev Attwood played Dolly.

1997 (July) Grease Director: Kris Hains. What Joseph Callari was to the first production Sarah Hampton was to the second as Betty Rizzo. Overall the women were better this time, but, even with Guy Molnar's help, the show was troubled and somewhat lacking. Pat Easterday made a great Vince Fontaine; Grace Brauer was Frenchy; and newcomer Stephen Henderson shared the part of Johnnie Casino. Choreography by the long departed Rob Rountree and Amy Horn from the first show was re-used. Amy was billed in the program by her married name, Amy Simon.

1998 (July) A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the forum (second production) Director: H.T. Snowday. Hedges Macdonald tried out a second time for Erronius (his first, in 1973, was his first ever in a community theater) and this time won it. His daughter, Philia was played by Tamara Hunter, OTP's first African American female performer since Betty Ponder in 1984. Jacob Kramer and newcomer Turner Sato shared the male romantic lead, Hero after Jacob's accident (he was hit by a car while bicycling home after rehearsal). Alan Williams was Pseudolus and Delphine Welch a prettier than usual Domina.

1999 (July) Leader of the Pack Directors: Jennifer and Matt Archibald. Another troubled summer entry which received a lukewarm critical response but did bring Sarah Hampton back to us. She, along with principal vocalists Sherry McCarty and Cynthia Schwartz, gave wonderful individual performances. Young Shelby Lewis debuted as the young Ellie Greenwich.

2000 (July) Cinderella (second production) Director: Fred Szczepanski. Our last regular summer production is the show that started it all. The new Prince Charming, Chris Eichenlaub is a veteran of T.C. Central musicals. Larry Hains is a logical choice for the king after having played Daddy Warbucks last fall. He appears opposite Jean St. Germain as the queen (she previously appeared in Jesus Christ, Superstar as Virgin Mary). Veteran musical comedienne Amy Warner plays wicked stepsisters with newcomer, Bobbi Hudson, a familiar face at local open mic and karaoke nights. Shelby Lewis and Heidi Kelsey, those darling juveniles from Leader of the Pack, will be darling here, as well. Joining them in the chorus will be Brandon Bartkowiak, returning to musicals after doing two nonsinging shows.

OTP PLAYERS SPREAD OUT INTO OTHER SHOWS Time was when the Playhouse had the only summer show in town. This year, however, OTP actors and directors are taking to the boards elsewhere, with a couple of major new offerings in downtown T.C. TONY AND TINA'S WEDDING Tempest Entertainment has revived the audience interactive show done successfully last year by the Leelanau Players and restaged it at the Park Place hotel. Although a number of players from the earlier production are returning, there is considerable doubling up in parts. For instance, Cari Burke, who played Tina last time, is sharing the role with Michelle Perez, last year's pregnant maid of honor. Jacob Kramer will play Tony for the entire run, as will Mike Carney, repeating as the priest who performs the wedding ceremony. Other familiar faces are Rachel Wichman (this year's maid of honor), Justin Trapp, Ira Sanborn, Jamie Kramer, Stephen Henderson (once again the swishy brother), Turner Sato, Diana Morgan, Clare Shipstead, Al Lien, Billie Thompson, Denni Don Hunting, Ann Levine, Suzanne Dalton, Pat Cotner, and Gary Bolton. The show will run through August 6 weekends.

LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST Director Brian Dungjen, with producer Jill Beauchamp, will stage Shakespeare's romantic comedy in the park adjacent to the old Sixth Street library (the building that hosted rehearsals of OTP's very first production) in mid July and early August, closing the same day as TONY AND TINA. The performances are on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, and admission is free (no alcoholic beverages on park property, please). Both Dungjen and Beauchamp will make appearances, the latter as the Princess of France. Jan Dalton plays the King of Navarre, and Scott Bufe', John S. Larkins, and Bryon Q. Kuhlman are his romantically inclined subjects. The objects of their interest are played by Christina Velderman, Linda Hughey (the former Linda Smith, who was Tom Paine's reputation in the 1988 Studio show), and Newcomer Cherie Lordy. Rick Korndorfer once again plays a Spaniard. Others in the cast: Brett Nichols (our recent Pontius Pilate), Inger Jay, Will Havill, Denni Don Hunting (she's just an alternate in the other show), T. J. Berden, John Parker, and Hedges Macdonald. 

Some cast members of both shows got started not by appearing on stage at OTP, but by participating the Sunday improvisational workshops hosted by Al Lein during the regular season, usually at 6 p.m. in the Studio Theater space. It's a great way to get your feet wet and get acquainted with the group. They will likely be starting up again in the fall. She's not doing plays anymore, but Elizabeth Rivers (Kismet, 1982)now is a vocalist on weekends at Mico's piano bar. Airlia Sandner and Tim Partlo, who played young lovers last fall in CROSSING DELANCEY will soon be getting married. Congratulations! As we close down our 40th anniversary season, let us pay tribute to Bill Gravlin. Bill played young Tony Kirby in our first production, YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU  in 1960 and is the only member of that original company to be recently active, playing Uncle Willy in THE PHILADELPHIA STORY and mentoring THE WOMAN IN BLACK after returning from Grand Rapids, where he lived for many years. Here's hoping he's around for the 50th.