West Virginia Public Theatre founder looks forward to successful season
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – With such classics as “Oliver!’ “Guys and Dolls,’ “No, No Nanette’ and “Jesus Christ Superstar’ in the schedule, West Virginia Public Theatre (WVPT) founder and executive director Ron Iannone is looking forward to a successful 19th season. That’s because he knows that these memorable shows can be reassuring to the public in turbulent times.
“The shows are familiar. They know a lot of the songs and the stories,’ Iannone explained. “I think the world is in such a chaotic time that people need some order. They know the story will be a boy and girl fall in love. And the story is based on values of courage, honor and justice. That’s why musicals never fade away.’
The Morgantown-based theater is set to embark on its newest season on Tuesday. The schedule includes: “Always…Patsy Cline,’ June 17-22; “My Way – A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra,’ June 24-29; “Oliver!’ July 1-6; “Guys and Dolls,’ July 8-13; “No, No, Nanette,’ July 15-20; “Ain’t Misbehavin’,’ July 22-27; “Will Rogers Follies,’ July 29-Aug. 3; and “Jesus Christ Superstar,’ Aug. 5-10.
“We’re doing eight musicals in eight weeks in a vinyl structure in a tent,’ smiled Iannone, referring to the air-conditioned, European-style festival facility that the theater is using again this year while necessary asbestos removal and renovations continue this summer on West Virginia University’s Creative Arts Center, which WVPT has called home since 1989.
Prior to that, WVPT operated as Lakeview Theatre at Lakeview Resort and Conference Center in Cheat Lake where it was founded in 1985 as an outdoor theater, doing shows in a tent with stars like Carol Lawrence and Dean Jones.
Returning to its roots, WVPT is using a Clearspan vinyl structure for the second summer. The structure is located just outside the Coliseum and features padded seats on tiered levels on all four sides of the stage with no seat more than eight rows away and no poles to block the view.
But plans are already in the works to build the West Virginia Public Theatre Performing Arts Center, which will be located in Morgantown’s Wharf District on the Monongahela River. Officials hope work on the 1,500-seat theater will begin in late fall 2003 or January 2004. Iannone said the project would take 18 months to two years to complete.
In the meantime, WVPT fans can enjoy the 2003 season that includes a number of returning shows brought back by popular demand.
In fact, “Always…Patsy Cline’ is coming back for the third time. Most shows that are being repeated were presented at least eight years ago, including “Will Rogers Follies,’ “Guys and Dolls’ and “Superstar’ so audiences who enjoyed them the first time around can savor these musicals once again.
WVPT’s newest show is “My Way.’
“It’s never been done here,’ Iannone said. “People are doing it all over the country. It seems to be popular.’
According to a press release, “My Way’ is a musical review that captures the wit, charm and the incomparable talent of ‘Ol’ Blue Eyes’ with more than four dozen of his songs.
The other shows are also described. “Always…Patsy Cline’ features more than 20 hits by the popular country artist, including “Crazy,’ “I Fall to Pieces’ and “Walking After Midnight.’ “Oliver!’ is Dickens’ heartwarming story of orphan Oliver Twist that features such songs as “Where is Love?’ “I’d Do Anything’ and “Who Will Buy?’
“Guys and Dolls’ is the story of gambler Nathan Detroit, who bets he can make the next girl he sees fall in love with him. She happens to be reformer Sarah Brown. The show contains songs like “Luck Be A Lady’ and “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat.’ “No, No Nanette’ is a tap-dancing musical comedy set in the 1920s with songs “I Want to be Happy’ and “Tea for Two.’
“Ain’t Misbehavin” is a tribute to the 1930s music of Fats Waller and features “Honeysuckle Rose,’ “Keeping Out of Mischief Now’ and “I’ve Got a Feeling I’m Falling.’ “Will Rogers Follies’ celebrates the life of Rogers and features “Never Met a Man I Didn’t Like’ and “My Unknown Someone.’ “Jesus Christ Superstar’ is the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice rock opera that is based on the last seven days of Christ’s life and includes “I Don’t Know How to Love Him’ and “Superstar.’
In addition to good shows, the public will be able to see Broadway actors in their own backyard. Iannone pointed out a number who have appeared on Broadway and are slated for WVPT productions. They include:
– Rachel Ricca, who plays Patsy, and Louisa Flaninigan, who plays Louise, in “Always…Patsy Cline.”
– Michelle Dawson, Jay Montgomery and Jennifer Johns in “My Way.”
– Lance Phillips, who plays Bill Sykes; and Alicia Irving, who plays Nancy, in “Oliver!’
– Robert Anthony Jones, who plays Nicely. Dawson will also play Sarah Brown and Connie Salutos who is Miss Adelaide in “Guys and Dolls!’
– Salutos, who plays Lucille; Flaninigan, who portrays Sue Smith; Don Bovingloh, who is Jimmy Smith; and Christine Negerbohn, who is Nanette, in “No, No Nanette.”
– D’Ambrose Boys and Teran Carter in “Ain’t Misbehavin.'”
– Dan Sharkey, who is Will, and Julie Dingman, who plays Betty Blake, in “Will Rogers Follies.”
– Michael Hunsaker, who plays Jesus, and Dan Cooney, who portrays Judas, in “Jesus Christ Superstar.’
And WVPT hopes to encourage more youths and young adults to enjoy these wonderful shows by offering a special called Movie Price Nights on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Ticket prices for these nights are reduced.
“We want you to get away from television and enjoy yourselves,’ Iannone said. “This is good family entertainment.’
Because construction on the new theater is to start soon, WVPT will not be returning to the State Theatre Center for the Arts in Uniontown, where it has presented a show for the past several years in the fall.
“After the summer, we’ll be putting our efforts into the building and planning educational and artistic efforts,’ said Iannone, who added, “We have a wonderful relationship and will work on continuing our relationship with Chris Wagner (executive director of the State Theatre) and her staff. They’ve always made us feel welcome. I like what they do at the State Theatre and hope they continue to do it, but right now we don’t want to spread ourselves too thin.’
WVPT, however, will continue to offer its annual Christmas production, which will be “Scrooge’ in December. WVPT’s holiday shows are seen by more than 10,000 students each year.
While WVPT’s 2003 season is planned to offer a variety of shows that appeal to a variety of age groups, one thing remains consistent: it’s all homegrown.
“This is an American art form – musical theater,’ Iannone said. “There’s nothing more American.’
For more information on tickets and the 2003 season, call West Virginia Public Theatre at 304-599-6785 or 1-877-999-WVPT.