ESCANABA IN DA
MOONLIGHT
by
JEFF DANIELS
Directed by
BRENDAN RAGOTZY
OPENING AUGUST 22 at 8:30
playing through SEPTEMBER 3
Augusta-
August 11, 2006- On August
22 at 8:30 p.m., the Barn opens
audience favorite "Escanaba In Da Moonlight." Brendan Ragotzy directs this "Yooper
Blockbuster," which will close the theatre's 2006 season.
Jeff Daniels' play follows the Soady clan as they reunite
for the opening day of deer season at the family's Upper
Peninsula camp. Thirty-five-year-old Reuben Soady brings with him
the shameful reputation of being the oldest Soady in the history of Soadys never
to bag a buck. Reuben is buckless
and the laughing stock of the folks in Escanaba. In a hunting story to beat all
hunting stories, "Escanaba in Da
Moonlight" spins a hilarious tale of humor, horror and heart as Rueben goes to
any and all lengths to remove himself from the wrong end of the family record
book.
The cast features several Barn Theatre favorites
including Scott Burkell as Reuben Soady, Micheal Ray Helms as Albert Soady, Eric
Parker as Remnar Soady, Joe Aiello as Ranger Tom T. Treado and Roy Brown as
alien abductee Jimmer.
The technical director is Fred Gilette, scenic designer
is Richard Haptonstall, the scenic artist is Doug Blickle, the lighting is
designed by Frank J. Vela and the costume design is by Nettie Fisher. Sound is being designed by Bradford
Chapin.
Performances for "Escanaba in Da Moonlight" are
Tuesday through Friday at 8:30
p.m.,
Saturday at 6
p.m.
and 9
p.m.,
and Sunday at 5
p.m.
through September 3.
Enjoy refreshments in The Rehearsal Shed Lounge with friends before,
during intermission and after the show. Enjoy a light snack of while being
entertained by the free cabaret-style show in the Rehearsal Shed Lounge after
the main stage performance.
The
Barn Theatre is located on M-96, west of Augusta.
Tickets are $29 for all performances and Visa and MasterCard are accepted.
Group prices are available. The box office is open daily from 10
a.m.-10 p.m.
For tickets or more information please call (269)
731-4121.
####
Cast
List
Albert Soady..................................................................................
MICHAEL RAY HELMS
Reuben Soady..........................................................................................
SCOTT BURKELL
Remnar Soady................................................................................................
ERIC PARKER
Jimmer Negamanee.........................................................................................
ROY BROWN
Ranger Tom T. Treado.......................................................................................
JOE AIELLO
Wolf Moon Dance Soady...............................................................................
JANA DeBUSK
Cast
Bios
MICHAEL RAY HELMS, Albert
Soady
Michael is thrilled to rejoin his hunting pals Scott,
Joe, Eric, and Roy for another trip ‘over the bridge'. Since the last
round of "Escanaba" in 2004, Michael has been very busy with All Ears Radio
Theatre in Kalamazoo. He also
appeared last summer in THE FANTASTICKS as Bellomy with the Portage Players.
His work with us started when Jack and Brendan Ragotzy ‘discovered'
Michael in the Kalamazoo Civic's acclaimed production of ESCANABA IN DA
MOONLIGHT and snapped him up to reprise his turn as Soady patriarch Albert when
we put it on our 2003 schedule.
Michael certainly is no stranger to the stage, with some of his favorite
roles including Alfred P. Doolittle in MY FAIR LADY, Lord Fancourt in CHARLEY'S
AUNT, Dr. Zubritsky in FOOLS, both fathers in the FANTASTICKS, and Pseudolus in
A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM. He is currently employed by Van
Buren ISD as a migrant /bilingual teacher.
SCOTT BURKELL,
Reuben Soady
Scott comes back for a 24th summer after another eventful
year in New York. Scott and Barnie Paul Loesel's brand-new
musical treatment of Mark Dunn's popular novel ELLA MINNOW PEA just had a major
reading this spring and over the winter Scott staged Barnie Marin Mazzie's solo
cabaret show at Feinstein's Supper Club.
Burkell/Loesel songs have become increasingly in-demand by such B'way
performers as Rebecca Luker, Susan Egan, Kristin Chenoweth, and Marin Mazzie,
who recorded two selections with husband and fellow actor Jason Daniely for
their recently released "Opposite You" album. Scott played in both the Broadway and
First National Tour companies of TITANIC.
Here in Augusta, his career
has been unforgettable. Some faves
include Molina in KISS OF THE SPIDERWOMAN, Georg (opposite Marin Mazzie) in SHE
LOVES ME, Felix in THE ODD COUPLE, Seymour in LITTLE
SHOP OF HORRORS, and perhaps his all-time
gem, Riff-Raff in THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW
(including last-season's closing production). Also last year Scott acted in LI'L ABNER
(Marryin' Sam), THE GRADUATE, HAIR, THE FULL
MONTY (Malcolm), and directed our hit revival of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. Visit
www.scottburkell.net
ERIC PARKER,
Remnar Soady
Eric
comes home for a 14th
Augusta summer after another busy
season in Chicago. His growing list of Barn credits
includes several favorites: Jerry in THE FULL
MONTY last summer, Rocky and Eddie in seven go-‘rounds of THE ROCKY HORROR
SHOW, Cousin Kevin in TOMMY, Freddie in
CHESS, Cable in SOUTH PACIFIC, the title role in PIPPIN, Pharaoh in JOSEPH…,
Jinx in FOREVER PLAID, Jimmy Powers in CITY
OF ANGELS, Judas in JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, Remnar in ESCANABA IN DA MOONLIGHT,
and Che in EVITA, a role that introduced Eric to Chicago audiences in an
award-winning production at Drury Lane Oakbrook. His career has continued there with
several roles in their dinner theatre and TYA productions, most recently Jacey
Squires in THE MUSIC MAN, ONCE UPON A
MATTRESS, Samuel in THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, and Fezziwig in A CHRISTMAS CAROL
this past winter. Regional: THE
THING ABOUT MEN (Sebastian), A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC (Henrik), A FUNNY THING…FORUM
(Miles), THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW (Rocky), JESUS
CHRIST SUPERSTAR (Jesus), and HAIR (Claude-European Tour). TV: GUIDING LIGHT. Eric's an
Adrian native now living in
Chicago. On our off-stage staff Eric helps
oversee the maintenance of the physical plant and also moves up a notch
artistically this summer by directing our popular Bar Shows.
ROY BROWN,
Jimmer Negamanee
Roy is very
pleased to be returning to the Barn for his first season as an Equity
resident. He's gained quite a
following locally for a series of wonderful performances during his
apprenticeship: Renfield in DRACULA, Stewpot in SOUTH PACIFIC, Reuben in our '99
JOSEPH…, Lefou in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, Mrs.
Taylor in BAT BOY, Smudge in FOREVER PLAID,
and most famously, Da Jimmer in our hit productions of ESCANABA IN DA MOONLIGHT
in '03 and '04.
Roy's professional experience
includes a role in the Theatreworks USA 2004-05 National Tour of FREEDOM TRAIN
and an independent film (working title: SUMMER DAZE) currently in
post-production. A native of
Hastings and a veteran of major
roles for all the prominent local civic theatres,
Roy calls New
York City home.
In addition to his acting load
Roy is responsible for maintaining
the beautiful grounds here at the Barn.
JOE AIELLO, Ranger Tom T.
Treado
Joe
returns to the Barn after celebrating his 25th season last summer
with acclaimed performances as Tevye in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF and Harold in THE
FULL MONTY as well as returning to a role he
originated at the Barn, the infamous Dr. Frank ‘N' Furter in THE ROCKY HORROR
SHOW.
Season after season Joe has demonstrated his talent and versatility with
such varied roles as Daddy Warbucks in ANNIE, Lee in
TRUE WEST, Albin/Zaza in LA CAGE AUX FOLLES,
Arthur in CAMELOT, Mozart in AMADEUS, Gallimard in M. BUTTERFLY, and Nathan
Detroit in GUYS AND DOLLS. A gifted director as well, Joe has
earned accolades for his Barn treatments of CABARET, SHE LOVES ME, CHESS, KISS
OF THE SPIDERWOMAN, CRIMES OF THE HEART, THE MOST HAPPY FELLA, LOST IN YONKERS,
STEELMAGNOLIAS, SWEENEY TODD, and BAT BOY
(the latter two co-directed with Scott Burkell). Joe lives in New
York City where he is Director of Sales for Match-Tix
Group Sales and Promotions and co-owner of Allied/Hit-Tix, Inc.
JANA DeBUSK,
Wolf Moon Dance Soady
Jana
is ecstatic to return for a second season at the Barn. Last year Jana's credits include
Stupefyin' Jones in LI'L ABNER and Janet in THE ROCKY HORROR
SHOW.
While at Western
Michigan
University, where she just finished
her sophomore year, Jana performed
in University Productions of
BRIGADOON, THE PAJAMA GAME, and played Kate in THE WILD PARTY. She is also pleased to announce she's
just been cast as the lead in the musicalized DEBBIE DOES DALLAS at
Whole
Art
Theatre this fall. She would like to thank her family
for their unending support and faith in her dreams. Jana hails from
Kendallville,
IN.
