Boy, it’s been a whirlwind for the past couple of months! Teaching 3 classes at Bradley University has really kept me busy, and on top of that, I auditioned for Singing in the Rain at the end of March, and landed the role of “Cosmo.” In the 1952 movie, the role was originally played by Donald O’Connor, a master of dance and comedy. The lead role of Don Lockwood is played by John Huerta in our production, and was originally played by Gene Kelly in the movie. John and I joke about how hard it is to try and live up to Gene Kelly and Donald O’Connor.

Nevertheless, we have some great help with Jenny Parkhurst, our talented director, and Erica Franken, our mad-tappin, brilliant choreographer. And, boy is this show going to rock! In case you’re not familiar with Singing in the Rain, it’s set back in the 1920’s, right when talking movie picture technology was just coming out. Don Lockwood and Lina Lamont are big name silent movie actors, coming out with a string of romantic movies, always accompanied on piano by Don’s childhood friend, Cosmo Brown.

It’s a good old story about love, romance, movie making, comedy, and of course, dancing. Almost everyone has heard the title song Singing in the Rain, as well as some of the other favorites: “Good Morning,” “Moses Supposes,” “Make Em Laugh,” etc.

The show will be playing at Corn Stock Theatre from May 30 - June 7, at 7:30PM each night. For those of you who haven’t been out to Corn Stock Theatre, it’s a pretty cool set up. The theatre is outdoors inside a large tent, and the audience wraps around 3/4 of the tent. So, the performance goes on up on the trim, which is the 4th side, and also in the middle of the tent, with the audience wrapping around them. So, it’s a closer, more personal feel than other theatres where everyone faces the front stage.

PLUS, it wouldn’t be Singing in the Rain without rain, would it? So, they’ve already rigged a system to make it rain in the tent! I haven’t seen it yet, but I hear it’s going to be really cool.

So, come on out during that week to see Singing in the Rain! Tickets go on sale May 19th. For box office information, or to see the rest of the cast list, go to:

http://www.cornstocktheatre.com/singinintherain.html

Hope to see you there for a fun night of “dancin, and singing in the rain.”

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