May 26, 27, June 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 2002

To our marvelous production staff of The Music Man, we added choreographer extraordinaire, Guy Caridi.

The Players were off to the fair in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s’ piece of heartland Americana, State Fair. Abel (Jamie Estill) and Melissa Frake (Cheryl Phillips) and their daughter, Margy (Christina Ward) and son, Wayne (David Scalise) leave behind the routine of their family farm for three days of adventure at the 1946 Iowa State Fair. Mom and Pop have their hearts set on blue ribbons, while their daughter and son find romance  and heartbreak on the midway. Margy finds true love with the worldly reporter, Pat Gilbert (Timothy Eifert) while Wayne falls hard for the unattainable nightclub singer, Emily Arden (Charity Parenzin). Our fair announcer was none other than our multi-talented stage manager, Stacey Morigeau.

Choreographer, Guy Caridi, joined the experienced production staff (Director, Craig Schieber, Music Director, Stephen Wall, Costumer, Mary Duckering, and Set Designer, Chris Stanley) and brought to the forest theater stage delightful, complex and energetic swing dancing as befitted the time period. The cast learned to waltz, swing, jitterbug, and to country dance. Audience members were highly entertained by dancing cast members of all ages. Guy Caridi’s “Swine Lake” (pig ballet) will be long remembered as a highlight of this show. We were fortunate to find Debbie Valenta, pianist extraordinaire, to lead the cast through this academy award winning score.

Fresh popcorn, popped and sold at the trailhead by costumed cast members, helped to create the fair atmosphere, and helped the Players to make their budget. 2694 attended this show.