This is the show in which I made my Fort Wayne stage debut, which felt like a big deal at the tail end of the summer between my Junior and Senior years in high school, August 23-31, 1974.
It's fun looking through the program and seeing names of people that I met in this show and then worked with several times in the following few years. It's also frustrating to see the names of castmates and not be able to pull a face or any memory at all to the surface. Including Carolyn Glossenger who wrote, "It's been great that an 'old lady' and such a nice young man could become such great friends. It has been a joy working with you - hope it won't be the last time." (I'm guessing it was, because I have no idea who she is/was. Sorry, Carolyn.)
The show itself was a musical review that opened on Broadway in 1948. We cut some of the musical numbers and sketches and replaced them with other, more recent, tunes and jokes.
The Arena Theatre was a dinner theater that performed its shows "in the round" at the Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce building. The director, Larry Wardlaw, would always let us know whether the audience was going to be a good one based on alcohol sales.
Random Memories:
- I remember us taking a break during a rehearsal and listening to Nixon resign the presidency.
- Castmate Jordan Hamm tricked us into thinking she was a mother by asking if we wanted to see her pride and joy and then showing us a picture of two products with those brand names.
- In the cast was Denny Bechtelheimer, who had just directed me in Li'l Abner two months before. "Dewey - Here you are, big 17-year-old star...making your Ft. Wayne stage debut! (With me at your side, of course) You're gonna be great! Break a leg tonight! Love, Denny"
- The director was Larry Wardlaw, who I would later co-star with in Inspector General. "Dewey, My chance to tell you Thank you! for being one of the most exceptionally talented and creative young men I've ever worked with! IT's there - and your theatre future can only be bright! Thank you, Dewey! Always, Larry"
- I borrowed a pair of tap shoes from a veteran Ft. Wayne actor/dancer. They were a size too small. Kept me light on my feet!
- I was nominated for a Parky Award: Best Supporting Actor in a Musical ...like a Tony, but just for shows produced by Arena Theatre.
- Abby Dormire (cheerleader and high school principal's daughter who I had just co-starred with in Oliver that spring and Li'l Abner in June) and I were dating at the time and she wrote me a note for opening night: "Dear Dewey, WHO is going to be fantastic tonight and stand out as the 'shining star? You are! I wish you the best of everything. I will not be there in body but very, very much there in SPIRIT! Yah! Rah!"
