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Monday, January 12, 1998 Page: 8B
Director `back where she belongs’ doing `Dolly!’ for Music Box
EDITOR’S NOTE: Bob Nocek’s On Stage column normally is published in the
Arts &
Leisure section on Sunday. It will return to that section on SundayIn Jerry
Herman’s “Hello Dolly!,” the waiters in the Harmonia Gardens sing “It’s so
nice to have you back where you belong” to matchmaker Dolly Levi.
These days, the regulars at Music Box Playhouse just might be singing that
same refrain to veteran actress Agnes Cummings.
Cummings, absent from Music Box for several years because of other
commitments in the Scranton area, is returning to Music Box Playhouse to
direct “Hello Dolly!” next month.
Recent audiences know Cummings from Public Theater of Pennsylvania
productions, most notably “Harvey” at the F.M. Kirby Center in November. She
also was featured in “Three Viewings” in the tent at McDade Park this summer.
But Cummings used to direct more frequently, including a number of Music
Box productions in years gone by.
“I feel so comfortable there,” said Cummings. “They’ve got a lot of
talented people, and it’s a good place to work.”
Cummings’ connection to Music Box actually predates the playhouse itself.
She attended Wilkes University with Michael Gallagher, the theater’s acclaimed
set designer. It’s he who first invited Cummings to Music Box.
Despite her connection to Public Theater of Pennsylvania which includes
work as an administrative assistant, Cummings has no qualms about sharing her
talents with other groups.
“I love my friends and fellow actors here,” she said. “But I like to think
this keeps us all together, that there’s a true sense of regionalism. Instead
of acting like, `Oh, that’s their theater.’ ”
Her last Music Box work was directing a benefit performance of “Love
Letters” in 1995. Before that, even she can’t remember how long it’s been.
“I directed `The Music Man,’ that’s way back, at least 10 years,” Cummings
said. “I haven’t had a lot of time.”
But for Music Box, she’s willing to make time.
“It could have been any show,” she said. “I just love to work with those
people.”
Tony and Tina are getting married again.
Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre is reviving the popular “Tony and Tina’s
Wedding,” an audience participation show that resembles a real Italian
wedding. Ann Marie Kopec will direct.
The production, at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 8, is once again at Convention
Hall in Pittston.
Little Theatre first staged “Tony and Tina’s Wedding” last February, and
shortly thereafter Diva Productions of Scranton presented a successful run of
the off-Broadway hit.
“Tony and Tina’s Wedding” includes a family-style buffet dinner. Tickets
are $30. Call 823-1875 for reservations.
The national tour of “Dreamgirls” stopped in Hershey this past week, on its
way to a spring Broadway opening. Based on Tuesday’s show, this revival could
be among the surprises of the season.
Sure, the bus-and-truck production values will need to be punched up for
New York (there’s barely a set to speak of), but the cast is among the best
you’ll find on the road.
“Dreamgirls” is the story of a female singing group’s rise to the top,
not-so-loosely based on Diana Ross and the Supremes.
Auditions for Jason Miller’s “Nobody Hears A Broken Drum” have been
scheduled for Feb. 2-3 at the F.M. Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre.
The play, about the coal mining industry in Northeastern Pennsylvania,
includes roles for 18 men and two women, ranging in age from mid-teens to late
50s.
Actors should prepare a short monologue and be prepared for blind readings.
They also should bring a bio sheet and black-and-white photograph.
Call 823-4599 for more information and to sign up.
Rehearsals begin in mid-February.
“Nobody Hears a Broken Drum” will be presented April 2-4 at the Kirby
Center.
Auditions also are scheduled for Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre’s upcoming
production of Neil Simon’s “Jake’s Women,” directed by Jack Gibbons.
Needed are a male in his 50s, a pre-teen girl, a 21-year-old woman, three
women between 30-40, and a woman in her late 40s-early 50s.
All actors will be asked to read from the script.
Auditions are today and Tuesday at St. Stephen’s Church, 35 S. Franklin
St., Wilkes-Barre. “Jake’s Women” runs March 27-April 5.
Neil Simon’s “Proposals” closed Sunday after just 76 performances, the
second-shortest Broadway run by a Simon work. Only “Fools,” his 1981 flop,
fared worse.
Last week’s column mentioned that opening of Paul Simon’s “The Capeman” has
been pushed back to Jan. 29.
Now comes the news that director Jerry Zaks has been brought in to help fix
the troubled musical in the last three weeks before opening.
Zaks won’t be the director of record; Mark Morris will continue in that
capacity. But Zaks, responsible for the critically acclaimed “Guys and Dolls”
revival,” will lend his talents to shore up Simon’s piece.
The future is shaping up for “Footloose,” the forthcoming musical directed
by Scranton native Walter Bobbie.
Playbill On-Line reported last week that “Footloose” will open for a brief
run in Costa Mesa, Calif., in July, with a few other pre-Broadway stops
possible. Among them is the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
“Footloose,” about a city kid who scraps with a staid Southern minister, is
scheduled to open on in New York late this summer.
WHAT’S PLAYING
A guide to local theater in Northeastern Pennsylvania (for detailed
listings, including show times and ticket prices, see the Weekend section each
Friday):
NATIONAL TOURS
Broadway Series at the F.M. Kirby Center, Public Square, Wilkes-Barre.
826-1100. UPCOMING: “Damn Yankees,” Feb. 21; “How to Succeed in Business
Without Really Trying,” April 24.
Broadway Series of Northeastern Pennsylvania, Scranton Cultural Center,
North Washington Avenue, Scranton. (800) 243-9500. UPCOMING: “Norman, Is That
You?,” starring Don Knotts. Thursday through Sunday; “West Side Story,” Feb.
5-8.
Children’s Series at the F.M. Kirby Center, Public Square, Wilkes-Barre.
826-1100. UPCOMING: “Wind in the Willows,” March 25.
Scranton Cultural Center Series, North Washington Avenue, Scranton.
1-888-669-8966. UPCOMING: “Peer Gynt,” by National Theatre of the Deaf, Feb.
4.
“Sesame Street Live: Let’s Play School,” F.M. Kirby Center, Public Square,
Wilkes-Barre. March 4-15. 826-1100.
“STOMP,” rhythmic musical. F.M. Kirby Center, Public Square, Wilkes-Barre.
Jan. 30-31; Feb. 1. 826-1100.
PROFESSIONAL
Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble, Alvina Krause Theatre, 226 Center St.,
Bloomsburg. (800) 282-0283. UPCOMING: “Molly Sweeney,” by Brian Friel. Jan.
30-Feb. 15.
Public Theatre of Pennsylvania, F.M. Kirby Center, Public Square,
Wilkes-Barre. 826-1100. UPCOMING: “Nobody Hears a Broken Drum,” by Jason
Miller, April. 2-4.
The Northeastern Theatre Ensemble, Shopland Hall, Scranton Cultural Center
Fourth Floor, North Washington Avenue, Scranton. 969-1770. UPCOMING: “Who’s
Afraid of Virginia Woolf?,” Jan. 30-Feb. 15.
COMMUNITY
The Act, Carbondale. (future location TBA, due to fire). 282-0821.
UPCOMING: tba.
Bracken Theatre Company, Castlefondo, Genetti’s Best Western, Wilkes-Barre.
654-0247. UPCOMING: tba.
The Corner Bistro Dinner Theatre, South Main Street, Carbondale. 282-7499.
UPCOMING: tba.
Diva Productions, North Adams Avenue, Scranton. UPCOMING: “Hot L
Baltimore,” Feb. 20-Mar. 7.
Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre, North Main Street, Wilkes-Barre. 823-1875.
UPCOMING: Jake’s Women, March 27-April 5.
Music Box Dinner Playhouse, Hughes Street, Swoyersville. 283-2195 or (800)
698-7529. UPCOMING: “Hello Dolly!,” Feb. 13-Mar. 7.
Nuremberg Community Players, American Legion, Nuremberg. UPCOMING: tba.
Showcase Theatre, Tunkhannock Avenue, Exeter. 654-2555. UPCOMING: “The
Children’s Hour,” March 19-29.
Wilkes-Barre Artistic Theatre Ensemble, Black Box Theatre, Wilkes
University, Wilkes-Barre. 823-8220. UPCOMING: tba.
COLLEGE
College Misericordia, Walsh Auditorium, Dallas. 674-6719. UPCOMING:
“Nunsense,” March 26-29.
King’s College, Administration Building Auditorium, Wilkes-Barre. 208-5825.
UPCOMING: tba.
Marywood University, Performing Arts Center, Scranton. 348-6211 ext. 2469.
UPCOMING: tba.
Penn State Hazleton, Campus Commons Building, Hazleton. 450-3054. UPCOMING:
“Iphigenia,” April 1-4.
Penn State Wilkes-Barre, Bierly Auditorium, Lehman Twp. 675-9284. UPCOMING:
Robert Post, one-man theater. March 3.
University of Scrant