| Carrie Sanderson, Michael Craig and Becky Downs sing ‘There’s No Business Like Show Business’ during a rehearsal of Perrysburg Musical Theatre’s Tribute to Irving Berlin. (Photos: Enoch Wu/Sentinel-Tribune) |
PERRYSBURG – The scene in the Beck Auditorium in the Commodore building verges on the chaotic.
Kids chatter, adults chat.
Amid the noise instructions about staging and mics and props – don’t touch them if they’re not yours –
are given.
This is show business Perrysburg Musical Theatre style, and there’s nothing quite like it.
The fledgling troupe will stage "An Evening of Irving Berlin" Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at
2 p.m. in the Beck Auditorium. Ticket prices are $10 and $8 for seniors and students available at the
auditorium or at door. The Berlin revue is a fundraiser for the troupe’s spring musical "The Sound
of Music."
This is the kind of scene Broadway star Michael Kadin Craig wishes was available when he was growing up
in Perrysburg.
The 2003 Perrysburg High School graduate will serve as master of ceremonies. Craig was the lead in
"Altar Boys" on Broadway for two years, and has toured in both High School Musical" and
"High School Musical II,"
"We never had a place like PMT where kids and adults who could do a show together… What they’re
doing is long overdue."
Craig said he always felt Perrysburg was an "artistic community," yet it lack an outlet for
adult talents.
It’s important, Craig said, for the youngest performers to witness "these people who have been doing
this for years and still have the passion."
That was evident as Frank Weaver ran through "Be Careful, It’s My Heart." He strutted and
crooned as if the house was full, interacting with pianist Eric Dickey, who laughed appreciatively.
The mixed age nature has great advantages, Craig said. "Adults help the kids keep focused."
The five weeks of rehearsal give the young performers plenty of opportunity to learn to work properly in
a theatrical context. "It gives them the confidence in how to behave in a rehearsal situation,
Craig said, That "teaches them how to behave in life."
| Frank Weaver sings the Irving Berlin classic ‘Be Careful It’s My Heart’ during a rehearsal of Perrysburg Musical Theatre’s Tribute to Irving Berlin. |
Sanderson, who is the Perrysburg Musical Theatre’s artistic director, said the company decided on a
tribute to Irving Berlin because so many of the songs are familiar, especially to older audience
members.
The revue packs more than two dozen hit tunes, including some of the most famous American songs,
"God Bless America," "White Christmas," sung by Craig, and a selection of songs from
"Annie Get Your Gun," including "There’s No Business Like Show Business," which
bookends the performance. The cast has added their own lyrics including the line "PMT exploding
like dynamite."
The songs are as easy on the voice as they are on the ear, Craig said.
Berlin’s phrased can all be sung in one breath, and they fall easily within a singer’s range.
"His writing style really teaches a singer to sing properly," Craig said.
Soloists in the show also include Sanderson, Becky Downs, Ali Seibold, Amy Trautwein, Abbie Davis, Macie
Downs, Kate Walcher, Morgan Brunsman, Noah Tye, Theodora Fried, Andy Sweeney, Lindsay Brooks and
Mckenzie Weaver. Rowan Creps will sing "Cheek to Cheek" on Friday. On Saturday the high school
Jazz Singers will perform.
Pianist Dickey both backs the singers with improvisatory flair and solos on "Steppin’ Out with My
Baby."
In all the show features a cast of 40.
