Plant City Entertainment On Stage With Sandy Wilson's The Boy Friend (July 2010) - # - MyPaperNow.com

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Plant City Entertainment returns to the stage with Sandy Wilson's The Boy Friend, directed and musical directed by Nick Folkes and assistant directed by Van Frost, the drama teacher at Plant City High School, who also attends to the show's technical direction.

Show dates are July 16-18 and 23-24 at the Plant City Entertainment Theatre at 101 N. Thomas Street in Plant City, Fla. Evening performances are at 8 p.m. There is also a July 18 matinee at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $14 for general admission; $12 for senior citizens and students; and $10 for PCE members and group advance sales.

The Cast:Polly Brown: BRIANNA MANLEYMitchell Spencer: TONY BROCKHURSTMaisie: MACKENZIE WINTERSBobby Van Husen: TAYLOR FROSTFay: TIFFANY MEADOWSNancy: KATIE MCCORKLEDulcie: LINDSEY CARTEROmnes: ASHLYN KEARNSPierre: BRANDON PATRICKAlphonse: CONNER FROSTMarcel: LOGAN BOYETTEJacques: COLIN CARNEYLord Brockhurst: JOHN HARRERLady Brockhurst: JENNIFER JACKSONPercival Browne: VAN FROSTHortense: HEATHER BARLOWMadame DuBonnet: KRISTEN MELANSONWaiter / Gendarme / Pepe: COY PERMENTERClaude: AIDAN MACGIRVINAmelie: AMELIA MACGIRVINEnsemble: CHRISTINE WYNNEEnsemble: MICHAEL WYNNE
Synopsis (As Noted On PCE Website):
The Jazz Age lives on in this light, romantic spoof of "The Roaring 20's" musical comedy. This is the musical that made Julie Andrews a star! Nominated for a Tony Award on Broadway,
the setting is the French Riviera. Polly, an English heiress attending Mme. Dubonnet's Finishing School, falls in love with Tony, a delivery boy. Recalling her father's warning to beware fortune seekers, she posses as a working girl, unaware Tony is in fact the missing son of the wealthy Lord Brockhurst. Things get complicated and hilarious with the unexpected arrival in Nice of Polly's parents and Lord and Lady Brockhurst. But not to worry, a happy ending is in store for all.

". . . With its catchy tunes, period dances (including the inevitable Charleston) and winning sense of humor, The Boy Friend is a sparkling, tongue-in-cheek 1920's romp in the spirit of No, No, Nanette.

"It's a little-known, rarelly done show but the music is fabulous and the story line is just fun," says Nick Folkes, director of the Plant City Entertainment production of The Boyfriend.

Known as the show that gave Julie Andrews her start, The Boyfriend is not unfamilar territory for Folkes.

"I played the character Tony in high school and I knew how simple, musically, it was," Folkes says. "Since I'm both the director and musical director for this show, it was simple enough that I could take on both sides."

The show featrues a live orchestra as well, with pianist Lenn Stone as the pit leader.

For each show, Plant City Entertainment assigns liaisons from its board of directors. For The Boyfriend, the liasions are Shirley Outen and Hal Brewer. Corey Wade serves as the stage manager and Betty Roney as the costume designer.

As Lady Brockhurst, Jennifer Jackson gets to play, as she puts it, "a battle-ax," described as a "woman held to be antagonistic and overbearing."

As one of the few adults in a show featuring teens, Jackson says she has not problem with that. "These kids are so awesome," she says. "They're talented, they're nice together, and they work hard."

Jennifer Jackson, backstage with Coy Permenter, has been with Plant City Entertainment since the beginning of the community theater troupe. A Plant City High School graduate, Jackson is not alone in the pride she exudes for the theater troupe's ability to finally own its own building.

With each of its four shows in its new venue, PCE players, onstage and off, have worked tirelessly to add (and subtract) structural elements for the good of the theater. "In" with The Boyfriend, for example, are light bars and a larger stage. Gone for good is the "termite-ridden loft" that made way for a band shell off the back of the stage.

"Everyone is so vested in the building itself," Jackson says. "People are here every day working."

Costume director Betty Roney says she "really wanted to make it look like 1925" via the styles worn. Backstage in a sampling of the show's costumes, from left, Amelia MacGirvin, Tiffany Meadows, Katie McCorkle, Lindsay Carter, MacKenzie Winters, and Ashlyn Kearns.

"I didn't want the dresses to be cookie-cutter dresses, where it's the same dress over and over and over but just a different color," she says. "I wanted to make sure each dress had something a little different, to make it a little more interesting."

As for the styles in the Roaring 20's, Roney says she loves them.

"It was a very playful time," she says. "We had gotten out of the really severe attire."

"I think it's wonderful they finally have their own space," Jeff Moranville says about Plant City Entertainment and the realization of the community theater company's 30-plus year quest for its own theatre building. "We can built on [the space] and with every show you can do a litte more."

A self-described "Dad behind the scenes," Moranville's talents are put to use in the sound and lighting booth, as well as with structural considerations in the theatre itself. One addition to the building, thanks to the staging of The Boyfriend: light bars.

"I'm just really excited to be in the show, much less have the lead, especially since it's my first show ever," says Brianna Manley, who plays the orle of Polly. It is not lost upon Manley that the show on Broadway marked the first show also for Julie Andrews.

"I feel like I'm following in her footsteps in a small way," Manley says. "I'm kind of excited, but nervous, too."

Manley's take on her character is that Polly is "very reserved, very sweet, and very boy crazy, kind of like the way I am right now."

"She works really hard and listens very well," veteran actress and Plant City Entertainment member and board director says of Manley. "She's not jaded, she's a clean slate, and she wants to learn it all."

Plant City Entertainment returns to the stage with Sandy Wilson's The Boy Friend, directed and musical directed by Nick Folkes and assistant directed by Van Frost, the drama teacher at Plant City High School, who also attends to the show's technical direction.

Show dates are July 16-18 and 23-24 at the Plant City Entertainment Theatre at 101 N. Thomas Street in Plant City, Fla. Evening performances are at 8 p.m. There is also a July 18 matinee at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $14 for general admission; $12 for senior citizens and students; and $10 for PCE members and group advance sales.

The Cast:

Polly Brown: BRIANNA MANLEY
Mitchell Spencer: TONY BROCKHURST
Maisie: MACKENZIE WINTERS
Bobby Van Husen: TAYLOR FROST
Fay: TIFFANY MEADOWS
Nancy: KATIE MCCORKLE
Dulcie: LINDSEY CARTER
Omnes: ASHLYN KEARNS
Pierre: BRANDON PATRICK
Alphonse: CONNER FROST
Marcel: LOGAN BOYETTE
Jacques: COLIN CARNEY
Lord Brockhurst: JOHN HARRER
Lady Brockhurst: JENNIFER JACKSON
Percival Browne: VAN FROST
Hortense: HEATHER BARLOW
Madame DuBonnet: KRISTEN MELANSON
Waiter / Gendarme / Pepe: COY PERMENTER
Claude: AIDAN MACGIRVIN
Amelie: AMELIA MACGIRVIN
Ensemble: CHRISTINE WYNNE
Ensemble: MICHAEL WYNNE

Synopsis (As Noted On PCE Website):

The Boy Friend

No, No, Nanette

Plant City Entertainment returns to the stage with Sandy Wilson's The Boy Friend, directed and musical directed by Nick Folkes and assistant directed by Van Frost, the drama teacher at Plant City High School, who also attends to the show's technical direction. Show dates are July 16-18 and 23-24 at the Plant City Entertainment Theatre at 101 N. Thomas Street in Plant City, Fla. Evening performances are at 8 p.m. There is also a July 18 matinee at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $14 for general admission; $12 for senior citizens and students; and $10 for PCE members and group advance sales. The Cast:

Polly Brown: BRIANNA MANLEY
Mitchell Spencer: TONY BROCKHURST
Maisie: MACKENZIE WINTERS
Bobby Van Husen: TAYLOR FROST
Fay: TIFFANY MEADOWS
Nancy: KATIE MCCORKLE
Dulcie: LINDSEY CARTER
Omnes: ASHLYN KEARNS
Pierre: BRANDON PATRICK
Alphonse: CONNER FROST
Marcel: LOGAN BOYETTE
Jacques: COLIN CARNEY
Lord Brockhurst: JOHN HARRER
Lady Brockhurst: JENNIFER JACKSON
Percival Browne: VAN FROST
Hortense: HEATHER BARLOW
Madame DuBonnet: KRISTEN MELANSON
Waiter / Gendarme / Pepe: COY PERMENTER
Claude: AIDAN MACGIRVIN
Amelie: AMELIA MACGIRVIN
Ensemble: CHRISTINE WYNNE
Ensemble: MICHAEL WYNNE

Synopsis (As Noted On PCE Website):

The Boy Friend

No, No, Nanette

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Polly Brown: BRIANNA MANLEY
Mitchell Spencer: TONY BROCKHURST
Maisie: MACKENZIE WINTERS
Bobby Van Husen: TAYLOR FROST
Fay: TIFFANY MEADOWS
Nancy: KATIE MCCORKLE
Dulcie: LINDSEY CARTER
Omnes: ASHLYN KEARNS
Pierre: BRANDON PATRICK
Alphonse: CONNER FROST
Marcel: LOGAN BOYETTE
Jacques: COLIN CARNEY
Lord Brockhurst: JOHN HARRER
Lady Brockhurst: JENNIFER JACKSON
Percival Browne: VAN FROST
Hortense: HEATHER BARLOW
Madame DuBonnet: KRISTEN MELANSON
Waiter / Gendarme / Pepe: COY PERMENTER
Claude: AIDAN MACGIRVIN
Amelie: AMELIA MACGIRVIN
Ensemble: CHRISTINE WYNNE
Ensemble: MICHAEL WYNNE

Synopsis (As Noted On PCE Website):

The Boy Friend

No, No, Nanette

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