Singin’ in the Rain is the most popular, most watched movie musical of all time. Our production is a direct, stage version of the film with all the romance, Hollywood glamour, show-stopping dance numbers and solid storyline to make it a memorable challenge,” says URI Theatre Department Chair Paula McGlasson who directs the play.
The show will be staged April 25 to 29 at 7:30 p.m. and April 28 and April 29 at 2 p.m. in the Robert E. Will Theatre in the URI Fine Arts Center, 105 Upper College Road, Kingston. General admission is $20, and $15 for students. Tickets can be purchased by calling 401.874.5843 or online at www.uri.edu/theatre.
The play is set in 1927. Don Lockwood and Lina LaMont are the toast of Tinseltown until “talkies” come on the scene. Many moviegoers will recall Gene Kelly joyously tap dancing puddles in the famous MGM film. Andrew Burnap who made a big splash this winter by winning the Irene Ryan Acting Award for the Northeast region of the American College Theatre Festival, plays the Gene Kelly lead. Because Burnap will compete nationally at the Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C. later this month, the theater department will present the play for one week instead of its nomal two weeks.
Singin’ in the Rain has more than 200 costumes, 19 different scenic locales, rolling and flying drops and set units, hundreds of lighting cues, a cast of around 30, offstage crew that is close to the size of the onstage cast, tap dancing, four filmed segments shown on multiple projectors on numerous screens, a live orchestra, and one unique set piece that must function to produce rain onstage.
“At times I feel like Ziegfeld,” says director McGlasson. “Each decision must be made in consideration of light changes, set changes, costume changes, budget, equipment availability, and personnel availability. I’m fortunate to have the best designers, cast, and staff. Without their intelligence and creativity and resourcefulness, the show could not go on!”
Musical direction is by guest artist, Lila Kane; costume design by David T. Howard; sets by URI alumna Cheryl deWardener; lighting design by Christian Wittwer; and sound design by guest artist, Mike Hyde.
Cast members and their hometowns are:
Actor, Character, Hometown
Joshua Andrews, Cosmo Brown, Coventry
Julia Bailey, Dora/Miss Dinsmore, Lawrence, Mass.
Julia Bartoletti, Featured Dancer Understudy, Worchester, Mass.
Eric Benevides, Ensemble,Westerly
Miles Boucher, Dexter, Coventry
Andrew Burnap, Don Lockwood, South Kingstown
Meaghan Carley, Ensemble, West Warwick
Andrew Chafee, Ensemble, Barrington
Josh Christensen, Production Singer, Warwick
Michael Commendatore, Ensemble, Fight Choreographer, Glocester
Daren DeFrank, Ensemble, Hartford, Conn.
Nora M. Eshenheimer, Ensemble, Newport
Emily Foster, Zelda Zanders, Hartford, Conn.
Amelia Giles, Ensemble, South Kingstown
Jesse Girard, Ensemble, Trenton, N.J.
Travis Greene, Ensemble, North Kingstown
Jamie K. Hansen, Lina Lamont, South Kingstown
Shannon Hartman, Kathy Selden, Coventry
Ashley Iannaco, Ensemble/Dancer, Hudson, N.H.
Americo Lanni, Rod, Johnston
T.S. McCormick, Ensemble, Providence
Elia Nappa, Ensemble, North Kingstown
Stephen Peterson, Ensemble,Torringron, Conn.
Erika Rethorn, Ensemble, Coventry
Mia D. Rocchio, Ensemble/Olga Mara, Lebanon, N.H.
Alexandra Walsh, Ensemble, North Salem, N.Y.
Aaron Weininger, R. F. Simpson, North Kingstown
Timmy Burnap, Young Don, Wakefield
Eddy Madden, Young Cosmo, Wakefield
Pictured above
URI students (from left) Joshua Andrews of Coventry, Jamie Hansen of South Kingstown, Shannon Hartman of Coventry, and Andrew Burnap of South Kingstown star in URI Theatre’s production of Singin’ in the Rain.