Everything Today is Thoroughly Modern!

My most recent production I have been working on, Thoroughly Modern Millie opened last weekend to great success. We had been heavy into rehearsals since the beginning of January, and it's amazing how fast opening came. This has been one of the smoothest easy-going processes ever. The production team I got to work with was just so perfect.

The Deseret News came on Saturday and gave their review of the show. It was a really nice review. (See Below).

I have now started rehearsals for the next show...I'll be playing in Desert Star Theater's American Fork Idol starting at the end of March. It's a very funny show spoofing, of course, on the hit show American Idol. It is full of all the funny inside quirks people are familiar with if they have seen the show...with a little Utah twist to it. I'm really excited to be on stage performing again and in a different, cheesy style of theatre. COME SEE IT!


THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE REVIEW:

'Millie' cast has fun with the '20s
By Erica Hansen

Deseret News
Published: February 25, 2009

"Thoroughly Modern Millie," through March 21, Rodgers Memorial Theatre (801-298-1302); running time: 2 hours, 15 minutes (one intermission)

Meet Millie Dillmount — a Kansas City girl who moves to the Big Apple in the 1920s. Quickly adapting to the "modern" scene, she cuts her hair, shortens her hemline and lands a job as a stenographer — with the very modern plan of marrying for money, not love.

As with any great tale, high jinks ensue — in this case, when a white slavery ring, run out of the Hotel Priscilla, is discovered.

"Thoroughly Modern Millie," directed by Leslie Giles-Smith, is the latest offering at Rodgers Memorial Theatre.

Saturday night's cast, under the musical direction of Trevor Jerome, sounded great, had a nice energy and seemed to enjoy bringing the '20s to life.

Maggy Lawrence's bright eyes and wide smile were perfect for Millie (double cast with Sarah Makus), and ditto for Millie's love interest, Jimmy, played on Saturday night by Jon Rash (double cast with Chad Craner).

Both had lovely singing voices, which especially lent themselves to the beltier moments. However, the two seemed a bit stiff during their moments of dialogue, but that could easily mellow during the run of the show. Lawrence's physical comedy was really well done.

Mrs. Meers, the villainous white hotel owner who disguises herself as Asian, is played by Megan Call (Alison W. Jensen). She had a lot of fun with the role, but her accent was really hit and miss.
Her big number, "They Don't Know," was fun, but the choreography left her noticeably winded. Her sidekicks, Landon Cole Welch and Trent Brown (Adam Jones, Kyle Allen), were delightful — I found it odd that Rodgers cut one of their early numbers, which was not only disappointing but diminished a joke later in the play. The trio was very funny during "Muqin."

The other two leads did a fine job. Jessica Lesser (Angie Winegar) had a lovely soprano voice, but Todd J. Wente (Drew Thompson) seemed to struggle with his part of the rich boss — fumbling lines and struggling to hit some of the notes. But he delivered his comedic moments very well.
The set, designed by JD Madsen, was effective, though some of the moving pieces were very rickety — which was noticeable when the characters were locked in jail cells but didn't dare to touch the bars.

Saturday also had a handful of sloppy set changes and light cues that ought to work themselves out. Susan S. DeMill's choreography was fun.

"Thoroughly Modern Millie" is a night of lighthearted theater, and Saturday night's audience enjoyed the journey back in time to when jazz was hot and being a "modern" was all the rage.
Sensitivity rating: One dance scene takes place in a speakeasy, where the characters drink.