Bay Cityans to Shine on Broadway With New Players Musical Comedy?
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Peter J. Leeds
Leeds Bird and Kevin Cole will light up your heart, and may do the same on Broadway, with their new original musical comedy "A Shine on Your Shoes" now on at the Bay City Players Theatre.
Broadway producers already have shown interest in picking up the production for the "Great White Way," said Steinway artist Mr. Cole, and a DVD of the show has been made for promotion in the Big Apple, said Mr. Bird.
You'll never forget Bay City native Peter J. Leeds, a Broadway and summer stock veteran, and a memorable cast of singers and tap dancers -- and the music -- that swells out of this home-grown production.
It's a love story, or two or three, wrapped in a comic opera college story with the deeper theme of preserving the golden days of Broadway shows.
The directors have adapted the tried and true music and lyrics of Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz from such Broadway standards as "That's Entertainment," "Dancing in the Dark," and "You and the Night and the Music."
The script is "totally original," Mr. Cole said, and addresses the dilemma constantly faced by Broadway producers of how, or even whether to, modernize show arrangements that are proven audience pleasers. The first act illuminates that as controversy erupts over a modern staging with dancers dressed in black tights returning in contrasting Victorian period dress for the same number. Such insightful touches are sure to strike a chord with even sophisticated producers and audiences.
"We are really having the luck of the Irish with this show," Mr. Cole enthuses, noting the cast of 58 "couldn't be nicer or more talented."
Like the players on stage humorously remark, you can almost smell the fudge and horse manure during the scenes set on Mackinac Island.
Bay City's busias (booshas) will revel as they now have a chance to become household words everywhere, not just here. Fudge, booshas, trolls (Lower Peninsula folks living below the bridge), Harbor College -- all may soon be recognized far beyond the mitten we call Michigan if this show hits like the director, Mr. Bird, and the music director, Mr. Cole, think it will.
The musical will continue next Thursday through Sunday as a capstone to 90 years of the Bay City Players, Michigan's oldest continuously operating community theatre group. Proceeds will go to complete a recent round of renovations designed to upgrade the theatre and equipment.
"Shine" is a Michigan "Kiss Me Kate," in essence a "show within a show," says Mr. Cole, the world renowned Gershwin pianist who is a frequent performer in his home town.
"I don't think any Broadway play has ever had a Michigan setting," observes Mr. Bird, a Players icon.
Mr. Bird was able to lure his classmate from Handy High and Michigan State University, Mr. Peter J. Leeds, to Bay City from Littleton, Colorado, for this musical.
As the wealthy arts patron Andrew Merrick, Mr. Leeds adds unmistakable professional aplomb and stylistic talent to the first act, before his "death" in Paris strikes a poignant dramatic effect. His early Broadway experience including being in the cast of the original "Music Man" starring Robert Preston, and Cole Porter's "Silk Stockings," shines intensely on the local stage.
Sparklers enhancing "Shine" include Caitlin Berry, daughter of Players' regulars Joanne and Kerry Berry, as Joan Ryan, business-like college official who tries, but fails, to keep from losing her heart to Robbie Merrick, played forcefully by Tony Lynch.
Nathan Krug makes the character of Denny Williams unforgettable with his apt show business type comedic posing and athletic dancing.
Rebecca Fournier, (Louise) daughter of choreographer Lori Ayotte, shows her Spartan spirit in agile dance numbers and engaging acting in love scenes, especially the final climatic double duo in front of a whitewashed cottage on Mackinac.
Ryan VanDenBoom's facial expressions and acting skill make his acrobatic dancing all the more amazing, especially in tandem with Mrs. Fournier. He is a dance instructor at the Perry Woodard School of Dance.
The 16-member chorus, led by VanDenBoom, has points of light that dazzle with smiles, flips and adagio moves hard to imagine on the small stage. His entrance with Louise on a tandem bike is a neat touch in the final scene.
Stellar performances are by Jerry Dennis (Jordan Breckenridge), Michael G. Dunckel (Jack Maxwell), Kelly Jacobs (Hazel Rosen), Laura Peil (Patricia Knott), and Kathryn Pawloski (Rosalyn "Rosie" Richards).
Producer is Tom Caylor, assisted by Tina Sills; Mrs. Fournier and Suzanne Mackenzie are associate choreographers; stage manager is Jeanne Cadena, assisted by Floria Devereux, Charles and Kathy Schwartz, set detail and enhancement artist, Paul Phillips, lighting, Margaret Bird and a host of other volunteers make the show run backstage.
Mr. Cole takes a brief bow in the pit with a professional dozen musicians and a Broadway-style sound is provided by the Carolyn Mawby Chorale from Flint, a 16-member group that has collaborated with Mr. Cole and his piano artistry in tributes to George Gershwin, Irving Berlin and Richard Rodgers and are out with a new CD, "The Song is You," on sale in the lobby during this show along with Mr. Cole's CDs, also available through www.KevinColeOnLine.com.
A "talk back" with the cast will be held after next Friday's performance and tickets may be available by calling the Players Theatre 893-5555.###
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