March and April will be busy months for me, with the spring play rehearsals getting under way.
The original director of “The Dixie Swim Club” had to withdraw, so I’ve stepped in to take her place as best I can, along with the able assistance of Cheryl Folkerts. “The Dixie Swim Club” plays April 25-27 and May 2-4.
As I’ve been telling you, this comedy centers on five women who were classmates in college and on the swim team. They get together every year to catch up on each other’s lives. In the play, the first scene is 22 years after graduation; the second scene is five years later. The second act begins with them five years later and then 23 years later. In other words, our actresses have to portray their characters at ages of 44, 49, 54 and finally 77. Won’t this be interesting?
The team captain of the group is Sheree, who is full of energy and a health nut. She will be played by Mielke newcomer Jennifer Blake. Welcome, Jennifer!
Dinah, the wise-cracking lawyer, will be portrayed by Mary Madsen, who is a regular on our stage.
Jodi Angeli will be Lexie, a wealthy Southern belle who has her cosmetic surgeon on speed dial. Jodi last appeared on our stage in 2007 in “Rumors” and we’re glad she’s back.
Denise Riley, also a familiar face on our stage, plays Jeri Neal, who was a nun for many years but is now a single woman, making some surprising choices.
Sandra Wehmeyer, a Mielke audience favorite, plays Vernadette, a hard-luck case if there ever was one, but with a sense of humor through it all.
Now, if that doesn’t make you want to see this comedy, then I don’t know what will. Show times are 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, with 2 p.m. matinees on Sundays. Adult tickets are $10; student tickets $5. Call 715-526-2525 to make reservations, or with credit card, go online at www.brownpapertickets.com. Ticket outlets are Clintonville Chronicle, Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce and Wittenberg Enterprise.
By the way, if you want to support the Shawano County Arts Council, which provides the financial backing for the Box in the Wood Theatre Guild, Arts & Craft Fair and the Folk Music Festival, become a member. Single memberships are $20, student $10, senior $15, family $25, business $50 and art organizations $20. You will receive a membership card which gives you $1 off admission to all our events at the Mielke Arts Center. Send your check with name, address, email address and telephone to SCAC Treasurer, P.O. Box 213, Shawano, WI 54166.
My daughter, two granddaughters and I went to see “Wicked” at the PAC in Appleton and it was as awesome as the first time I saw it. “Phantom of the Opera” is coming back to the PAC, but I think I’ll skip it this time around — too much to do at our own theater!
If you’d like to be on my staff for “The Dixie Swim Club,” I certainly could use your help. I need a prompter, painters, builders, prop runner, ushers and more. Lots of work, but lots of fun, too. Give me a call at 715-823-6237.
See you at the theater!
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