By STU CLAMPITT
Come along and listen to the lullaby of Broadway. From July 28 to 31, Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre, 3 Carter Green, Carmel, and their Young Artists Program (YAP) is staging 42nd Street to celebrate Broadway, Times Square and the magic of show biz with wit, humor and pizzazz.
At the height of the Great Depression, aspiring chorus girl Peggy Sawyer comes to the big city from Allentown, Pa., and soon lands her first big job in the ensemble of a glitzy new Broadway show. But just before opening night, the leading lady breaks her ankle. Will Peggy be able to step in and become a star? The score is chock-full of Broadway standards, including “You’re Getting To Be A Habit With Me,” “Dames,” “We’re In the Money,” “Lullaby of Broadway,” “Shuffle Off to Buffalo” and “42nd Street.”
According to YAP Coordinator Anne Beck, 42nd Street has a cast of 34 high school-age performers from Carmel, Fishers, Hamilton Southeastern, Mt. Vernon, Brebeuf Jesuit, Zionsville, Park Tudor, and Noblesville, all of whom must learn tap dancing.
“The challenge with this show and the tap dancing needed to pull off what an audience expects, is that unless a student had taken tap, that is not a universal skillset,” Beck told The Reporter. “So I really worked as the YAP coordinator to offer classes in tap throughout year to assist that as well as really worked with them in rehearsal process as their choreographer to make all levels feel improved within their own skillsets as well as for the show. More than half of the cast had never done a tap show before, so where they have grown to and what they have accomplished is so wonderful to see.”
Every young actor you will see on stage is a rising star.
“The beauty of this program is that it is a preprofessional program and filled with students who might want to pursue the arts in college or have done shows at school and do not want to stop performing over the summer,” Beck said. “They take master classes in acting, improv, dance, yoga, auditions, singing through the summer in addition to rehearsing the show so they truly all are rising stars and so excited and happy to come to Civic every day.”
If you have been to a Civic Theatre YAP performance before, you may see some familiar faces, but many are brand new to this stage.
“Some of the cast are here for the first time,” Beck said. “Some have been cast every year since their summer after eighth grade. Mary Kate Tanselle, who plays Peggy, is an example. She has been in every show and this year has one of the leads before heading off to college.”
Photo illustration provided
YAP auditioned 80 young actors for a show with only 34 roles. With that kind of talent pool and with YAP and Civic Theatre’s track, you know 42nd Street will entertain.
“The cast is beautifully supportive of one another because one of my program mottos is that it is a safe, inclusive environment for all to shine, thrive, create and grow together as a YAP family, but also individually,” Beck said. “I love the cast and they add to why I love my job.”
With a short rehearsal schedule to stage this show, Beck said making the cast feel as polished and prepared as possible is a challenge.
“42nd Street in particular has some iconic Gower Champion choreography that I wanted to tribute, but it can also be tricky and quite challenging,” Beck told The Reporter. “I never want choreo to be too easy, even in a short rehearsal process, because I like all students to feel they have accomplished great things. The challenge is to pay tribute to some of the original work while highlighting the strengths of every individual artist I have.”
On the other hand, Beck said she thinks the rewards are endless.
“I always say I wish I had a program like this growing up,” Beck said. “Seeing them have their own success, seeing them find personal joy in mastering a step they may have struggled with or a vocal note. Seeing them grow to make the show come to life and watching their own pride in it is amazing. As a choreographer, this year especially it has been rewarding to know so few had tapped before, and to see the caliber that they are now tapping intricate rhythms in unison – and having fun doing it!”
Beck calls the cast “thirsty to practice and work hard.” She says their efforts are paying off and now they get to have some fun while putting the final polish on this production before the audiences show up
“The energy in the room when we would finish a full number and perform it was electric and thrilling!” Beck said. “Knowing the YAP program is providing them that is rewarding. Like I said before, I wish I had a program like this growing up.”
Beck gives a great deal of the credit for the quality of this show to the team she is working with.
“I have an incredible production team, an amazing design team who also had to work in a very short amount of time to build 23 wigs and multiple costumes on 34 actors,” Beck said. “I owe the world to Adrienne Conces (costume) and Andrew Elliott (wigs and makeup). Additionally, lights, set, sound all brilliantly professionally designed and live musicians playing this amazing score. Professional stage management team. It is just an all-around fantastic experience, and I am proud of the cast and teams immensely.”
Tickets can be purchased at civictheatre.org/42nd-street or through the box office at The Center for the Performing Arts at (317) 843-3800.