You're either on one side... or the other.
Presented April 20-22, 27-29
The Theatre At St. John's
Produced by Skip Hardesty
Directed by Melissa Byers
Assistant Director: Rob Shipman
Music Direction: Jerry Rabushka
Choreography: Scott Mueller
Rap Arrangements: Nick Gartner
Vocal Coaching: Brad Slavik
*****
A show no one wants
Lydia likes to write plays that annoy people. Plays about the wrong kind of people falling in love. Green Fence is her masterpiece. An Israeli man, and a Palestinian man, in love, kept apart by warring familes and the big Green Fence.
Is the fence really green?
Meh. Who cares. It's a musical.
Her rival? Todd Yardley. He writes gay plays too. It's more Will and Grace set to music. "Family oriented homosexuality." He's popular. Using every stereotype in the book sells tickets.
Lydia's father Tim is with the arts foundation. Alvin is the artistic director at the Denver Backwoods theater, going for controversey. Tim and his colleague Darlene try to foist Todd's play where Lydia's work has already taken hold. Suddenly the stars of one play are kidnapped, and like a bad (but really really funny) dream, put into another.
On stage are David and Montrose, straight and gay, Jewish and "goy," who may be having a bit more going on than rehearsal. Or not. Another fence that's hard to jump. Enter Sally, a reporter, to blow it all out of proportion.
Some great music, a bit of hip-hop, a belt-it blues number, and some really beautiful tunes, Green Fence is a musical event you won't want to miss!
You might even find out what side you're on.
*****
Photo gallery from Green Fence, Act 1
*****
Photo gallery from Green Fence, Act 2 plus cast & band pics
*****
Photo gallery from musical number: "A Journalist's Solution"
*****
Cast:
Lydia: Melissa Byers
Todd: Bobby Roskowske
Tim: Jason Slavik
Darlene: Lynn Zimmers
Alvin: Jerry Rabushka
David: Scott Mueller
Montrose: Zach Jett
Sally: Ashley Saphian
The Critic: Mike White
The "Woman": Catherine Lipinski
Thugzilla: Nick Gartner
Thugburger: Anne Smith
Thugbubba: Adam Raymond
Tina: Anne Smith
The Band:
Jerry Rabushka, Piano
Daniel McGowan, Guitar
Lee Borrine, Saxes
Scott Splater, Clarinet
Chris Powers, Bass
Marc Hutchison, Drums
House Staff: Mike Leicht, Sandi Leicht, John Zakibe, Doug Luesse, Joseph Manguno, Jason Lauderdale, Fred Makler, Karen Wood. Thanks also to Shan and Blue of the proposed St. Louis LGBT center.
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From Riverfront Times, April 2007
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From St. Louis Post-Dispatch, April 2007
