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bravo! FALL 2004 Seussical
The cast hoots and hollers But seriously, nothing is serious on the set of Seussical, the musical adaptation of some of the best-loved Dr. Seuss stories by Stephen Flaherty and Lynne Ahrens. Visiting a rehearsal of Seussical is like getting sucked into a crazy whirlwind of fun and play. Director and designer Joe Zingo and Producer Jim Roberts do their best to keep the antics under control. But the silly songs and dialog, full of word play, double entendre and jokes, seem to bring out the mischievous, fun-loving inner child in everyone, including the cast members. "I've been doing this for 35 years and this is the most fun I've ever had working on a show," Zingo said. "The music is great, it's contemporary and the cast is fantastic." Let's talk about the cast for a second. All the favorites are there. The story centers around the miniature planet of Who where Jo Jo (Braden Smith), a smart, creative little boy lives. His parents (Bruce McCarthy & Maida Belove) desperately want to do right by him but can't understand his wild flights of fancy and the world of his imagination. Of course they don't know about the mischievous Cat In The Hat (Tyler Holden), who stirs things up, encouraging Jo Jo to dream and often getting him into trouble. Another key character is Horton The Elephant (Gaylord Walker), a gentle giant who believes unfailingly in the goodness of all people and creatures. He's joined by Gertrude McFuzz (Erica Jean), a slightly neurotic bird with a one-feather tail; Mayzie La Bird (Michelle Sellers), a vain, self-centered character; the loud, brassy, Sour Kangaroo (Jennifer Hill); and General Gengus Khan Schmitz (Gerald Walters), who will have you rolling on the floor with his parody of military bravado and affected machismo. Of course the Grinch (Matt Bonham) grimaces and grumps his way through the performance too. But my favorite characters are the Wickersham Brothers, a troupe of monkeys who enter the stage like a cyclone and wreak havoc wherever they go. Seussical is all about language and playing with words. From the second the lights go down, you'll find yourself smiling as you're instantly transported back to reading the stories as a child. The music itself is infectious with a few songs that mimic soul and Aretha-style R&B. Others are blues-inspired and some are just high-energy fun. The rare moments of dialog are hysterical too, including a narrative by the Cat In The Hat during a chase scene. He sits on a platform high above the stage and pretends to be a traffic announcer. "This is the Cat In The Hat Live from Skycam 5. It's a mess out there in the jungle backed up all the way to the river ..." Holden said he draws from his own childhood, growing up on a five-acre filbert farm where he, like Jo Jo, entertained himself with his own made-up games and characters. "The cat is this unpredictable, zany genius," he said. "I really think this Cat In The Hat actually embodies Seuss himself." During the rehearsal, the entire cast sang along to every song, whether they were part of the scene or not. In the corner The Grinch made faces, slinking and grousing, Meanwhile the guys playing the monkeys sang at the top of their lungs in falsetto to fill in for one of the female characters who was absent that day. And then there was the booty-shaking dance, the "boom shaka-laka-laka," wiggle-it performance by a "monkey" doing a part for Mayzie La Bird that had everyone laughing so hard we were in tears. But the impromptu facial expressions are the best part of the show because they change every time. The raised eyebrows, grimaces, wide-eyed looks of surprise and pouts keep it fresh, even for the cast members themselves who clearly enjoy playing and experimenting with their parts, pushing them to the extreme. The characters could wear sweatpants and the show would still be highly entertaining but the bright, shiny, eye-catching costumes fill the stage with a flashing kaleidoscope of colors. Everything about Seussical is cartoonlike and larger than life, including how much fun you'll have when you go see it. Seussical is playing at Actor's Cabaret through Oct. 23.
From
AMAZONES to TUTUS This season, Eugene audiences can enjoy heaping helpings of new dance and contemporary performance that local venues are dishing up.
For a first course, revel in Amazones: The Women Master Drummers of Guinea, who bring strength and energy to what has traditionally been a male-dominated art form. They're joined in dance, drumming and storytelling on Oct. 6 at the Hult Center by world-renowned djembe players Les Percussions de Guinée in a show the Boston Herald calls "a marvel of physical endurance … as astounding to watch as to hear." Then spice your appetite with the Middle Eastern Dance Guild of Eugene as they present their Fall Festival of Dance, Oct. 9 at Cozmic Pizza. Featuring live music by Americanistan, the festival will include workshops, dancing, an evening's concert and even melted cheese. Yum. Things are heating up: Oct. 15 at the Hult, Carlota Santana's "Flamenco Vivo" stomps and slides, claps and turns in a program that pushes the boundaries of Spain's famous dance. This ain't your momma's pasa doble. After taking in the lush dishes of West Africa, Spain and the Middle East, cruise to LCC for their Fall Collage Dance Concert, Oct. 22 and 23. Check out works by Lane faculty members and instructors as well as Mary Oslund and Marc Siegel and Pamela Lehan-Siegel. And, as if that's not enough of a draw, give it up for the youthful Zapp Dancers, who consistently deliver goods at once precise and funky. Lots of dance on the table this late October weekend, including the Eugene Ballet's A Midsummer Night's Dream, flitting across the Hult stage October 23 and 24. With romance and ribald humor, the production features choreography by Toni Pimble and score by Mendelssohn. This dance season's most ambitious entrée is the UO Dance Department's presentation of Walter Kennedy's homage to the late dance stalwart, Bella Lewitzky, at the Hult Center on Nov. 12 and 13. On the menu are new works by Kennedy set on dancers from across the country as well as reconstructions of Lewitzky masterworks. A recipient of the National Medal of Arts Award, Bella Lewitzky danced and made dances for generations. At 50, she founded the Lewitzky Dance Company, which toured in 20 countries on five continents, until announcing their final season in 1997. Bold, structured and razor-sharp, Lewitzky's works are a must-see. The fragility of dance is part of its beauty, and Kennedy should be commended for these reconstructions. Respected for her fighting spirit as much as her keen artistic wit, Lewitzky once declared, "I've been struggling in dance for 28 years. To exist merely to exist is stupidity. To exist to make art is a pretty grand act." Now that you've dined on culture maybe you're looking for a bite of the literary? Try Dance Theatre of Oregon's The Shoe Bird at the Hult Center Nov. 19 and 20. Based on a story by Eudora Welty and performed here for audiences of all ages, The Shoe Bird combines movement, original music, songs and theater in a cheerful family performance. Feeling cash-poor but still want the flavor of movement? UO students and faculty will present informal showings Dec. 1 and Dec. 3 at the UO's Gerlinger Annex. And for dessert, what says "Holiday Spirit" better than giant fighting mice? You guessed it: If it's December, it must be the Eugene Ballet's The Nutcracker, at the Hult Dec. 17, 18 and 19. Grab a little kid or an older adult, heck, invite your mail carrier to say thanks for all those dripping November days — and take them to this confection. As the lights dim, and the magical curtain rises on Clara's party, ask yourself this question: "Am I really too old to have worn a tutu to the theater?" And finally, "Am I full yet?"
DANCE: Americanistan 484-5071 Sept. 24, Americanistan with guests, Café Paradiso Oct. 2, Americanistan with Kendra and Elena Villa, Intaba's Restaurant, Corvallis. Oct. 9, Middle Eastern Dance Guild of Eugene (MEDGE) Fall Festival of Dance with Americanistan, Cozmic Pizza Oct. 29, Americanistan with Razia, Café Paradiso
Dance Theatre of Oregon 689-5189 Nov. 19 & 20, The Shoe Bird, The Hult Center
Lane Community College Dance Program LCC Main Campus Performance Hall 463-5645 Oct. 22-23, Fall Collage Dance Concert
Eugene Ballet Company 485-5772 All performances at the Hult Center Oct. 21, Sneak Preview of A Midsummer Night's Dream Oct. 23 & 24, A Midsummer Night's Dream Dec. 17, 18 & 19, The Nutcracker
UO Dance Department All performances at Dougherty Theatre, UO, unless otherwise noted. 346-3386 Nov. 12 – 13, Walter Kennedy and Dancers, Hult Center Dec. 1, Dance Quarterly
MUSIC: Newport Symphony Orchestra Newport Performing Arts Center 541-265-ARTS Oct. 16, Berlioz est Fantastique! Nov. 13, The Trio Bragato Dec. 11, Great Number Fours
Eugene Symphonic Band 485-5772 Nov. 2, UO School of Music, Beall Hall
Lane Community College Music Department 683-9501 Nov. 21, Chamber Orchestra, Newman Center, 18th & Emerald Nov. 23, Symphonic Band, Performance Hall, LCC Nov. 30, Chamber Choir & Concert Choir, Performance Hall, LCC Dec. 3, Jazz Band and Spectrum Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Performance Hall, LCC
OFAM All performances at The Shedd unless otherwise noted. 434-7004 Oct. 9, Magical Moombah music vaudeville for kids Oct. 16, Magical Moombah music vaudeville for kids Nov. 13, Magical Moombah music vaudeville for kids Nov. 20, Magical Moombah music vaudeville for kids Sept. 23, Lyle Lovett, Cuthbert Amphitheater Oct. 7, Peter Rowan and Tony Rice Oct. 15, Ladysmith Black Mambazo Oct. 17, Nnenna Freelon Oct. 18, Trevor Dunn & Shelley Burgon Oct. 20, Rosie Flores Oct. 21, String Of Pearls: The Legacy of Glenn Miller w/The Emerald City Jazz Kings Oct. 22, String Of Pearls: The Legacy of Glenn Miller w/The Emerald City Jazz Kings, LaSells Stewart Center, OSU, Corvallis Oct. 23, String Of Pearls: The Legacy of Glenn Miller w/The Emerald City Jazz Kings, Florence Events Center Oct. 24, String Of Pearls: The Legacy of Glenn Miller w/The Emerald City Jazz Kings Oct. 30, Steve Bernstein & Sex Mob Nov. 16, Assad Brothers Nov. 17, John Pizzarelli Dec. 11, Johnny Gimble & Texas Swing Dec. 17, Clarinet Marmalade w/The Emerald City Jazz Kings & Ken Peplowski
Oregon Mozart Players omp@oregonmozartplayers.org Oct. 9, Symphonic Starter w/Glen Cortese & Victor Steinhardt, Hult Center Oct. 10, Symphonic Starter w/Glen Cortese & Victor Steinhardt, Beall Concert Hall Nov. 11, Marc Deaton, Time & Venue TBA Nov. 13 & 14, Harvest Moon Serenade, First Christian Church Dec. 12 & 13, Baroque for the Holidays, First Christian Church
Eugene Opera 682-5000 Oct. 9, "Bocce Bal" musical benefit, Valley River Inn Oct. 18, "What Happened to my Aria?" lecture w/Robert Ashens, Borders Books Oct. 21, Music and dinner w/Eugene Opera, Christee's Restaurant and Lounge Nov. 16, "Operatic Songs of the Night" lecture w/Robert Ashens, Borders Books Nov. 18, Music and dinner w/Eugene Opera, Christee's Restaurant and Lounge Dec. 16, Music and dinner w/Eugene Opera, Christee's Restaurant and Lounge Dec. 21, "Die Fledermaus and Songs of National Flavor" lecture w/Robert Ashens, Borders Books Dec. 31 & Jan. 2, Die Fledermaus, Hult Center
Eugene Symphony 682-5000 www.eugenesymphony.org All performances at the Hult Center. Sept. 23, Chopin & Brahms Oct. 13, Eugene Symphony Preview Oct. 14, Bruckner & the Vienna School Nov. 6, Peter & the Wolf, Tots to Ten Family Concert Nov. 17, Eugene Symphony Preview Nov. 18, Martin & Mendelssohn Dec. 10, Handel's Messiah
UO Music All performances are at Beall Hall, UO, unless otherwise noted. 346-4363 Oct. 13, "Sequentia" lecture-demonstration Oct. 14, Faculty Showcase Oct. 15, Oregon Wind Ensemble and the Oregon Jazz Ensembles Oct. 18, Lost Songs of a Rhineland Harper Oct. 21, St. Lawrence String Quartet w/Todd Palmer Oct. 23, Audio-video performance w/James Dashow Oct. 26, The Unicorn w/Anne Azéma & Shira Kammen Oct. 31, University Symphony & Choirs w/Helmuth Rilling, Silva, Hult Nov. 3, Faculty and guests horn trio Nov. 4, Octubafest Nov. 5, The Jazz Café, Rm. 178, Music, UO Nov. 6, Festival of Bands high school marching band competition, Autzen Stadium Nov. 6, The Music that Petrarch Knew w/ Fortune's Wheel Nov. 7, Richard Zimdars Nov. 8, Jazz Arrangers concert Nov. 9, Laura Zaerr Nov. 11, Ying String Quartet & Turtle Island Quartet Nov. 14, Oregon Wind Ensemble w/Giancarlo Guerrero & Fritz Gearhart, 3 pm Nov. 14, Fritz Gearhart, 8 pm Nov. 16, University Opera Ensemble Nov. 17, New music by UO composition students Nov. 19, The Jazz Café, Rm. 178 Nov. 20, Future Music Oregon, Rm. 198, Music, UO Nov. 20, UO Symphony, Umpqua Community College Nov. 21, UO Symphony Nov. 22, Oregon Percussion Ensemble Nov. 23, John Jantzi, Amy & David Gustafson Dec. 1, Campus Band Dec. 2, Holiday Choral Concert Dec. 3, Oregon Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Lab Bands Dec. 5, University Percussion & Gospel Ensemble
THEATER: Thurston Theatre Thurston High School 744-5140 Sept. 29, Storyteller Mark Lewis workshop & performance Oct. 15, American Gadfly: The Story of Wayne Morse Oct. 28 - 31, Nov. 4 – 6, Harvey Nov. 26 & 27, Dec. 2 – 5, A Christmas Carol
Springfield Theatre Springfield High School 744-4700 Nov. 11 – 20, Crimes of the Heart Oct. 28, 29 & 30. Sticky Buns Dec. 9, 10 & 11, The Real Thing
Oregon State University Theatre 141 Withycombe Hall, OSU (541) 737-2853. Oct. 1, 2 & 3, Charlotte's Web Nov. 11-20, Our Town
Willamette Repertory Theatre, 343-9903 Oct. 25, Ashland Salutes the Rep! Funraiser, Hult Center Nov. 24 - Dec. 12 Always ... Patsy Cline, Hult Center
Lord Leebrick Theatre Company, 540 Charnelton Street 684-6988 Sept. 29 – Oct. 23, The Goat; or Who Is Sylvia? Oct. 7, 10, 14 & 21, The Goat post-performance discussions Nov. 19 – Dec. 11, Tempest
Lane Community College Theatre, LCC Blue Door Theatre 683-9501 Sept. 24, 25 & Oct. 1 – 9, The Real Inspector Hound
Cottage Theater, Cottage Grove www.cottagetheatre.org Oct. 8 – Nov. 3, Little Shop of Horrors Dec. 3 - 19, Marley & Scrooge
Corvallis Community Theatre, Majestic Theatre, Corvallis 738-7469 Nov. 5 – 14, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Dec. 30 - Jan. 15, Cinderella: The Musical
Actors Cabaret, 996 Willamette St. 683-4368 Sept. 23 - Oct. 23, Seussical Sept. 24 – Oct. 16, Wait Until Dark Late Oct. – Nov., A Lie of the Mind Nov. 19 – Dec. 23 The Wizard of Oz
UO Robinson Theatre, 346-4190 All performances in the UO Robinson Theatre unless otherwise noted. Oct 1 & 2, Shakespeare a la Carte Nov. 5 – 20, Good Morning, Athens Oct. 27 – Nov. 6,Vanities, Arena Theatre
OTHER PROGRAMS: DIVA: Downtown Initiative for the Visual Arts 110 West Broadway at Olive ´ 344-DIVA Sept. 24, Italian DJ Disco Multimedia Show Oct. 4, Nathan Hubbard percussion and electronics Oct. 8, I Exist film screening Oct. 19, Gadabout traveling film screening Oct. 30, Come as you ART masquerade ball Nov. 13, Eugene Composers Collective Nov. 4 –13, YouthVisions short films winners
The Hult Center, 682-5000 All performances at the Hult Center unless otherwise noted. Sept. 24, Bill Engvall Oct. 3, David Copperfield Oct. 6, Amazones: The Women Master Drummers of Guinea Oct. 7, Student Award & Dr. Delusion's Illusion SHOcase performance Oct. 8 & 9, Rent Oct. 12, Esma Redzepova Oct. 14, Roseburg High School Vocal Program Oct. 15, Flamenco Vivo, w/Carlota Santana Oct. 16 & 17, Surge Zapp Dancers performance Oct. 28, Drinking Gourd Elementary School SHOcase performance Nov. 4, SHOcase Eugene Symphony performance and student awards Nov. 9 - 14, The Producers Nov. 10, Turtle Island String Quartet Nov. 18, SHOcase performance Wizard of Oz songs Nov. 21, Putumayo's Latinas: Women of Latin America Nov. 23, Christmas from Dublin: The Three Irish Tenors Dec. 1 – 3, Smokey Joe's Cafe Dec. 7, Shasta Middle School winter concert Dec. 9, Songspinners SHOcase performance Dec. 17 & 18, Revenge of the Reindeer w/Chicago City Limits
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