8 minute read
Civic Theatre’s Young Artists Program Presents ‘Saturday Night Fever’
Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Submitted
What better way to wrap up summer break than by attending a LIVE and FULL HOUSE production of “Saturday Night Fever,” Thursday, July 29–Sunday, August 1, 2021, presented by Civic Theatre’s Young Artist Program (YAP)? Won’t you join us in supporting young artists from all over central Indiana, including Carmel and Zionsville, and Civic’s own YAP Coordinator Anne Beck, along with husband Scott Beck, by purchasing your tickets before they are sold out?
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Did you know that Scott and Anne Beck were in the original Broadway production of “Saturday Night Fever”? Anne is directing and choreographing this show with original Broadway choreography and her husband Scott is a member of this remarkable cast comprised of some of Indiana’s most talented youth.
A Little Backstory
Civic Theatre’s Young Artists Program (YAP) is a year-round series of workshops and seminars designed just for high school students interested in improving their skills in a professional setting and looking to prepare for college auditions and beyond.
Civic’s YAP production of “Saturday Night Fever” is an all-new version of the musical based on Nik Cohn’s 1975 New York magazine article “Tribal Rites of the New Saturday Night” and Norman Wexler’s 1977 film, featuring music by the Bee Gees adapted for high school productions. This musical adaptation of the ’70s classic film is the story of a talented, streetwise kid from Brooklyn who attempts to escape his dead-end life through dancing. The score to “Saturday Night Fever” includes many disco-era hits by the Bee Gees. Broadway’s “Saturday Night Fever” opened at the Minskoff Theatre in October 1999 and ran for 501 performances.
As members of the original cast of the company and the first national tour of Broadway’s “Saturday Night Fever,” Anne and Scott Beck are bringing their personal experiences and knowledge of the show to YAP’s cast and crew.
Beck shared that YAP’s production was originally slated to open last year. Due to the pandemic-related restrictions, the show was rescheduled for this year.
Beck and her husband, Scott, were able to participate in a reunion with the original cast of the company in Times Square in NYC in 1999 to celebrate the opening of the original Broadway show’s 20th anniversary.
“We actually went to New York [City] and celebrated a huge Times Square flash mob event where we performed our entire mega mix with the original cast of the company and the first national tour,” Beck shared. “It was just an amazing experience to be in the original company. I also did the whole [national] tour, so it was a part of my life for about three and a half years. It is also where Scott and I met. We met on the Broadway show and the tour, and then we got married years later.”
Beck credited the original company’s choreographer Arlene Phillips, whose original Broadway choreography will be featured in YAP’s show.
“Arlene was also the original choreographer of ‘Annie’ the movie that featured Aileen Quinn who we all know with those beautiful freckles,” Beck shared. “Aileen played ‘Annette’ on the tour with us, which was super cool.”
YAP’s “Saturday Night Fever” will be the first live performance with full-house capacity at The Tarkington, and as Beck expressed, she and the entire cast and crew are ready to pack the house! In addition to featuring current YAP students in this production, Beck has invited all the former students from central Indiana who graduated last year but were not able to have that senior sendoff and final YAP performance due to the pandemic.
“We invited those who were on that list of students who have participated and grown up in the YAP program but were robbed of that final opportunity to come back and audition,” Beck stated. “Five of the ones we invited took that bite and are part of the cast: Hayden Elefante and Mahesh Gupta who are from Zionsville, Elie Anania and Julia Ammons who are from Carmel and Jacob Schilling who is from Fishers.”
YAP Is About More Than Just Acting
Beck shared that working with Civic’s Director of Music and Education Brent Marty on this production has been a “hoot” and that they take pride in preparing their students for life on and off the stage.
“Being able to share this with Brent has been awesome because he enjoys the ’70s as much as I do,” Beck said. “It’s been a hoot because he shares all kinds of tidbits with the kids, and it’s been great. We tell them all the time that while YAP is a preprofessional training program, it’s not just for those who have dreams of being on Broadway. YAP helps them prepare for college and job interviews, and teaches them how to be good public speakers, networking skills and how to carry themselves. The compliment that I hear most from parents is how they saw their kid’s shell open up and how they became much more confident in social situations and in trying new things. The program is artistic, but it’s so much more than that!”
For tickets to “Saturday Night Fever” and for more information about YAP and all of Civic’s programs, visit civictheatre.org.
Thursday, July 29 – Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021
www.civictheatre.org/yap-saturday-night-fever
SHOW TIMES
Thursday, Friday, & Saturday @ 7pm Sunday @ 2pm
Adapted for the stage by Robert Stigwood in collaboration with Bill Oakes. North American script co-written and some songs composed by David Abbinanti. North American script co-written by Sean Cercone CAST AND CREW
Tony Manero - Daimon Anderson Joey - Hayden Elefante Bobby C - Jacob Schilling Gus - Maddux Morrison Candy - Julia Ammons Stephanie Mangano - Elie Anania Annette - Emily Chrzanowski Frank Manero Jr. - Louis Rivelli Pauline - Mary Kate Tanselle Monty - Matthew Wessler Double J - Fabio Cruz Frank Manero - Scott Beck Flo Manero - Anne Beck
ENSEMBLE
(Includes additional smaller roles and dance features)
McKenna Barr Kylee Booher *dance captain Keegan Connor Anjali Gupta Grace Kubek Mallory Neal Ashley Robbins Katherine Sabens Caroline Ward Liam Bass Hollis Carbrey Brynn Elliott Mahesh Gupta Cecilia Lopez Matthew Orbaugh Sarah Rolinson Allison Soards Anna Wagner Myah Yost Madeline Blank Emily Carlisle Kate Griffey Liam Hansen Elizabeth Mason Ella Owens Caleb Rubel
Cornerstone Living
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After enjoying a meal with friends in our restaurant, head on down the hall to your haircut appointment. Then walk around the corner to work out in the gym or watch a favorite movie in our indoor theater. Cornerstone Suites offer everything you need for worryfree living under one roof. You’ll find companionship, scheduled transportation for your adventures and 24/7 on-site staff just in case you need us.
Cornerstone Suites: Your foundation for independence.
World Class Cabaret at Carmel City Center
August 6 & 7
CAROLE J. BUFFORD
“You Don’t Own Me: Fearless Females of the 60’s and 70’s”. This evening will feature some of the greatest songs of the two decades like “You Don’t Own Me,” “Killing Me Softly,” and more! Experience Carole’s powerhouse vocals and hear your favorite songs in a whole new way. Carole J. Bufford has become one of the most sought after young performers in the New York cabaret & jazz scene. Carole is the recipient of a Nightlife, Bistro and BroadwayWorld Award for Outstanding Vocalist.
August 20 & 21
LIBERACE & LIZA: A TRIBUTE
David Saffert & Jillian Snow Harris share the stage as Liberace & Liza Minnelli, creating an exhilarating night of musical and comical fireworks. Delighting in the costumes, music, and glamour of show business’s wildest entertainers. Conducting the entire show is Bo Ayars who toured with “Lee” for 13 years as his arranger and music director.
August 27 & 28
FRANC D’AMBROSIO
“Back to Broadway” Join us for an evening of Broadway’s most memorable classics and revivals with an entertainer known for his record-breaking run as the Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Tony Award-winning musical The Phantom of the Opera. (See our exclusive interview with Franc in this issue)
August 5
DON FARRELL
“All The Way:” A Frank Sinatra Tribute by Don Farrell and the Terry Woods Quartet Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael presents “All The Way” A Frank Sinatra Tribute with the one and only Don Farrell. Join us spectacular performance on the Feinstein’s stage celebrating the legend, Frank Sinatra.
August 13 & 14
MARK WILLIAM
“Come Croon with Me” Direct from his sold-out run on 42nd Street, comes the show that inspired Album of the Year and garnered national awards for Best Debut, Best Album, and more. This can’t miss evening of The Great American Songbook, Broadway, Pop, and more, is packed with songs from Jerry Herman to Henry Mancini, to Peter Allen, with every moment in between filled with sparkle, panache, and genuine charm from Mark William.
August 26
BILLY STRITCH
ATI and Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael proudly present Mr. Billy Stritch! Billy is an award-winning pianist and singer and known to audiences across the country for his many solo concert performances and as accompanist and musical director for Liza Minnelli, Tony Bennett, Marilyn Maye, Linda Lavin and Christine Ebersole to name but a few. Expect to hear music by Cy Coleman, Hoagy Carmichael, Barry Manilow, Rodgers and Hart as well as original compositions and selections from the Brazilian bossa nova canon. A 2018 performance in London prompted the critic for the London Jazz Times to rave, “Billy Stritch is one of the finest, most entertaining piano players and singers on the planet!”. This special one-night engagement performance is underwritten through a generous donation by Rob and Natalie Manges.
