Friday night was a showcase for the great number of activities available in downtown Valparaiso, evidenced by the Ideas in Motion Media team’s night on the square with a trip to Don Quijote Restaurante, followed by a viewing of the opening night of “Anything Goes” at the Memorial Opera House.
Carlos Rivero and his team at Don Quijote proved to be great hosts for the start of a night with dinner and a show, with some great dishes and of course, some wine.
“I enjoy Don Quijote for many reasons. One of which is their amazing food, like the seafood I had. My favorite aspect would probably be there fantastic staff including Elena and Carlos. What a great place,” explained Jenny Craig-Brown.
What followed was a quick hop across the downtown square to see the opening show of Cole Porter’s “Anything Goes” at the Memorial Opera House.
Friday night’s opening show was a grand onstage musical success. Then again, how could it be anything but wonderful under the careful direction of the passionate Mike Mulhearn, choreographed by the fantastic Molly Vass, and with musical and vocal direction of the wonderful Chris Stalbaum?
Entering the Memorial Opera House, one could feel the excitement in the air: an over-the top musical with plenty of schmaltz set on an ocean liner, which was waiting to take us all away from our icy and wet winter land – even for just a short time! There is no better escape from the everyday than chorus girls tap dancing, gangsters getting into trouble, nightclub singers on stage, and young lovers burning with passion!
It’s hard to walk into a show like this and remember that the actors are not completely under their own whims. They have a whole group of people who have told them what to do, thought about their characters perhaps even more than the actors, and worked out every step, word, emphasis, and costume.
Behind the scenes of “Anything Goes” is Michael Mulhearn with his first show at Memorial Opera House. He lives and acts in Chicago, but noted that he’s practically been living here during rehearsals! In addition, he seemed genuinely concerned about the production itself and the adjustments he facilitated concerning this musical classic. He shared a bit about his time here in Valpo at the Memorial Opera House.
“Oh, I love the Opera House. They really strive to set a good quality. They take themselves seriously and it’s great to work here,” he explained. “It’s nice to be in a community of artists who are in it for the art, who want to make a good piece of work. “It’s about being our best as artists, and what can we bring to the table for a show that’s done so often and seen so many times."
He continued, “It’s very open for collaboration here, which is really nice. I brought in the idea, ‘I don’t want to do this the conventional expected way; I want to try to play with this and bring more depth here,’ and they’re like, ‘Great! Let’s do it.’”
Backstage, the actors calmly prepared for their roles. Necklaces were gracefully placed, skirts were donned, curling irons were employed, rouge was applied, along with so much more preparation that goes into an elaborate production like this whirled around the cast as they readied themselves for the big night. But those behind the scenes know just what to do and why they’re there.
“It gives the people who want to be in shows an opportunity to do it. It’s local and that’s great. It’s great for the overall community because it brings people into the downtown. It also gives people the opportunity to see some really good shows. It’s a great venue,” noted Mathew Schershel, who plays the Captain of the S.S. American.
“I am very impressed with the talent that we have right in this community. The pit orchestra is awesome. All of the actors and actresses put one hundred percent effort into everything and it’s convenient, right here in Valparaiso,” agreed Valerie Balogh, who plays Mrs. Harcourt.
The crowd, waiting for the curtain in eager anticipation, smiled as much as the actors preparing backstage! With so many people waiting, it’s no wonder that the anticipation built as it did! So, what were we so excited about?
“Well, we definitely want to expose them to good music,“ explained Jennifer Prather, who brought her two sons, ages 10 and 12 to see the show. “ I think [community theatre] exposes people to good performances and good performers. I think it’s good for community identification, building community.”
This is the type of show that has a little something for everyone: plenty of laughs, the type of tunes that make your toes get to tapping, love stories, creative set design, exquisite costuming, an infusion of heart, and even an adorable dog named Bear (who plays a dog named Cheeky)! Having such a splendid evening out with members of the Valpo community and being brought together by song, dance, and – above all – theatre, is a beloved community staple! How awesome that we can take a short drive – or even a quick walk – to quench our thirst for the arts!
If you’d like to attend a performance of this fantastic production – consider it highly recommended! You still have opportunities for this weekend (Saturday 22 and Sunday 23) and the weekends of Friday the 28 through Sunday, March the 2, along with Friday the 7 through Sunday the 9. Tickets are just $21 for adults, $18 for seniors (57+), military, and students with valid ID. Show times are 8:00 pm Fridays and Saturdays and 2:00 pm Sundays.
For more information and to buy tickets, click this link! The cast and crew look forward to seeing you there!