Paul Batterson - Page 15

The average temperature of the state of Oklahoma is in the high 80s. The temperature of the Valerie Accetta directed OKLAHOMA! at the Weathervane Playhouse in Newark, Ohio, is much, much hotter.

At the beginning of Otterbein University's production of THE 39 STEPS, Richard Hannay is desperate for a diversion from the dullness of his life in London. 'I wanted to do something mindless and trivial, so I went to the theater,' says Hannay, the central character in the Christina Kirk directed production. It's a perfect introduction for what is to follow: a show that is equal parts farce, film noir and romantic comedy.

Sam Ray's final production with Otterbein University turned out to be like a final exam for the versatile actor.

At first glance, Ben Folds and Albert-George Schram would appear to have nothing in common. Schram, a white-haired maestro with a greying mustache and a soft smile, is the Resident Staff Conductor of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. Folds, the bespectacled pop star/pianist with an acerbic sense of humor, makes a living with acidic love songs and often off-color storytelling.

The 18-member cast of Weathervane Playhouse's CABARET signed up to be in a musical but got a history course in pre-World War II Germany to go along with it.

Shadowbox Live, a theater troupe known for delivering cutting edge entertainment, puts a warning label right out in front on its latest offering BIGGER THAN JESUS.

Chip Danver will be hitting a personal milestone when Imagine Productions' presentation of RENT opens tonight, 7:30 p.m. May 7 at the Wall Street Night Club. Opening night will mark the first time Danver, who plays Mark Cohen in the Jonathan Larson musical, has seen the show in person.

Chip Danver will be hitting a personal milestone when Imagine Productions' presentation of RENT opens 7:30 p.m. May 7 at the Wall Street Night Club. Opening night will mark the first time Danver, who plays Mark Cohen in the Jonathan Larson musical, has seen the show in person.

Somewhere between Hollywood Boulevard and Broadway, there's an intersection where somewhat successful movies are turned into crowd-pleasing musicals and vice-versa. How else do you explain sensations like LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, SUNSET BOULEVARD, and LEGALLY BLONDE?

One can only imagine the conversation between David Buergler and his parents John and Kim when he found out he landed a major role in Otterbein University's production of THE FULL MONTY.

Russ Nagy recalls going to the Lakewood Civic Auditorium in Cleveland in 1971 and being blown away by one of the first performances of a new musical called GODSPELL.

Ron McNeil distinctly remembers the first time he heard bandmate Ardy Sarraf sing.

In the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, a white mask adds intrigue and mystery to the identity of the Phantom. In real life, the 'newly reimagined' PHANTOM, with its multimillion dollar facelift by set designer Paul Brown, is hiding behind a similar mask.

Lisa Andres, the director of the Pleasure Guild's SHREK THE MUSICAL, knows the final days before the opening of any show can take the toll of the cast. Her cast had four days to erect a massive set before beginning their show's March 7-9 run at the Palace Theatre.

When he writes a play, Columbus resident Steven C. Anderson usually begins within an idea and finds the right cast to present it. With THE WOLF TALES, which opens tonight, March 7 at the Studio Two Theatre in the Riffe Center, Anderson did things the other way around. He started with a cast and wrote a children's play tailor-made for their strengths.