In conjunction with its production of the musical comedy, “Dames at Sea,” Peninsula Players Theatre Artistic Director Linda Fortunato and Music Director David Corlew will host a special pre-show seminar on musical theater and movie musicals Friday, August 11th at 6:30 p.m., in the theater before the 8:00 p.m. performance. “Dames at Sea” is an off-Broadway hit featuring book and lyrics by George Haimsohn and Robin Miller and music by Jim Wise. The light-hearted musical comedy had a run of 575 performances at Theater de Lys which launched Bernadette Peters as a lead actor-singer. Admission to the pre-show seminar is free, and tickets to performances are available.
“Dames at Sea” is an homage to the dance-filled musicals of the 1930s, an affectionate send-up of Hollywood fantasies such as “42nd Street” in which the naive chorus girl arrives in New York on the bus, steps into a role on Broadway and becomes a star. Fortunato and Corlew will lead a discussion on the various styles of movie musicals and musical theater.
Fortunato has been the artistic director of Peninsula Players Theatre for the past two seasons and serves as the director and choreographer of “Dames at Sea.” Her previous Peninsula Players Theatre credits include performing in “Talley’s Folly,” “The Importance of Being Earnest” and “Noises Off;” directing “The Rainmaker,” “Ghost the Musical,” “Lend Me a Tenor” and choreographing “Chicago” and “Cabaret.” She was previously the artistic director at Theatre at the Center in Munster, Indiana, where she performed in, choreographed or directed dozens of productions.
Corlew returns to Peninsula Players Theatre for his second season, where he was last seen in “Ripcord” and singing and playing the piano in “Murder for Two.” This past winter, he performed in Goodman Theatre’s “A Christmas Carol” and finished his third year on the theatre faculty at Chicago High School for the Arts, where he music directed “Nine” and “The Drowsy Chaperone.” This fall, he will be performing the role of Gaston in “Beauty and the Beast” with Harmony Japan’s “Disney on Classic” tour.
Peninsula Players Theatre is committed to providing educational programming for the community. The theater has a long history of educational initiatives, including an intern program that dates back to the founding days of the theater in the 1930s. The theater offers post-show discussions as listed on its website. Contact the Box Office at 920-868-3287 or visit www.peninsulaplayers.com for more information on free seminars, or to purchase tickets.