2008 Woodie Awards
Throwback Musical is a Pleasure Cruise
Tammy Funicello
Issue date: 10/26/05 Section: Valley Life
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The show is about a young girl named Ruby, played by Lorin Henner, who goes to New York City and is determined to be on Broadway. The play, which is a look back at the 1930s, was written in the 1970s by George Haimsohn and Robin Miller and the music by Jim Wise as seen through the eyes of Busby Berkeley, who is known for his extravagantly staged music spectaculars.
"This is a good old fashioned musical with songs that make you smile," said assistant director Barbara Brownell. "The worst word they say is heck."
The cast of 10 has been rehearsing five days a week for the last month. All cast members are students who have to balance school and the play along with everything else. There is even a 14-year-old freshman at Glendale High School in the cast who is a tap genius, according to Director Cathy Pyles.
"This is my first tap dancing production, but I love musicals," said Dillon Zrike, who plays Charlie, the main tap dancer. "It's hard to balance between going to rehearsal from 4-8 every night and then doing my homework until 1 a.m. Then I have to do it all over again the next day."
"Dames at Sea" was chosen because it was one of the feel good musicals of the time, said Pyles.
"I think the show is cheesy in a cute and funny way," said Carly Turner. "It is an evening of nostalgia. The play is about an era that has been forgotten, when there were simple things in life."
The show, which will include a pianist and a drummer accompanying the musical numbers, is already sold out closing night, but there are still tickets available for the other dates.
