Tryon Festival Theatre, April 25-28
Music and Lyric by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin
Book by Ken Ludwig
Sarah Wigley, director
Michael Tilley, conductor
"Most of our Crazy for You world is set in the fictional town of Deadrock, Nevada, a community with one saloon, a post office, and a general store. The presence of art or culture in Deadrock fizzled with the closing of the beloved Gaiety Theatre several years back, and when first introduced to this sleepy settlement, we witness the townsfolk simply "bidin' their time." When the Zangler Follies arrive in Deadrock and the Gaiety Theatre is once again filled with song, dance, and laughter, we witness a once slow-moving, down-on-its-luck community revitalized through the performing arts and the joy that live theatre can bring. Sparkling showgirls and rough-neck rangers form a community through their shared desire to put on a show. Art creates community.
While witnessing students from across campus create a community through the creation of live performance art, I could not help but realize, throughout this process, the exciting parallel between the world of theater created in Deadrock, Nevada, in 1935 and the world we create every day here at our "miracle on the prairie," Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. In Crazy for You, Bobby Child and Bela Zangler leave the bright lights of New York City for a community that believes in the power of live theatre and the inclusivity that art manifest when it is born out of a place of inspiration and joy. How extraordinary that while we celebrate a fictional town that brings Follies girls, cowboys, and British tourists together, we simultaneously celebrate Krannert Center's 50th Anniversary, a place where art creates community each and every day. Thank you, Krannert Center, for 50 years of bringing endless possibility, magic, and delight to our "miracle on the prairie:- our friends in Deadrock, Nevada, would be proud." -Sarah Wigley, director |
CAST
BOBBY CHILD- Owen Connor Stout BELA ZANGLER- Fabian Guerrero POLLY BAKER- Collene Bruton IRENE ROTH- Logan Piker MOTHER (MS. LOTTIE CHILD)- Emily Albert-Stauning PERKINS- Grant Ebert CHAUFFER- Jon Faw LANK HAWKINS- Cameron Young EVERETT BAKER- Joe Grudt EUGENE FODOR- Dane Brandon PATRICIA FODOR- Berit Johnson TESS- Anna Benoit* PATSY- Caroline McKinzie FOLLIES GIRLS: MITZI- Sara Dolins ELAINE-Anastasia Kasimos LOUISE-Madysen Simanonis SUSIE- Abby Steimel BETSY- Sophia Byrd MARGIE- Lisa Buhelos COWFOLK: MOOSE- Nicholas Koch MINGO- Isiah Asplund SAM/PETE- Geoffrey Schmelzer HARRY- Jon Faw CUSTUS- Grant Ebert JAN- Hannah Dziura WYATT- Nick Hittle BONNIE- Rachel Maramba UNDERSTUDIES: Nicholas Koch (Bobby), Lisa Buhelos (Polly/Tess/Patsy), Sophia Byrd (Irene), Jon Faw (Lank) *Dance Captain PRODUCTION TEAM DIRECTOR- Sarah Wigley CONDUCTOR- Michael Tilley CHOREOGRAPHER- Charlie Maybee FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHER- Ethan Gardner SCENIC DESIGNER- Daniela Cabrera COSTUME DESIGNER- Melissa Hall LIGHTING DESIGNER- Tony Rajewski SOUND DESIGNER- Matt Powell PROPERTIES MASTER- Haley Borodine HAIR/MAKEUP MASTER- Danielle Richter MUSICAL PREPARATION- Cadis Ying-Jie Lee, Michael McAndrew, Alex Munger STAGE MANAGER- Adeline Snagel TECHNICAL DIRECTORS- Rayan Gajdos, Imani McDaniel, Patrick Storey |