3 minute read
Fishing for the Moon
A Note from the Composer of Fishing for the Moon
by James Kaplan
I’ve spent a great deal of my life contemplating numbers. There is a through line from my love and study of music theory to my interest in accounting. Organizing numbers so that the surrounding area makes sense. So as I contemplated Fishing for the Moon being a part of this summer season at Peninsula State Park, I couldn’t help but notice some numbers of significance. This summer is the 30th anniversary of the premiere of Fishing for the Moon, the first show I created with Fred Alley. The premiere happened in June 1992, when I had just turned 30 years old. Even if you don’t have such a great flair for numbers, you might have done some math and determined that it was half a lifetime ago.
It is especially wonderful that I will get to play piano for this year’s production with a couple other veterans of the original production– Jeff Herbst will portray Colonel T. Riley Olson, and Karen Mal will be joining me in our small but determined orchestra.
Revisiting the play now, I hear quite a bit of Fred’s dad, George, in the humor, some of which can only be described as “Dad jokes.” There are tongue twisters and riddles, slapstick and silliness, beauty beheld and bargains made. It is a very funny show with quite a few delightful surprises!
From the 1992 AFT Playbill: “The years following the Civil War were not particularly humorous…did we choose the post war era for its bittersweet atmosphere or the natural release of hysterical energy that follows great loss? Perhaps the sweetness of lovers’ tender reunions and the abiding loyalty of friendships forged under fire? No. We already had the costumes.”
Fishing for the Moon
Book & Lyrics by Fred Alley
Music by James Kaplan
Director Jeff Herbst
Assistant Director Doug Clemons
Music Director James Kaplan
Associate Music Director Karen Mal
Choreographers Pam Kriger, Jeffrey Herbst & Doug Clemons
Stage Manager Shawn Galligan*
Asst. Stage Manager Zach Woods
Lighting Designer Bryce Foster
Sound Designers Ben Werner & Derly Vela
Costume Designer Karen Brown-Larimore
Scenic Designer Stewart Dawson
Props Designer Lisa Schlenker
Cast of Characters
Rufus Smith............................................................... Hayden Hoffman
Peter Rutherford Hall.......................................................Alex Campea
Lucy................................................................................. Hannah Kato
Tucker Riley Olson............................................................. Jeff Herbst*
Shirlene Olson....................................................Lachrisa Grandberry*
Caroline................................................................ Corrie Beula Kovacs
*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
Musicians: James Kaplan | Karen Mal | Colin O’Day
"Fishing for the Moon" is sponsored by Door County Medical Center, The Cordon Family Foundation, Anonymous Donor in honor of Door County Land Trust, Harbor Fish Market & Grille, Parkwood Lodge
