MADISON - - Scat, big bands, exuberant dance and just plain raw energy are all elements of swing, that uniquely American form of music that energized a generation and helped bring it through the Great Depression and World War II.
"The Original Broadway Swing,!" this summer's Young Adult Production at Rabbit Run Theater will take center stage Thursday, July 6, and 7. Swing! is a revue filled with the musical strains of big band/jazz favorites Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Tommy Dorsey and many others. Paul Kelly developed the original concept for the show with original direction and choreography by Lynne Taylor-Corbett.
The show is directed by Eric Grapatin, a musical theater major at Syracuse University. This is the first directorial experience for Grapatin, a Perry High School graduate, at Rabbit Run Theater. Grapatin has appeared numerous times on stage in area theaters including Rabbit Run, Geauga Lyric Theater Guild, and at Ashtabula Arts Center in both the Straw Hat and the G. B. Community Theaters.
"The show is a challenge to direct," said Grapatin. "This is a revue, so there isn't much in the way of plot, and the music and choreography have to carry the show. Eddie Carney is the musical director for the show and Heather Hoffman is the choreographer, and I have been so impressed with the quality of work from both of them. We also have a great cast. All of them have a very professional and mature attitude, and that helps a production a lot."
Rabbit Run has produced Youth Productions for the past four summers. "We wanted to give area youth the opportunity to be a part of a full-scale theatrical production," said Ruth Dorr, theater chair. "Many of our shows at Rabbit Run offer roles that require adults. We have so many talented young people in this area, and the youth productions give them an opportunity to be a part of a full-scale production that they might not otherwise have.
There will be two shows July 7, a matinee at 3 p.m. and an evening performance at 8. The performances on Thursday and July 6 begin at 8 p.m. To reserve tickets, call the box office at 440-428-7092, Wednesday through Sunday, 3 to 7 p.m. Rabbit Run Theater operates under the auspices of Rabbit Run Community Arts Association and is located at 5648 Chapel Road.
Star Beacon Print Edition: 6/29/2007
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