The Trenton Acting Guild Production of ?Hello, Dolly!? faced some unexpected challenges when the late May storm damaged the Grundy County-Jewett Norris Library air conditioning.
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The Trenton Acting Guild Production of ?Hello, Dolly!? faced some unexpected challenges when the late May storm damaged the Grundy County-Jewett Norris Library air conditioning. The production had to be moved to Rissler Elementary School so that the audience could be comfortable and this change presented a challenge to some people important to the production; people who don?t appear on stage. The work of these four people, however, has a great impact on the production.
Leah Brinser is the set artist for the show, creating backdrops that help establish the different locations in the show and that set the tone for the production. Mrs. Brinser, who is assisted by her mother, Karen Ockenfels, said that working on the set provides a creative outlet for her artistic talent. Mrs. Brinser and her husband, Joe, are the parents of two children, Justin and Hannah.
Randy Hammett, a professional carpenter employed by Clarkson, volunteers his expertise to TAG as a set builder. When the location moved from the Hoover Theatre to the Rissler gym, Hammett was called upon to extend the stage to make room for more than 20 performers appearing in this weekend?s production. He and his wife, Terri, have two daughters, Sidnei and Wendi.
?I?ve created some very challenging set designs and Randy has always built them for us,? said director Vicki Wheeler.
Megean McCloud is the choreographer for the musical. A former member of THS Gold Rush and the 2004-2005 drum major for the Trenton Golden Bulldog Marching Band, Miss McCloud has created two dances for the production.
?It?s a challenge to work with people who haven?t danced much,? she said. ?We have to rehearse a lot to get everything right.?
The numbers she choreographed were ?Put On Your Sunday Clothes? which involves couples dancing with parasols and ?Hello, Dolly!? the title song in the second act.
Leta Wheeler not only runs the sound for the show, but also organizes and creates props. For this show, she made a policeman’s hat from cardboard and papier-mache. During the show, she will be operating the individual body microphones that eight actors will wear.
?I have to really pay attention to what?s happening,? she commented. ?If I leave a mic on after a person has left the stage the audience might hear a comment they shouldn?t!?
?Hello, Dolly!? will be performed at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday at Rissler School. Tickets are on sale at Total Entertainment and are $6 and $7 depending on location. For more information, persons may call 359-6229.