[NEohioPAL] Rave Review for WINTER WONDERETTES at Actors' Summit

[Neil Thackaberry]

Actors’ Summit’s ‘Winter Wonderettes’ holiday treat

*12/1/2011 - West Side Leader*
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*By David Ritchey*


DOWNTOWN AKRON — It’s that time of year — time to shop for holiday gifts
and hope you get at least one item you really want. You’ll find a big
holiday gift ready for you at Actors’ Summit Theater with its production of
“Winter Wonderettes,” which runs through Dec. 23.

This show is a musical holiday treat for everyone in the family. I saw
grandparents and children (10 and older) enjoying the show.

The plot is simply an outline for 28 secular Christmas songs. The story is
set at Harper’s Hardware on Main Street during Christmas in 1968. This is
the night of the company’s Christmas party, and four of the employees have
worked up a little cabaret show. Betty Jean Reynolds (Beth Jones), CindyLou
Huffington (Aubrey Caldwell), Missy Miller Lee (Shani Ferry) and Suzy
Stevens (Laura Cook) lead the audience (we’re the company employees)
through songs, stories and personal reactions to the holiday season.

The four women have beautiful voices that fill the theater for solos and,
yet, blend for close harmony. “Santa Baby” falls near the end of the show.
But this is one of the best scenes in the show. Each of the four women, in
turn, wears a white scarf to use while flirting with Santa and asking for
special expensive gifts. The singers performed the song well — making it
naughty and nice.

In another song, “Suzy Snowflake,” Cook, dressed like a snowflake, sang and
tap danced her way through a production number, which celebrates the first
snow of December.

Director MaryJo Alexander and choreographer Julie Schullo kept the show
moving at a fast pace (about 100 minutes with intermission).

“Winter Wonderettes” was created by Roger Bean and premiered at the
Milwaukee Repertory Theater. Bean and Brian Baker, who were responsible for
vocal arrangements, constructed a holiday show that should become a holiday
standard. Baker also was responsible for musical arrangements.

If you enjoy this type of musical, which emphasizes music of an era or of a
theme, you may enjoy Actors’ Summit’s production of “Route 66,” which was
created by Bean, too. This will play at Actor’s Summit June 21 through July
29. On June 22, the production will start on the top-deck of the parking
lot across the street from the theater. The entertainment includes a
display of vintage cars. After the performance in the theater, audience
members may return to the top-deck for more music, desserts, beverages and
other entertainment.

The next production at Actor’s Summit will be “Bully,” a one-man show
featuring Teddy Roosevelt, on stage Jan. 19 through Feb. 5. Artistic
Director Neil Thackaberry will play Roosevelt.

For ticket information, call             330-374-7568      . Don’t forget
Actors’ Summit has moved to the sixth floor at Greystone Hall, 103 S. High
St.

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