By Rachel Brandes
Moapa Valley Progress
Submitted May 7, 2008
If you missed “A Night with Rodgers & Hammerstein” last week you really did miss out.
A.C.T. Productions (American Community Theatre) performed its first play on Tuesday, April 29 at the W. Mack Lyon Middle School Auditorium. The play was put on in association with the Mack Lyon Drama Club.
Under the Direction of Erin Cornwall with Cornwall began recruiting performers a couple of months back. Once the cast was selected the group had a total of five weeks to learn their parts.
The cast and crew consisted of approximately 50 individuals. Actors included kids ages 5 years old on up to much more mature actors.
“It really went well,” said Cornwall. Cornwall explained that the play was put together very quickly and she was impressed with the actors and the work they did. “I couldn’t have asked for more,” she said.
First the cast performed songs from The Sound of Music. The cast included: Erin Cornwall as Maria, Kim Leavitt as Captain Von Trapp, Jan Mecham as Mother Abbess, Jennifer Richins as Sister Berthe, Angela Wallace as Sister Sophia, Sadie Bylund as Sister Margereta, Grant Mecham as Rolf, Kari Kotraba as Leisel, Chandler Whipple as Fredrich, Pamela Mecham as Louisa, Pace Maughan as Kurt, Shannon Wallace as Brigitta, Macy Morgan as Marta, and Rebecca Rebman as Gretel.
Next up were songs from Oklahoma. The cast included: David Wilson as Curley, Erin Cornwall and Rebekah Caldwell as Laurey, Arlene Pennington as Aunt Eller, Matt Stankosky as Jud, Kaylene Canfield as Ado Annie, and David Anderson as Will Parker. The girl quartet included: Heather Wallace, Sam Webber, Zila Johnson , and Erin Whipple. The Ensemble included Blakey Anderson, Tanner Maughan, and Abby Morgan.
Many volunteers helped make this night a success. Special thanks were given to Don Kenworthy, Poll Sound, David Wilson, Mark Dammann, Mack Lyon Middle School Drama Club and Mr. Dennis Jarrell, Ray Panter, Elaine Panter, Meghann Peterson, Carol Webber, and Susan Wilson. Cornwall also thanked the many moms who watched her one year old twins while she got this production together.
Cornwall looks forward to continuing to make A.C.T. Productions a success. “I hope to grow and bring more of everything including full plays and musicals,” she said.
If you are interested in being part of a future A.C.T. Production or have questions about helping and donations, you can contact Erin Cornwall at 398-7417.
