Wheaton Drama

Gotta sing? Gotta dance?
Gotta a little problem with the latter?
Or maybe you want to try something new? We’ve got the class for
you!! Join us for a four week exploratory dance class where we’ll try out for different styles of dancing!

Week One, February 23,
7.30 on the stage – Strength and Conditioning
The most basic necessity for being successful at any level of difficulty for dance is to have a strong core. Come take this class to build a strong core. Class will include basic stretches, floor exercises and tasks that all help to achieve strength in the muscles.

Week
Two, March 2, 7.30 on the stage – Ballet
One of the oldest forms of dance is ballet. Class will include basic to moderate skills that not only improve your dance ability, but also contributes to a great posture and centering of the body. Barre exercises, across the floor and center adagios will be the main focus of this class.

Week
Three, March 9, 7.30 on the stage – Jazz
Jazz is a fun, energetic and lively form of dance that is as fun to participate in as it is to watch. Come learn across the floor exercises and small combinations in this class! Up tempo music, style and vitality will be the biggest factors in this class that is sure to be a blast

Week Four, March 16, 7.30 location TBA –
Musical Theatre
Over the years, iconic pieces have been performed on
stages across the world. Come take a chance and learn how to incorporate dance ability with acting and singing with some of the most well-known music theater songs.

Class Fee: $40 WDI Members
$45 Non-Members
This is an adults only class.
Class size is limited to 20 students so  call our ticket line at 630.260.1820 to register.

Photos by Ken Beach. Please click on the photos (twice – once at each screen) to view larger size.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Director: James A. Liesz at jaliesz@hotmail.com
Publicity: publicity@wheatondrama.org
Tickets: http://www.wheatondrama.org or call 630-260-1820

Wheaton Drama Casts The Sound of Music

Wheaton Drama, Inc. (WDI) has cast its 2012 fall family musical, The Sound of Music. This Rodgers and Hammerstein classic will be performed from November 9 to December 9 at Playhouse 111, 111 N. Hale Street in downtown Wheaton, IL.

James A. Liesz is directing, assisted by Susan Carr. Joni Kotche is the musical director. Choreography is by Barbara Giblin. Rebecca Poole and Amy Johnson are the production managers. Stage management is by Bruce Ebner and Debbie Trueblood.

The cast includes: Dave Amato (Admiral von Schrieber); Jean Austin (understudy – The Mother Abbess); Ashley Johnson Barney (The Mother Abbess); Tyler Berger (Brigetta); Alan Bolds (Franz); Cindy Bolds (Frau Schmidt); Alexandra Burkhardt (Marta); Keith DeBolt* (Captain Georg von Trapp); Teagan Earley (Liesl); Daniel Flage (Friedrich); Christian Johnson (Friend of Capt. von Trapp/Nazi Officer); Andy Kanturek (Baron Elberfeld); Julie Kanturek (Baroness Elberfeld); Rachelle Kates (Maria Rainer); Jamee Kenney (understudy – Sister Sophia); Mitchell Kinn (Rolf); Tim Landry (Friend of Capt. von Trapp/Nazi Officer); Anna Chase Lanier (Louisa); Dawn Holt Lauber (Elsa Schraeder); Michael Lewis (Friedrich); Meg McGarry (Sister Sophia & understudy – Maria); Diana McGrath (Marta); Faith McGrath (Gretl); Tessa Newman (Brigetta); Lillian Perez (Sister Margaretta); Fletcher Peterson (Kurt); Brock Royle (Kurt); Gwen Royle (Gretl); Vincent Scalone (Herr Zeller); Madysen Simanonis (Louisa); Luke Stephens (Rolf); Ginger Terlep (Sister Berthe); Stuart Vance (Max Detweiler); Emily Whaley (Liesl); Jim Wheeler (Friend of Capt. von Trapp/Nazi Officer).

The Nuns Chorus includes: Kelly Baessler (Postulant); Deanna Bero; Patty Blackman; Kitty Bruno; Dana Clouser; Lisa Crank; Diana Dignan; Edie Fitts; Sari Flage (Postulant); Georgia Hamilton; Jennifer Hawes; Maria Hegarty; Kailey Henderson (Postulant); Dee Hicks; Heidi Humiston; Charmaine G. Jones; Alissa Kanturek (Postulant); Julie Kanturek; Jamee Kenney; Caroline Lauber (Postulant); Kimberly Maslo; Laura Miller; Debbie Molinaro; Laura Murray; Kendall Peak; Helen Prebys (Postulant); Amy Royle; Kristin Sandy; Val Shay; Sarah Smith; Marilee Sobiecki; Sheila Zinke; Jessica Zolmierski.

The Sound of Music has music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. Book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. Suggested by “The Story of the Trapp Family Singers”. The show is licensed by R&H Theatricals. Performances are at 8pm Thursdays-Saturdays; 3pm Sundays. Tickets are $18 for Thursdays; $21 Fridays-Sundays. No show Thanksgiving Day.

Wheaton Drama’s upcoming shows are: The Good Life Cafe (November 10 only); It’s A Wonderful Life (radio show December 14-16); Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure (January 25-February 17, 2013); Full Circle (March 15-April 7, 2013 – confirmation of rights pending) and Into the Woods (May 17-June 9, 2013).

Visit http://www.wheatondrama.org, or call 630-260-1820 for tickets. Follow on Twitter at WDIpublicity.

*Reflects cast change.
###

Wheaton Drama has cast the children’s roles in The Sound of Music.

103 children auditioned. 51 attended callbacks, with 16 cast. The following “Teams” will each perform in 9 of the 18 shows:

TEAM SALZBURG
Luke Stephens as Rolf
Emily Whaley as Liesl
Michael Lewis as Friedrich
Madysen Simanonis as Louisa
Fletcher Peterson as Kurt
Tessa Newman as Brigetta
Diana McGrath as Marta
Faith McGrath as Gretl

TEAM VIENNA
Mitchell Kinn as Rolf
Teagan Earley as Liesl
Daniel Flage as Friedrich
Anna Chase Lanier as Louisa
Brock Royle as Kurt
Tyler Berger as Brigetta
Alexandra Burkhardt as Marta
Gwen Royle as Gretl

Director Jim Liesz says, “These are wonderfully talented kids. Now let’s bring on the adults! Auditions for adults are Sunday, September 16 at 7pm and Monday, September 17 at 7pm. Please remember our ‘Visiting’ Nun’s Chorus and that we have 3 male non singing roles and 1 female non singing role that also must be cast.” Details at the SOM show page on this website!

The Sound of Music is performed November 9 through December 9 at Playhouse 111, 111 N. Hale Street in downtown Wheaton. The Heiress is on stage through September 30.

On stage at Wheaton Drama’s Playhouse 111 from August 17 to 19 is Broadway Ballot, a Broadway musical revue. This interactive revue features songs from musicals either that are new to Wheaton Drama, or which have not been performed at Wheaton Drama in the last ten years.

Some of the shows featured in the revue are Anything Goes, Big River, Hair, Pippin, My Fair Lady, She Loves Me, Sweeney Todd, The Full Monty, The Music Man, and Urinetown. (more…)