[NEohioPAL] Canal Fulton Players- Harvey Near Opening, Annie is Cast, Much Ado is coming

[DVangaasbe at aol.com]

Theatre Times
The Canal Fulton Players  proudly presents the Wonderful Play about a Six 
and One half foot Invisible  White Rabbit
Harvey
By Mary Chase
A Dramatists Play  Production
Produced by David Van Gaasbeek
Directed by Kathy  Devus
Starring
Ken Hehmeyer     Cindy  Bagocius     Anita Artzner
Jon  Neumann      Sarah  Price          Gary  Liknes
Tyler Breuer     Michelle  Niinisto     Josh Rowe
Carol Van  Gaasbeek  Drew Hutchinson
and
Harvey, the Rabbit
May 7-9,  2010
May 14-16, 2010
8:00 pm Friday, Saturday
7:00 Sunday
Community  Connections Theatre
2391 Locust Street
Canal Fulton, Ohio
 
Admission- $7.00 for  adults
$5.00 for seniors and children under the age of 12
For Further  Information-
David Van Gaasbeek
330-494-1022 and 330-854-4387
 
Harvey Opens May 7 at Community Connections



Elwood Dowd is a mild mannered man who  everyone seems to like.  He is 
unflappable no matter how things get out of  hand.  He is the type of guy that 
would remind you of your favorite  uncle.  There is only one problem about 
him.  It’s his friend, who  appears to make everyone uncomfortable.  Harvey is 
not such a bad fellow if  you see him.  That’s pretty impossible though 
because, well… it seems that  Harvey is a six foot six inch white rabbit who is 
invisible to everyone except  Elwood Dowd.  That’s the problem for everyone 
but Elwood, who seems  perfectly content to hang around with Harvey, as 
long as he pays his part of the  bar bill.
The Canal Fulton Players at the UMC  Family Theatre will be presenting this 
story, aptly named, Harvey, on May 7-9  and 14-16 at the Community 
Connections Theatre, 2381 Locust Street, Canal  Fulton, Ohio.  Friday and Saturday 
performances will be at 8:00 pm while  Sunday performances will be at 7:00  
pm.  
The story, which was written by  Mary Chase, stars Ken Hehmeyer as Elwood 
Dowd.  He is so proud of Harvey  and his good manners that he has to 
introduce him to everyone that Elwood’s  sister, Veta Simmons, played by Cindy 
Bagocius, and niece, Myrtle Mae Simmons,  played by Anita Artzner, know.  Veta 
and Myrtle Mae are anxious to enter  society and obtain Myrtle a suitable 
husband.  The best person to start  that endeavor with is the town’s social 
leader, Mrs. Chauvenet (Carol Van  Gaasbeek).  Mrs. Chauvenet has a fondness for 
Elwood even though she has  not seen him in decades but that fondness turns 
to horror when she meets  Harvey.  They just don’t hit it off.
After  that particular introduction, Veta and Myrtle Mae decide that it is 
time to  commit Elwood to a sanitarium run by Dr. Chumley (Gary Liknes).   
Unfortunately, when Veta goes to see Dr. Chumley, he is not there and she is  
interviewed by Dr. Sanderson (Jon Neumann) and Nurse Kelly (Sarah Price), 
who  make a little mistake in assuming that Veta is the real problem child.   
With the assistance of Wilson, the orderly (Tyler Brewer), they begin a 
process  which really causes a great many problems for Chumley and his wife 
(Michelle  Niinisto).  It takes a considerable period of time to sort things 
out and  by the time all is put in place, Judge Gaffney (Josh Rowe) is called 
to put  Elwood into the sanitarium.  Except he does not do that because 
well, you  just will have to come see it for yourself.  Remember, if you are not 
 interested in seeing this play, you could have a practical joke played on 
you by  a six foot six inch invisible white rabbit, who might be standing 
right next to  you as you read this particular article.  According to Elwood, 
Harvey is  mischievous.  So you might want to come see this play to avoid a  
joke.
Admission for this play is $7.00 for  adults and $5.00 for seniors and 
children under the age of twelve.  Harvey  loves children so you can bring them 
to see him if --well-- they can see  him.  For further information, please 
call David Van Gaasbeek at  330-494-1022 or 330-854-4387.  Kathy Devus who 
has directed this play very  well insists that Harvey is on stage.  “He shows 
up every night for  rehearsal,” she says.  The Dramatists Players’ play 
also stars Drew  Hutchinson, as the taxi driver. 


Annie is Cast

Matt King has  announced the cast of Charles Strouse’s wonderful musical 
about Little Orphan  Annie, Annie.  After spending three nights on auditions, 
Matt came up with  a cast that is dynamite and Producer David Van Gaasbeek 
is very pleased with  Matt’s dedication to the process.  “This being his 
first time doing a  directorial, he really showed a true understanding to the 
process of what is  called open auditions.  That is why this theatre is 
becoming popular with  the actors and actresses of our area.  You know when you 
come to auditions  at our place, you have a fighting chance in getting a part,
” said Mr. Van  Gaasbeek.
Cast as that wonderful little munchkin who stole the hearts  of many during 
the Depression is Kristina Currans of Apple Creek, Ohio.   Kristina has 
already reminded many of one of the Players’ veteran actresses,  Lisa Van 
Gaasbeek, who sports high top sneakers to the knee and a wide variety  of 
bohemian outfits to rehearsal.  When Kristina showed up for the first  rehearsal, 
she had high top sneakers on to the knee and bohemian  dress.
Playing Daddy Warbucks is Northwest High School  graduate, Josh 
Higginbotham.  Josh is the new kid on the block having  joined the cast just recently.  
He is matched by Jackie Piatt, who plays  the irascible Miss Hannigan, the 
owner of the orphanage where Annie lives before  she is discovered by 
Warbucks’ assistant, Grace, who is played by Olivia  Durrell.  Olivia also hails 
from Northwest High School.  Playing  Hannigan’s son, Rooster, is Bryan 
Steffee.  His henchwoman in crime, Lilly,  is being played by Stacey Pasternack.  
Drake, the loyal Butler is being  played by Ben Currans and Sandy, the dog, 
is being played by Ray  Olivera.
Rounding out the Orphans who live and dream with Annie  are Gracyn Loper as 
Duffy, Hunter Rapp as July, Katelyn Zeitz as Molly, Kenidee  Zentiska as 
Pepper, Debbie Liknes as Kate, Addi Bair as Tessie, Lisa Gabel,  Lauren 
Stover, Lily Bair, Xavere Baker, and Emma Canfield.   
Rounding out the adult parts are Mike Groom, Maggie Leatherman,  John 
Steiner, Jena Bair, Jarrod Hare, Duane Acker, Josh Rowe, Tyler Brewer,  Rachel 
Farley, Sabrina Grebenstein, Heidi Wright, and Brittany Marquardt.   “This is 
a monumental task and we have a great deal of support for these people  as 
they key in on Opening Night,” said Mr. Van  Gaasbeek.  
The keyboardist is Ellen  Wingate, who last performed for the Players at 
their fundraiser.  She will  be supported by drummer Brad Palmer.  
Choreography will be done by Sarah  Brazier and Anita Artzner.  The Musical Director 
will be Jackie  Piatt.  
Annie will be performed in the Fellowship  Hall Theatre on June 24-27, 
2010.  A dinner theatre will be done on June  26, 2010.
Tickets will be $8.00 for adults and $6.00 for seniors and children  under 
the age of 12.  For the dinner theatre, the cost is $18.00 and  $16.00.
 
Much  Ado About Nothing is Coming
    On August 28-29, 2010, the Players will be presenting Much Ado  About 
Nothing, by Sir William Shakespeare on the St. Helena III and the  Towpath 
abutting the Canal.  A trip down the canal will entitle the  audience members 
to experience the comedy romp of Beatrice and Benedick as they  try to deal 
with nasty gossip concerning poor Hero.  The play will start at  the 
Canalways pavilion in Canal Fulton Park and will proceed to Lock 4.   There after 
turning the St. Helena III around, the audience will be watch the  second 
part of the play from Lock 4 to Canal Fulton Park.  David Van  Gaasbeek states 
that this might be the first time the Bard ever was presented on  a replica 
of a canal boat in the State of Ohio.  Auditions will be  announced in the 
near future.
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