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Beloit Civic Theatre opens 75th season with: 'Of Thee I Sing'
By Holly Johns
Daily News staff writer
Friday is a big day for Beloit Civic Theatre.
To celebrate the groups 75th anniversary, the City of Beloit has issued an Official Proclamation declaring today (Oct. 11) Beloit Civic Theatre Day.
The proclamation states the “Beloit Civic Theatre provides an artistic outlet for the creative and talented members of the community who support live theater by participating actively in productions and their presence in the audience ... and has made Beloit a better place in which to live, learn, work, play and prosper by entertaining, amusing and providing thought-provoking live theater for 75 years.”
Vice-president Loren Sass even received a letter from U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl congratulating the group on the last 75 years.
“I extend heartfelt congratulations to the Beloit Civic Theatre for providing 75 wonderful seasons of cultural enrichment to the community,” Kohl wrote. “The arts have an important role in enhancing learning experiences. For 75 years, the Beloit Civic Theatre has served the community with entertainment as well as academic opportunity through scholarships for high school graduates. All members of the theatre should be proud of the success and service to the community. Again, congratulations on your 75th season and on your opening night performance. I wish you all the best in your future performances.”
Beloit Civic Theatre will open it's 75 year anniversary season Friday with “Of Thee I Sing,” a political satire focusing on the election campaign and presidency of John P. Wintergreen.
According to the Beloit Civic Theatre Web site the plot of the production is as follows:
“Wintergreen has no viable platform; he runs simply on love. He even promises that if elected he will marry the girl chosen for him at an Atlantic City beauty pageant.
However, trouble begins when he falls in love with his campaign secretary instead of the beauty pageant winner. Diana Devereaux, a Southern belle of French descent who won the contest and was promised the position of ‘First Lady,' comes back with a vengeance when she proclaims that she will be taking legal action.
The French ambassador is brought into the scene for a slight surprise on the behalf of Mr. Wintergreen: Diana is the ‘illegitimate daughter of the illegitimate son of the illegitimate nephew of Napoleon.' It looks as if the President will be impeached for breach of promise and the French try to turn the incident into an international scandal, but Mary saves the day with a surprise of her own.
“Of Thee I Sing” is set in the White House, with music and lyrics by George and Ira Gershwin, and based on a book by George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind. In its time, it was the Gershwins' longest-running show. It won the Pulitzer Prize for the best American play of 1932 and was the first musical comedy to win a Pulitzer.”
The musical was chosen as this seasons opener because the musical was running on Broadway at the time of Beloit Civic Theatre's founding in 1932.
The production is directed by Amber Dalton and assisted by Rebecca Wallendal. Musical direction is by Jean Nauer.
Pat Hoye, Beloit Civic Theatre's president, said the theater's board will be giving back to the community this season to celebrate it's 75th anniversary. For Friday's season opener, cake and punch will be served. Random gifts that tie into the show will be given away at each performance and one piece of jewelry will be given away to a random subscriber during each show of the season.
Performances of the Beloit Civic Theatre are held at the Elizabeth Reinholz Theatre, in Beloit Memorial High School, 1225 Fourth St. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets at the door are $8 for adults and $6 for seniors and students. Season passes also are available. Reservations can be taken during the weeks of the performance only and can be made by calling the box office at (608)362-1595.
To celebrate the groups 75th anniversary, the City of Beloit has issued an Official Proclamation declaring today (Oct. 11) Beloit Civic Theatre Day.
The proclamation states the “Beloit Civic Theatre provides an artistic outlet for the creative and talented members of the community who support live theater by participating actively in productions and their presence in the audience ... and has made Beloit a better place in which to live, learn, work, play and prosper by entertaining, amusing and providing thought-provoking live theater for 75 years.”
Vice-president Loren Sass even received a letter from U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl congratulating the group on the last 75 years.
“I extend heartfelt congratulations to the Beloit Civic Theatre for providing 75 wonderful seasons of cultural enrichment to the community,” Kohl wrote. “The arts have an important role in enhancing learning experiences. For 75 years, the Beloit Civic Theatre has served the community with entertainment as well as academic opportunity through scholarships for high school graduates. All members of the theatre should be proud of the success and service to the community. Again, congratulations on your 75th season and on your opening night performance. I wish you all the best in your future performances.”
Beloit Civic Theatre will open it's 75 year anniversary season Friday with “Of Thee I Sing,” a political satire focusing on the election campaign and presidency of John P. Wintergreen.
According to the Beloit Civic Theatre Web site the plot of the production is as follows:
“Wintergreen has no viable platform; he runs simply on love. He even promises that if elected he will marry the girl chosen for him at an Atlantic City beauty pageant.
However, trouble begins when he falls in love with his campaign secretary instead of the beauty pageant winner. Diana Devereaux, a Southern belle of French descent who won the contest and was promised the position of ‘First Lady,' comes back with a vengeance when she proclaims that she will be taking legal action.
The French ambassador is brought into the scene for a slight surprise on the behalf of Mr. Wintergreen: Diana is the ‘illegitimate daughter of the illegitimate son of the illegitimate nephew of Napoleon.' It looks as if the President will be impeached for breach of promise and the French try to turn the incident into an international scandal, but Mary saves the day with a surprise of her own.
“Of Thee I Sing” is set in the White House, with music and lyrics by George and Ira Gershwin, and based on a book by George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind. In its time, it was the Gershwins' longest-running show. It won the Pulitzer Prize for the best American play of 1932 and was the first musical comedy to win a Pulitzer.”
The musical was chosen as this seasons opener because the musical was running on Broadway at the time of Beloit Civic Theatre's founding in 1932.
The production is directed by Amber Dalton and assisted by Rebecca Wallendal. Musical direction is by Jean Nauer.
Pat Hoye, Beloit Civic Theatre's president, said the theater's board will be giving back to the community this season to celebrate it's 75th anniversary. For Friday's season opener, cake and punch will be served. Random gifts that tie into the show will be given away at each performance and one piece of jewelry will be given away to a random subscriber during each show of the season.
Performances of the Beloit Civic Theatre are held at the Elizabeth Reinholz Theatre, in Beloit Memorial High School, 1225 Fourth St. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets at the door are $8 for adults and $6 for seniors and students. Season passes also are available. Reservations can be taken during the weeks of the performance only and can be made by calling the box office at (608)362-1595.
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