[NEohioPAL]"Weathervane Opens Season With Hit"

Fri Sep 26 12:58:57 PDT 2003

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"Weathervane Opens Season With Hits:  Frank Sinatra's music evokes
memories and good times"

By David Ritchey, West Side Leader

Weathervane Community Playhouse has a hit on its stage.  The only
question is, can everyone who will want to see this production be able
to get tickets?

This new show, "My Way, a Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra," includes
almost 60 of the songs Sinatra recorded, performed by the cast with just
a 20-minute intermission; the performance ended by 10 p.m.  The two
hours flew by in what seemed like two minutes.

David Grapes and Todd Olson compiled "My Way," which is mostly music.
However, Olson wrote the book, which is really only Sinatra stories and
quotes.  The show features some of the most beautiful music of the 20th
century;  "Strangers in the Night," "My Funny Valentine," "I Love
Paris," "Chicago, Chicago," "New York, New York," "The Best is Yet To
Come" and dozens of other American favorites.

The credit for the success of this production has to be shared by many.
However, Martin Cespedes (directory and choreographer) made this a
seamless production.  The performers move from song to dance to story
without a break or pause.  The timing is perfect.  Cespedes has superior
directing credentials and should be brought back to Weathervane to
direct other shows.  He has made Weathervane as good as it can be.

Charles Korecki (sound engineer) deserves a great deal of credit for the
success of this production.  Each singer wears a microphone, and Korecki
controlled the volume for the singers and for the instrumentalists.  He
did a superior job - not a syllable was lost.

The cast of four - Rob Dougherty, Paul Hoffman, Meg Hopp and Ikeya
Morning - is perfect, without a weak link or wink voice.  Hoffman and
Hopp seem to be the sophisticated, charming side of Sinatra.  Morning
has a comedic delivery that makes me want to see her do something like
"Once Upon a Mattress."  Dougherty has stage presence and charm.

At no time does anyone attempt to imitate Sinatra; this production is a
celebration of Sinatra's life and talent.  Anyone who lived after
Sinatra became a famous crooner in the first half of the 20th century
knows that he brought pleasure to audiences, and that pleasure is
celebrated in this production.

The set is a bandstand - created by Alan Scott Ferrall (scenic designer)
and reminiscent of the 1940's - with a three-piece combo to support the
production.  The multi-level playing area gives the performers a way to
provide visual variety to the production.

Lighting designer Erin Katz illuminated the performers and focused the
audience on certain areas of the stage.  Jill Forster (store manager)
called the light cues to give the lighting changes the greatest dramatic
impact.

Betty Williams and Dorothy Kies, costume designers, dressed the men in
dinner jackets for the first half; after the intermission, they wore
tuxedos.  Williams and Kies must have known what Jackie Kennedy said
about men in tuxedo:  "If men knew how good they look in tuxedos, they'd
wear them all the time."

However, Williams and Kies excel with the women's clothing, dressing
them in elegant gowns that are stageworthy - that is, they look good,
yet the performers can dance, climb steps and move on stage without
being hampered by the costumes.

"My Way" is everything Sinatra was - sophisticated, charming and
entertaining.  Unfortunately, "My Way" will continue only through Oct.
5.  On opening night, the theater was almost filled.  To get a seat for
this production, call (330) 836-2626.  This is a show you'll be talking
about for a long, long time.

(David Ritchey has a Ph.D in a communications and is a professor of
communications at The University of Akron.  He is a member of the
American Theatre Critics Association.)

Debbra Heffern

Debbra Heffern

Behnke & Company of Ohio

4301 Darrow Road, Suite 1100

Stow, Ohio 44224

330-686-8064

330-686-6599 fax

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<div class=3DSection1>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-weight:bold'>“Weathervane Opens Season With Hits:  Frank
Sinatra’s music evokes memories and good =
times”</span></font></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'> </span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>By
David Ritchey, </span></font><font size=3D2><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>West
 Side</span></font><font size=3D2><span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'> =
Leader</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'> </span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>Weathervane
Community Playhouse has a hit on its stage.  The only question is, =
can
everyone who will want to see this production be able to get =
tickets?</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'> </span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>This
new show, “My Way, a Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra,” =
includes
almost 60 of the songs Sinatra recorded, performed by the cast with just =
a
20-minute intermission; the performance ended by </span></font><font =
size=3D2><span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>10 p.m.</span></font><font =
size=3D2><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>  The two hours flew by in what seemed =
like two
minutes.</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'> </span></font></p>

David
Grapes and Todd Olson compiled “My Way,” which is mostly
music.  However, Olson wrote the book, which is really only Sinatra
stories and quotes.  The show features some of the most beautiful =
music of
the 20th century;  “Strangers in the Night,” =
“My
Funny Valentine,” “I Love Paris,” “Chicago, =
Chicago,” “New York, New York,”
“The Best is Yet To Come” and dozens of other American =
favorites.

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'> </span></font></p>

The
credit for the success of this production has to be shared by =
many. 
However, Martin Cespedes (directory and choreographer) made this a =
seamless
production.  The performers move from song to dance to story =
without a
break or pause.  The timing is perfect.  Cespedes has superior
directing credentials and should be brought back to Weathervane to =
direct other
shows.  He has made Weathervane as good as it can =
be.

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'> </span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>Charles
Korecki (sound engineer) deserves a great deal of credit for the success =
of
this production.  Each singer wears a microphone, and Korecki =
controlled
the volume for the singers and for the instrumentalists.  He did a
superior job – not a syllable was lost.</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'> </span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>The
cast of four – Rob Dougherty, Paul Hoffman, Meg Hopp and Ikeya =
Morning –
is perfect, without a weak link or wink voice.  Hoffman and Hopp =
seem to
be the sophisticated, charming side of Sinatra.  Morning has a =
comedic
delivery that makes me want to see her do something like “Once =
Upon a
Mattress.”  Dougherty has stage presence and =
charm.</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'> </span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>At no
time does anyone attempt to imitate Sinatra; this production is a =
celebration
of Sinatra’s life and talent.  Anyone who lived after Sinatra =
became
a famous crooner in the first half of the 20<sup>th</sup> century knows =
that he
brought pleasure to audiences, and that pleasure is celebrated in this
production.</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'> </span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>The
set is a bandstand – created by Alan Scott Ferrall (scenic =
designer) and
reminiscent of the 1940’s – with a three-piece combo to =
support the
production.  The multi-level playing area gives the performers a =
way to
provide visual variety to the production.</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'> </span></font></p>

Lighting
designer Erin Katz illuminated the performers and focused the audience =
on
certain areas of the stage.  Jill Forster (store manager) called =
the light
cues to give the lighting changes the greatest dramatic =
impact.

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'> </span></font></p>

Betty
Williams and Dorothy Kies, costume designers, dressed the men in dinner =
jackets
for the first half; after the intermission, they wore tuxedos. =
 Williams
and Kies must have known what Jackie Kennedy said about men in =
tuxedo:  “If
men knew how good they look in tuxedos, they’d wear them all the =
time.”

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'> </span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>However,
Williams and Kies excel with the women’s clothing, dressing them =
in
elegant gowns that are stageworthy – that is, they look good, yet =
the
performers can dance, climb steps and move on stage without being =
hampered by
the costumes.</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'> </span></font></p>

“My
Way” is everything Sinatra was – sophisticated, charming and
entertaining.  Unfortunately, “My Way” will continue =
only
through Oct. 5.  On opening night, the theater was almost =
filled.  To
get a seat for this production, call (330) 836-2626.  This is a =
show you’ll
be talking about for a long, long time.

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'> </span></font></p>

(David
Ritchey has a Ph.D in a communications and is a professor of =
communications at
The University of Akron.  He is a member of the American Theatre =
Critics
Association.)

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'> </span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D3 face=3D"Script MT Bold"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Script MT Bold"'>Debbra =
Heffern</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Debbra Heffern</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>Behnke
& Company of </span></font><font size=3D2><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>Ohio</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>4301
  Darrow Road, Suite 1100</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>Stow</span></font><font
 size=3D2><span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>, </span></font><font =
size=3D2><span
  style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>Ohio</span></font><font size=3D2><span
 style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'> </span></font><font size=3D2><span =
style=3D'font-size:
  10.0pt'>44224</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>330-686-8064</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>330-686-6599
fax</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt'> </span></font></p>

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