THE ELEPHANT MAN cast list – Spring 2010 April 25, 2010
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Casting
Howie Vreeland – John Merrick/The Elephant Man
Danny Erickson – Dr. Frederick Treves
Michael Wesley – Carr Gomm
Abby Schnobrich – Mrs. Kendall
Adam Logeman – Bishop Walsham How/London Policeman
Emma Peterka – Barker Rosie
Erick Austin – Barker Ross
Tara Dykema – Anne Treves
Kendra Banwell – Miss Sandwich (nurse)/Pinhead #3
Sabrina Keller – Pinhead #2
Leah Webster – Lady Elizabeth John
Sasha Blimminkora – Duchess/Sally Snork
Kim Colgan – Countess
Madison Schiller – Princess Alexandra/Pinhead #1
Kenzie Kalway – Porter
Brennan Orth – Belgian Policeman
The Elephant Man April 25, 2010
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Synopsis
The Elephant Man is the moving, poetic, and true-life story of Joseph Carey Merrick. The play explores the journey of this remarkable man, from an object of curiosity and social revulsion to celebrity.
In the play, John Merrick is a man whose body is so grossly deformed by disease that he lives as a carnival attraction “The Elephant Man,” in the slums of London A renowned and affluent doctor, Frederick Treves endeavors to study Merrick’s condition and convinces the Londong Hospital to take him in as a resident patient. A friendship between the two men blossoms and Treves, as well as the hospital staff, discover that Merrick is not the mindless victim they thought him to be, but a man of remarkable intelligence and sensitivity. His life, tragic destiny, and spiritual quest, is relevant to our lives today on countless levels.
While animals may abandon their disabled, as human beings we would like to believe that we have evolved beyond this behavior, and certainly the little protections afforded by our anti-discrimination laws are a step in the right direction. But as the story of Joseph Merrick tells us, there is a lot more we can do to foster the spiritual and artisitc nature of all human beings, including those in whom nature has altered the standard set of genes.
History
The Elephant Man was first produced in London at the Hampstead Theatre. It soon moved to New York and opened Off-Broadway at the Theatre of St. Peter’s Church, and then to Broadway and the Booth Theatre. Pomerance’s play earned good reviews and a number of awards, including a Tony Award, the New York Drama Critics award, the Drama Desk Award, and the Obie Award.
The play is based on the story of Joseph Merrick; in large part, it draws from the book by Frederick Treves, which chronicles Merrick’s life story. Critics applauded Pomerance’s efforts to depict the conflict that results when Treves saves Merrick from the freak shows only to exploit Merrick himself.
The play earned a Tony Award for Best Play in 1979, and several of the actors and actresses in the show have recieved Tonys for their performances in The Elephant Man.
Memorable Quotes
Bytes: Life!…is full of surprises. Consider the fate of this creature’s poor mother, struck down in the fourth month of her maternal condition by an elephant, a wild elephant. Struck down!…on an uncharted African isle. The result is plain to see..Ladies and gentlemen…The terrible…Elephant Man!
John Merrick: I am not an animal! I am a human being! I…am…a man!
Mrs. Kendall: Why, Mr. Merrick, you’re not an elephant man at all.
John Merrick: Oh no?
Mrs. Kendall: Oh no…no…you’re a Romeo!
Carr Gomm: Can you imagine the kind of life he must have had?
Dr. Frederick Treves: Yes, I think I can.
Carr Gomm: I don’t think so. No one could possibly imagine it! I don’t believe any of us can.
John Merrick: People are frightened by what they don’t understand.
John Merrick: Do you know why my head is so big, Miss Kendall? It is because it is filled with dreams.
Apollo Performing Arts Center presents: THE ELEPHANT MAN April 25, 2010
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Showtimes
April 29th – 7:30 pm
April 20th – 7:30 pm
May 1st – 7:30 pm
May 2nd – 2:30 pm matinee
Tickets
$5 for students and seniors
$7 for adults
Call (320) 253-1600 ext. 2113
The Elephant Man Video – Spring 2010 April 25, 2010
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Watch this exclusive video of the Apollo Performing Arts Center drama production of The Elephant Man!
The Elephant Man Poster April 25, 2010
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The Elephant Man - Apollo High School Spring 2010
Director’s Musings – Urinetown Fall 2009 December 3, 2009
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In 2001 my husband Scott was on a business trip to the Big Apple. Rarely passing up a chance to enjoy the sights, sounds, smells, and of course, theatre, I tagged along. (Scott paid, I played)! On the first day in NYC, I was feeling rather haughty-taughty while having a delightful luncheon with a former student, Christopher Sieber (who just happens to be a Broadway star) when he said, “…the must see show right now is Urinetown: The Musical!” I gasped, “I am NOT going to any show titled Urinetown….” He tempted, “It’s going to win Tony Awards!” Reluctantly, I went to see it, and the show has never left me. My hope is you will leave the theatre tonight understanding why Urinetown: The Musical is heralded by critics as “one of the most wickedly-witty musicals in years.”
In a season riddled with difficult illnesses and unavoidable conflicts, the students and directors of this production have worked exhaustively– yet enthusiastically. This cast and crew is ready to showcase what happens when talent and tenacity join forces with heart and soul to whisk the audiences off to Urinetown: (The Musical, that is)!
Sincerely,
Deborah J. Bendix, Director
Urinetown Cast List October 11, 2009
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Cast
Officer Lockstock – Danny Erickson
Little Sally – Madison Schiller
Bobby Strong – Howie Vreeland
Hope Cladwell – Abby Schnobrich
Caldwell B. Cladwell – Michael Wesely
Penelope Pennywise – Emma Peterka and Angel Spooner
Heidi Gene Pour – Emma Peterka and Angel Spooner
Senator Fipp – Brennan Orth
Secretary Faye Following – Amanda Maricle-Roberts
UGC Executive Mrs. Roar-Likealion
Mrs. Millenium – Laura Briese
Mr. McQueen – Zack Kuntz
Officer Barrel – Adam Logeman
Officer Knobby-Knee – Ben Wallen
Joseph “Old Man” Strong – Josh Wallin
Josephine Strong – Tara Dykema
Tiny Tom – Erick Austin
Soupy Sue – Kenzie Kalway
Nicety Nice – Brienne Reischl
Little Becky Two-Shoes – Amanda Farag
Little Nancy No-Shoes – Kendra Banwell
Atta Girl Pearl – Sabrina Keller
Henriette Hotblades – Leah Webster
Betty Bobbie the Stockfish – Melissa Murray
Lucy Lukerbie – Kelsey Krueger
Billy Boy Bill – George Luangoudom
Understudies
Hope/Little Sally – Leah Webster
Henriette Hot Blades – Melissa Murray
Pit Orchestra
Piano – William C. White
Trombone – Ben Evanson
Cello – Spencer Frie
Bass – Mitch Kruger
Percussion – Joe Orcutt
Saxophone – Joel Thielman
Clarinet – Mallory White
Crew
Lights
Matt Banks*
Kasey Haight
Alex Kayser
Austin Rice
Sound
Mariah Nix*
Cj O’Hara
Sam Kjolhaug
Stage
Kiersty Jehoich*
Lisa Krueger*
Erin Banks
Kenzy Jehoich
Mike Krugman
June Vormalee
Costumes
Megan Maricle-Roberts*
Sam Botz
Tram Bui
Sara Doroff
Publicity
Kendra Banwell
Amanda Maricle-Roberts
Set Building
Heather Colgan
Parker Kayser
Jim Kurzhals
* Denotes crew leader
Theatre Announces Musical September 30, 2009
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Synopsis
With a title like Urinetown: The Musical, one might ask Shakespeare’s question, “What’s in a name?” Once the initial reaction to the title wears off (and be assured there is an initial reaction), the audience quickly sees why Urinetown: The Musical is heralded as “one of the most wickedly-witty, musicals in years”…
The basic premise to this Tony-Award Winning musical is simple: A terrible water shortage has caused a 20-year drought which has led to a government-enforced ban on private toilets. The citizens must use public amenities, regulated by a monopoly that profits by charging admission for one of humanity’s most basic needs (much like the days when Romans were taxed for this same service). Amid the people, a hero emerges and a revolt for the people’s freedoms begins! This is a revolution not unlike those that fill our own history books. This musical comedy satirizes capitalism, social irresponsibility, corporate mismanagement, bureaucracy, petty small town politics, and the role we all play on life’s stage. A delightful bonus to the plotline is an underlying spoof of Broadway’s favorite musicals including: Les Miserables, Guys and Doll, West Side Story, Oliver, Annie, Phantom of the Opera, Evita, Fiddler On the Roof, and Titanic. Be forewarned, the musical is likely to leave you toe-tapping and thinking long beyond the curtain call! Enjoy Central Minnesota’s Premier of Urinetown: The Musical!
How did Urinetown: The Musical come about? The story goes like this: “A few years back, a cash-strapped writer, Greg Kotis wandered the cold, rainy streets of Paris deciding whether to use one of the pay-per-use toilets or to pee-free in a back alley. It was then that an idea struck him for a play about a city where all public toilets were controlled by one monopoly. Relieved and back in New York, Kotis created Urinetown with the help of friend composer Mark Hollman. They created the show literally in a church basement on weekends. They never expected the show to end up on Broadway. They never expected the show to win the highly coveted 2002 Tony Awards Triple Crown!” Thus, having to go to the bathroom, and. having to pay for one of life’s most basic necessities, became a play about corruption, oppression, class war-fare and environmental degradation, now one of the most celebrated plays on Broadway!
Welcome Back to School!! September 8, 2009
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Welcome back to another year of exciting opportunities! This is just a start for the website, but keep checking back for updates!
Apollo Performing Arts Center 
