Wheaton Drama

Director Ben Dooley has announced the cast of Wheaton Drama’s 2017 holiday show, The Cinnamon Bear.

The whimsical fairy tale, running Dec. 14-17 at Playhouse 111 in downtown Wheaton, is an onstage re-creation of the perennial WGN radio serial, which marks its 80th anniversary this year.

In addition to our usual Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening and Sunday matinee performances, a Saturday matinee has been added on Dec. 16 for this family favorite.

Our cast:
Announcer = Patrick Gallagher
Captain Taffy = Rich Bucchi
Crazy Quilt Dragon = Rob Reinalda
Grand Wunkey = Jim Martin
Jimmy = Luke Grout
Judy = Riley Tomes
Mother = Krystyn Wells
Nicky Froodle = Ali Martin
Paddy O’Cinnamon = Ben Dooley
Presto = Craig Gustafson
Professor Whiz/Jack Frost = Dave Amato
Queen Melissa = Leah Rae Witt
Roly Poly Policeman = Tom Ochocinski
Santa Claus = Stan Austin
Snapper Snick = Sean Thomas
Wintergreen Witch = Patti Shore Kaden

Director Ben Dooley announces auditions for Wheaton Drama’s onstage re-creation of the old-time radio holiday classic The Cinnamon Bear.

Auditions will be Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 4–5, from 2–5 p.m. and will consist of cold readings from the script. Callbacks (by invitation) will be Tuesday, Nov. 7, from 7–9 p.m.

For further information, please email wdibear2017@gmail.com.

Performances run Dec. 14–17. Rehearsals will be Dec. 10–13.

All auditions, rehearsals and performances will be held at 111 N. Hale St., Wheaton, IL.

Headshots and resumes are optional.

This production will be performed in the style of old-time radio. Actors will be reading the scripts during the show; all the acting will be done vocally, with clear and distinct characterizations to paint a mental picture for the audience.

Originally aired on the radio in 1937, this endearing adventure follows twins Jimmy and Judy as they travel through Maybeland in search of the missing Silver Star to put atop their Christmas tree. They meet witches, princesses, pirates, dragons, crocodiles and other colorful characters and, finally, Santa Claus himself.

JUDY (age 10–12): Clever, caring, sweet; worried about her missing Silver Star, but courageous and strong, not weak or helpless.
JIMMY (age 10–12): Smart and a natural leader; cares for his sister and bravely faces challenges.
(NOTE: The two children can be older, but must sound like ages 10-12. Also, because they will be on stage throughout the entire show, they must be able to maintain focus and energy for two hours.)
CINNAMON BEAR: Irish dialect, young and sweet sounding. Higher tenor range. A bit tempermental and no-nonsense attitude, but also warm and endearing.
CRAZY QUILT DRAGON: Pompous, full of himself. Everything is overly dramatic. He is insufferable but has a good heart.
ANNOUNCER: Marvelous storyteller, conveying positive energy and a smile in his voice. Able to engage and invite the listener.
MOTHER: A musicality to her voice. She’s practical and sensible, but also caring and loving, with that 1930s “Mom” presence.
PRESTO THE MAGICIAN: Talks quickly, in run-on sentences. Boastful of his magic prowess.
PENELOPE PENGUIN: Haughty and proper; tremendously offended at the interruption of her flying.
CAPTAIN TAFFY: Gruff, mean sounding. Scary at first, but then friendly and good.
ROLY POLY POLICEMAN: Irish brogue. A typical cop on the beat in the old neighborhood, nice and helpful to the kids.
PROFESSOR WHIZ: Educated and snobby. Particular about language. Upper-class British. (Imagine he’s wearing a monocle.)
WINTERGREEN WITCH: Evil, wicked, mean, bad, nasty—and she probably has only one tooth. She most certainly has a world-class witchy cackle.
GRAND WUNKEY: Formal, speaks rapidly. Type-A personality—all about business and efficiency. Keeps things intricately organized down to the detail.
QUEEN MELISSA: Sweet, fair, wonderful, kind, magical and loved by everyone.
SNAPPER SNICK: Full of himself. A performer always looking for an audience. A grandiloquent way of speaking.
NICKY FROODLE: Santa’s primary elf. Very friendly. (Teen to early 20s.)
SANTA CLAUS: Older. Jolly. Twinkle in the eye, smile in the voice, hearty laugh.
JACK FROST: Mr. Fix-it. Organized, calm, in control.
RABBIT: Wisecracking and sly. Has no problem talking tough with Presto.
HALIBUT: What do you think a halibut would sound like?
PENGUIN: Lateral lisp.
OTHER PIRATES: Stereotypical buccaneers. Aaaaaaarrrrrrrrrgggghhhh!

Wheaton Drama is excited to announce next season’s shows and directors.

The season will open with the classic musical “Fiddler on the Roof,” a
story of maintaining traditions and transitions in an ever-changing
sociopolitical climate—a message as important today as when the show was
written. “Fiddler” will be directed by Carrie Dabelow, who has directed
productions for Steel Beam Theater, Riverside Theatre, and Woodstock
Musical Theatre Company, as well as in public schools in Illinois and
Minnesota.

Next on the schedule is an adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic romance
“Sense and Sensibility,” in which we follow the Dashwood sisters, Elinor
and Marianne, as they seek love and happiness in 1790s England. This
promises to be a show for families and Jane Austen aficionados alike and
will be directed by WDI veteran Randall W. Knott, who last directed “Play
It Again, Sam” and “Amadeus” for Wheaton Drama and “One Flew Over the
Cuckoo’s Nest” at Woodstock Opera House.

Wheaton Drama will continue its tradition of holiday radio plays by
presenting that childhood classic “The Cinnamon Bear.” This old-time radio
show was first produced in 1937 and became popular nationwide, particularly
in Chicago when it was broadcast on WGN radio. It will be directed by Ben
Dooley, who has done numerous radio show reproductions with his own
company, Those Thrilling Days of Yesteryear, and who directed the Christmas
classic “Miracle on 34^th Street” for Wheaton Drama.

Kicking off the new year, WDI will present a modern farce, “Sex in the
Title” by local playwright George Zahora. It concerns two playwrights whose
shows always have the word “sex” in the title, though their shows have
nothing to do with sex. This farce involves doors and windows—and lots of
people coming and going through them. It will be directed by Jay
Fontanetta, a newcomer to WDI who has directed extensively at North
Riverside Community Theatre, at Circle Theatre and in numerous area high
schools.

Following up in stark contrast, WDI will present a searing drama, “A Piece
of My Heart,” which tells of the role women played during the Vietnam War.
Like many of their male counterparts, their service went largely
unappreciated and unrecognized. This show will be directed by WDI veteran
Mike Boyna, who last directed the hilarious and successful “Shrek: The
Musical.”

The season will conclude with the perennial Stephen Sondheim favorite
“Company.” Though it debuted on Broadway in 1970, its theme of coping with
cultural changes and social upheavals remains relevant today. “Company”
will be directed by Pam Turlow, who has directed “A Christmas Carol” and
“Mad Mid-Mod Musicals” for Wheaton Drama.