The first production in the new Depot Theater is Anyone Can Whistle, a musical with a book by Arthur Laurents and music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Set in an imaginary town that has gone bankrupt, it focuses on the unpopular, manipulative and corrupt mayoress, Cora Hoover Hooper and the practical but idealistic nurse, Fay Apple, a nurse at the local sanitarium, the “Cookie Jar.” Mayoress Cora Hoover Hooper together with her political cronies fakes a miracle—water flowing from a rock—that they think will attract tourist dollars. They find themselves challenged by skeptical Fay Apple, who intends to use her patients to disprove the claim. The patients from the “Cookie Jar ” mingle with the townspeople, creating chaos and confusion.  J. Bowden Hapgood, a patient mistaken for a psychiatrist, divides the town into two groups, the sane and the loony, but refuses to divulge which is which. Nurse Apple, determined to learn the truth about the “miracle”, disguises herself as a French verifier. She becomes romantically involved with Hapgood but fears letting go. Ultimately, Nurse Apple exposes the greed and cynicism of the elected officials and she and Hapgood are united.

PERFORMANCE DATES: July 9-25, 2004

CAST: Baby Joan Schroder – Danielle Jones, Treasurer Cooley – Joe Walker, Chief of POlice Magruder – Kelly Carroll, Comptroller Schub – Casey Ross, Mayor Cora Hoover Hooper – Karen Carroll, Cora’s Boys – Matt Clark, Alec Ross, Ryan Royle, Mrs. Schroeder/Townsperson – Connie Penick, Nurse Fay Apple – Amy Reinert, J. Bowden Hapgood – Kyle Hager, Dr. Detmold/Townsperson – Kent Ross, Alcoholic Nurse – Traza Ricke, George – Ryan Royle, June/Townsperson – Dee Dee Royle, John/Townsperson – Seth Eckelman, Telegraph Boy – Alec Ross, Dr. Jane Borden Osgood/Pilgrim – Wendy Nelson, Townspeople – Gayla Kirmer and Cindy Thomson, Pilgrims – Janelle Mattingly, Erin Jones, Dave Wetmore, Louise Tegarden, Sarah Schaeffer, Cookies – Everybody

ORCHESTRA/BAND: Musical Director/Conductor – Patricia Ahern, Woodwinds – Erica NIghtengale, Melissa Lutey, Adam Johnson, Trumpet – Joel Frederking, French Horn – Charles Mickey, Trombone – Bob Wambold, Tuba – Zachary Corpus, Cello – Jana M. Mathes, Keyboards – Doug Marples and Kristina Mortimer, Bass – Daniel Whisler, Percussion – John Westmacott and Jordan Baltazor

CREW: Director/Set Design – Don Steele, Stage Left Manager – Deanna Johnston,  Stage Right Manager – Jennifer Bell, Set Design – Sarah Schaeffer, Dave Wetmore, Erin Jones, Jim Gilman, MJ Straight, Cindy TRhomson, Sherry Polkinghorn, Linda Eckelman, Janelle Mattingly, Light Design – Seth Eckelman, Light Board Operator – Jacob Busch, Lighting Technician – Mark Vierthaler, Sound Board Operator – Jimmy Ortiz, Costume Design – Dee Miller, Jana Ross, Haley Ashcroft, Janelle Mattingly, Sound Design – Alan Stukenholtz, Hair/Make up – Tonya Ruiz, Running Crew – Ellen Ellis, Tinkerers – Warren Eckelman and Jim Johnson

MENU: Chilled asparagus soup or spring salad with Cabernet Sauvignon vinaigrette, prime rib of beef, roasted potatoes with rosemary, zucchini boats, butter dinner roll, frosty latte square with sugar cookies.  Catering provided by Linda Bethke, Ryan Carpenter, Andrea Bethke, Barb Duesing, TJ Gonzales, Mary Stukenholtz, Theresea Hogan, Milly White, Kathy Morgan, Angel Morales, Andrew Mortimer.

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