The perfect musical?
When theater veterans (both performers & audience members) are asked what they like or dislike about Musical Theater, one of the comments that seems to recur quite often is that they don’t like them because the songs interfere or intrude on the story. Having directed dozens of musicals these past twenty years, I find myself agreeing with that statement. When I selected Fiddler On The Roof to set on my high school students this fall, I was considering those very statements. Fiddler was the exception to many of the musicals written in the 60’s & 70’s. It achieves what most musicals of this period didn’t do very effectively – that being telling a story that truly captures the essence of this period in history with honesty, integrity, and sentiment. It uses the music to move the story forward with that same honesty & sentiment. It also presents some wonderful characters with a level of depth that current playwrights should use a reference.
The Fiddler production being presented at West Allis Central High School on Nov. 9,10,16,17,18 will encompass a cast, crew and orchestra of nearly 100 students & faculty. There has been an incredible amount of support by parents, local businesses, and the staff of Central High School that should not go unnoticed. It is that kind of backing that will ensure the future of theater for these young people.
It truly has been a labor of love for this Director. It still remains one of my favorite shows and truly is the perfect musical…
Remembering one of our own
We, the West Allis Players, would like to extend our sympathy to the family of Jack Strawbridge. Jack was a member of the Community Theater family for many,many years. He worked extensively with Falls Patio Players, but the West Allis Players were fortunate enough to have him as musical director for our 2006 production of "Fatherhood." He was a teacher as well as a director and those of us lucky enough to have worked with him will never forget the experience. Every exit is an entrance and Jack is making his on a heavenly stage right about now!
