Well, good morning, everyone!
There is a lot going on per usual full of highs and lows, good and bad. But there really isn’t anything bad. Problems, obstacles, all the road blocks that arise, are more about lessons to learn and finding out what it takes to meet life’s challenges. On the upside: the casting of CATS is complete and, ladies and gentlemen, these dancers and singers and actors are going to knock your socks off. With Shawn Stengel directing the show and its music and Harrison Mc Eldowney choreographing, Kevin Depinet designing the set and Jesse Klug designing lighting, you are in for an eye popping treat! Add to that the stunning new costume design by Theresa Ham we all had the privilege to see last week at our production meeting; a BBQ dinner at Shawn’s house! After sipping a glass of red, munching al fresco a scrumptious salad and grilled turkey burger, the team gathered within around Shawn’s dining room table. There, Theresa had displayed her color renderings of every character with swatches of gorgeous fabric strikingly defining them. Paired with Katie Cordts inspired wig and make-up design; perfectly dazzling! Theresa’s taste level brings out a sexy chic in these original new designs for our dancers’ sleek, olympian, physiques. Deep rich colors, fine, beautiful textures, bold animal prints; very classy. She layers and contrasts exquisite printed sheers with lace and netting and faux fur and crushed velvets always allowing for the dancer’s freedom of expression and movement…all of it stretches! Brava,Theresa!
Our Paramount production of CATS will be filled with visual surprises from the costumes, sets and lights to the stylistic dynamics of Mc Eldowney’s thrilling choreography. And the singing! I confess that until we started to prepare for auditions I had forgotten how full of intricate and power house marvels this Andrew Lloyd Webber score really is! Yes, it is the show that set records for running 21 years in London and 18 years on Broadway surpassed only by his PHANTOM of the OPERA which is still running with no end in sight! I have to find out when I can announce the cast to you…I’m sure it’s soon! Rehearsals begin mid-August for our opening on September 10th, the start of Season Four!
Also in August, get your rock on Sunday August 10th! Do not miss BOSTON at RiverEdge Park! Tickets go on sale this morning at 10:00 AM! Click here to order online or call 630.896.6666 or visit our Paramount Box Office at 23 Galena Blvd. in Aurora!
“IT’S MORE THAN A FEELING!”
Love & thanks, everyone!
Jim