MUSICAL OPENS AUGUST 12!

What happens when America’s most popular rock and roll singer is drafted into the army?  Well, if it’s the early 1960’s it’s turned into a musical!  Putnam County Playhouse presents Bye Bye Birdie! with performances August 12-14 and August 18-21.  All tickets are $9 and can be reserved by calling the box office after 5 p.m beginning August 9.  The box will open daily during performance weeks from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The box office can be reached by telephoning 765-653-5880 after August 9.

The musical is sponsored in part by First National Bank.

Click on the link to find out more about First National Bank.

Bye Bye Birdie! stars PCPH veterans Brad Sandy and Meghan Armitage in the roles created on the Broadway stage by Dick Van Dyke and Chita Rivera.  As Albert and Rosie, the duo are in charge of giving Conrad Birdie (TJ Tincher) a big send off on the then popular Ed Sullivan variety television show. Their big idea is to have the singer kiss one lucky fan just before he is shipped off. They are also hoping to get married, but not if Albert’s mother (Kim Brattain) has her way.

Kim McAfee (Rebecca Whitcomb) of Sweet Apple, Ohio, is chosen as that fan.  The uproar created in her home includes her parents (Krista Harrison and Scott Armitage), her younger brother Randolph (Thomas Whitcomb), and her steady boyfriend Hugo (Elijah Brattain).

Songs from the popular score include "One Last Kiss",  "Put on a Happy Face", and "Gotta a Lotta Livin' to Do."

The musical is directed by Lita Sandy and Bryan Schroeder.  Sandy is also in charge of choreography for the show.  Musical and vocal director is Patty Scott who will also be the show pianist. Other musicians in the pit include Lynne Tweedie on keyboard, Michael McClaine on percussion, Drew Brattain on bass guitar, and Vivian Whitaker on saxophone/clarinet.

Performers playing other roles include Chris Wurster, Andrea Sweet, Jessica Walter, Alex Asbell, Lori Briones, Dustin Bond,  and Joe Lippard.

The teen chorus features Shayanne Parker, Kendra Green, Emily Gill, Mary Pearl Ivy, Courtney Sweet, Taylor Gannaway, Chelsa Leech, Ethan Gill, Cy Spencer, Alex Briones, Brian Hubbard, Hannah Brattain, Olivia Humphries, Lilly Spencer, Kayla Clodfelter, Tiana Shewsberry, Brookelyn Edgar, Sydney Cassida, Elise Merrell, and Carly Rhine.

Adults and children in the ensemble include Vanessa Short, Julie Cox, Vanessa Short, Amelia Beck, Lori Baker, Debra Beck, LeeAnn Woodall, Dylan Harrison, Evan Baker, Aidan Baker, Sarah Baker, Madi Woodall, and Ivy Whipple.   

Workers on the technical side include stage/props manager Jessica Masner, light operator Brenda McClaine, and Tim Peyton and Noah Cox on stage crew. Matt McClaine is assisting with sound design.

Set and sound design is by Schroeder.  Costumes are by Pat Armitage and Sarah Bond with assistance from Sophia Spencer. Special scenic design effects are by Sarah McClaine and Linda Gjesvold.

Bye Bye Birdie! opened on Broadway on April 14, 1960. It was directed and choreographed by Gower Champion and he won the Tony Award in both categories for the show. The book was by Michael Stewart.  Music was by Charles Strouse, and lyrics were by Lee Adams.  Dick Van Dyke won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his performance as Albert Peterson. Also nominated in the category was Dick Gautier who played Conrad Birdie.  Bye Bye Birdie! also won the Tony Award for Best Musical of the Year!

A film version was released in 1963.  Van Dyke recreated his stage role and Janet Leigh portrayed Rose. Ann-Margret played Kim and Jesse Pearson  was Conrad Birdie.

Bye Bye Birdie! was remade for television in 1995. Jason Alexander played Albert Peterson, Vanessa Williams was Rose. Chynna Phillips was Kim and Marc Kudisch was Conrad Birdie.

Bye Bye Birdie! was revived on Broadway in 2009. Albert was played by John Stamos and Rose was played by Gina Gershon.  Nolan Gerard Funk was Conrad Birdie and Allie Trimm was Kim. In general, reviewers were not kind to the show in its first Broadway revival.

Click on the photo of Nolan for a typical review.

Photo of Broadway revival by Joan Marcus

CLICK ON ELVIS TO READ THE CAST LIST FOR

BYE BYE, BIRDIE!

CLICK ON THE CRYING BABY TO READ THE CAST LIST FOR

NEVER TOO LATE

What did Larkin think of Blithe Spirit?

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CLOSED JULY 17TH

The winning silent bid for the mosaic mask was $75!

Banner-Graphic Photo by Andy Barrand

BLITHE SPIRIT CLOSED ON JULY 17.

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Coming up in July at PCPH is our latest production of Noël Coward’s ghostly comedy Blithe Spirit. It will be presented onstage at the Hazel Day Longden Theatre in Greencastle on July 8,9,and 10, and again July 14,15,16,17. Tickets go on sale on Monday, July 5. Tickets are $9 and can be reserved by calling the Box Office at 765-653-5880. All performances are at 8 p.m.

Blithe Spirit is being sponsored in part by Rossok & Co. Insurance.

What happens when a writer who is investigating the spirit world comes across a medium who just might have real powers? Tim Good plays Charles Condomine who sets up a seance with Madame Arcati played by Linda Ostermeier - both are making their PCPH acting debuts in this production.

Joining him for the evening’s entertainment are his second wife Ruth played by Bethany Bax, and their friends George and Violet Bradman played by Don Wilson and Jamie Barrand.

To Charles’ great amusement and consternation, Madame Arcati conjures up his first wife Elvira, played by Caroline Good. Joining them as fleet of foot maid Edith is Liz Woods.

Woods and Barrand are also making PCPH debuts in Blithe Spirit. Caroline Good was most recently seen as Aldonza in Man of La Mancha and as Ann in All My Sons. Wilson was also in Man of La Mancha. Bax most recently directed To Kill a Mockingbird at PCPH, and she has been seen in My Three Angels and All My Sons.

Jack Randall Earles is directing the production with assistance from Sandi Rossok. Set work and painting was done by Brad Sandy and Linda Gjesvold. Production stage manager is Eleanor Mills Howard. Lighting design is by Tim Good. Costume designer is Caroline Good.

Jim Green is running the sound board, and Joe Woods is running the light board.

Horace Vandergelder (Bob Hedge) is not enjoying his dinner with Dolly Levi  (Debby Lambert).

PCPH PHOTO

HELLO, DOLLY! closed on June 12!

2010 SEASON SNAPSHOT

August 12-14 & August 18-21 - Bye Bye Birdie

Tickets on sale Monday, August 9

September 9-11 & September 15-18 - Never Too Late

Tickets on sale Monday, September 6

INDIVIDUAL TICKETS FOR ANY MAINSTAGE SHOW CAN BE PURCHASED WHEN THE BOX OFFICE IS OPEN FOR

ANY OTHER PRODUCTION. 

HELLO DOLLY!  OPENS 49TH SEASON OF PCPH

The 49th season of Putnam County Playhouse will open on June 3 when the musical Hello, Dolly! takes the stage at the Hazel Day Longden Theatre. It will run June 3-5 and June 9-12.  Tickets will go on sale on Sunday, May 30, at 2 p.m.   The Box Office will be open that day until 4 p.m. for the annual PCPH Open House.  The public is invited to the free event.  All tickets are $9.  Season tickets will also be available that day.

Regular box office hours will begin Monday, May 31.  The box office will be open that day from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Hello Dolly! is being co-directed by Sherry Hedge, Bob Hedge, Lita Sandy, and Vickie Parker.  Sherry and Lita are also sharing choregraphy duties.  Vocal and musical direction is by Geoff Price.

Based on Thornton Wilder's play The Matchmaker, this Tony-award winning musical features Debby Lambert and Bob Hedge in the leading roles of Dolly Levi and Horace Vandergelder.  The complications are fast and furious as Dolly makes up Horace's mind that he indeed wants to marry her.

Songs included in the popular score by Jerry Herman include "Before the Parade Passes By", "It Only Takes a Moment", "Elegance", and the title tune.

In supporting roles are Logan Kuhne and Susan Anthony as Cornelius Hackl and Irene Malloy.  Also featured are Alex Asbell and Jessica Watson as Barnaby Tucker and Minnie Faye.

Others in features roles include Ethan Gill, Katie Hedge, Lita Sandy, Jodi Wingler, Dave Buttram, Jim Rambo, Clarence Long, and Cathy Bain.

The singing and dancing chorus of waiters includes Cy Spencer, Dalton Guyer, Dylan Harrison, Aaron Hunter, Josh Mills, TJ Tincher, Andy Harrison, and Cody Shelton.

Also appearing are Donovan Asbell, Mary Katherin Asbell, Amelia Beck, Katie Clark, Brookelyn Edgar, Deb Gannaway, Kaeli Gray, Kendra Green, Mikayla Guyer, Alison Howard, Katie Steele-Kannowski, Courtney Sweet, Andrea Sweet, Kaila Thurston, and Madi Woodall.

In addition to Price on the piano, the orchestra will include Ashley Holmes on bass, Michael McClaine on percussion, and Pat Scott on keyboard.

Those working on the technical side include stage manager Sarah Dory; set designer, Linda Gjesvold; costumers Shelly McFadden, Sarah Bond, and Pat Armitage.  Sound and light technician is Bryan Schroeder, and Melinda Green will run the light board.  Props person is Jessica Masner.

Join us for Hello, Dolly!  She's back where she belongs: 

onstage at the

Putnam County Playhouse!

WHO IS IN THE CAST OF BLITHE SPIRIT?

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Read more about this year's Youth Theatre Workshop by pointing your cursor on the Current Season tab at the top of the page and then clicking on Youth Theatre Workshop on the drop down menu.

PCPH VET ADAM CHANDLER

AT BEEF & BOARDS!!

As we prepare to open our season with Hello, Dolly! - a PCPH performer from past years is playing a role in the musical at Beef & Boards in Indianapolis. 

Adam Chandler - now a New York-based actor and singer - appeared at PCPH in such musicals as West Side Story, Into the Woods, and

Once Upon a Mattress.

Read a recent blog interview with Adam by clicking on the Community Tab/People of PCPH above.

If you are a FaceBook member you can read the interview by clicking:

HERE

NEW SIGN FOR PCPH

Since moving to the barn property in 1981, Putnam County Playhouse has been identified by a hand-painted wooden sign on Round Barn Road. The sign included the familiar Theatre Mask logo, the title of the current production, dates, and more recently the names of the show's sponsor.

All of this information was painted by Linda Gjesvold.  Gjesvold has been a member of the Board of Directors for many years.  She is currently 2nd Vice President. Her set building skills have been seen in countless productions, most recently in

Kiss Me Kate in 2009.

This season, patrons attending productions at PCPH will be met by a new sign. A permanent structure is being designed and will be put in place this spring.

We would like to take this opportunity to say thanks to Linda Gjesvold for her 28 years of artistic endeavor, and we look forward to her contributions to the 2010 Season!