July 5, 2023 • 22 mins
Kirk Detweiler, Clare Cook and Kristi Wink joined the show to talk about the EPIC Disney's Beauty & The Beast, The Broadway Musical, they are directing and producing at our Historic Marion Palace Theatre on July 8, 9 and 14, 15, and 16th. Details and tickets are available at www.MarionPalace.org
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Episode Transcript
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(00:00):
Joining me in studio today. Alot of folks from the Marion Palace Theater.
Beauty and the Beast will be onstage beginning this Saturday. Job,
can I correct you? Yes,by our contract, we have to call
it Disney's Disney's Beauty and the Beast. You know what. I actually had
heard that, but I didn't livethat way, did not live that way.
I didn't live that way. SoDisney's a Beauty and the Beast.
(00:22):
Kirk Detwiler, Welcome to the show. Claire Cook Christie is in with us
today, and we've got a lotto talk about today. Because Claire said
there is one word to describe thisshow, go ahead and tell everybody what
that is. Epic. Epic.I love it, and you guys have
a lot going on. So Kirk, talk a little bit about the show
and then we'll go around the roomand see what's happening. Well, Claire's
(00:45):
got a steadfast rule that no picturesof costumes or set can be released on
social media until the show opens,because but we're going to start with the
set. The set is epic.Yeah, it was a fun several days
putting it together. Yeah, Imean it came on a semitruck and I
(01:07):
don't know, there must be fivehundred pieces. Mike Andrews is our go
to guy for SAT Mike Andrews Construction. Uh, he's he and his wife
are very very loyal to the PalaceTheater, very generous to the Palace Theater,
and so he was the go toguy. But we had it.
We had how many people do wehave on stage putting it together? To
(01:27):
well? I think like three wereactually doing work. Everybody else was like,
well, the thing was we wehad a great turnout. We said
we need volunteers coming and it's likethere were there were too many people.
I took them into the pavilion toclean up after the soakop. So I'm
like, I've got to give thesepeople some to dude, and I'm not
good with a hammer and yeah,or besides that, they were probably walking
(01:49):
around just in awe and how beautifulit is because you did all the costumes.
Just it's just like she says,it's it's epic. It is epic,
but I mean beyond epic getting pastthe set in the costumes. We
have an epic cast. Yeah,absolutely, Claire, talk a little bit
about your cast you have assembled becauseI know you're very proud of the work
that they've done in the cast thatyou have put together. Every time you
(02:13):
do a show and you sit downat the audition table and you know the
characters in your mind, and youknow what quality of talent you want for
those particular roles, you're always sometimesdisappointed, sometimes elated. I cannot tell
you how thrilled I am with thequality of talent. And it's not just
(02:38):
in the leads. It'sn't every singlerole on that stage. And the thing
about this show in particular is everybodyreally understands his or her role and what
I expect out of them. Wetweak it every single night. They come
back. They're just energetic. Ican't say enough good about them. I
(03:00):
really can't. I'm I'm telling you. When I watched them up there,
I say to myself, take aboutClaire. You're You're done, You're gone,
You're not gonna, You're not gonna, You're gonna going to top this
one kind of We were sitting atorchestra rehearsal and Christie looks at me and
(03:20):
she said, I think this isthe one, and I thought everybody says
that, you know, and thenI walked into the auditorium and John Garns
is sitting there and he goes,miss Claire, this is the one.
So uh yeah. And I don'tlike to put that pressure on myself or
anybody else, but I am sopleasantly surprised with this show. I mean,
(03:44):
you know, when I looked atit in the beginning, I thought,
this is a nice little show.It's at Disney, it's fun.
I never dreamed it was this big, and I mean it is big.
And Kirk mentioned the set. Ihad a friend come in Tuesday night to
help with the show and she lookedat the set and she said, now,
did this come in like three differentsections? And I said, I
(04:09):
came in five hundred different sections.Yes, And we didn't even use it
all. They were like, well, it's it's probably too big for our
it's the intermediate set. But wethink we got to large, large rector
set you've ever seen that really datesus. If we talk about her,
it is Broadway quality. Something issomething you would say a Broadway Yeah.
(04:30):
And so are the costumes correct?Oh yes, yeah, yeah. They're
trying to navigate their costumes and it'sfun for me to watch them have fun
and I was just thinking back inthe early, my early days, there
was so much drama in theater andthere were you know, as people would
(04:51):
say, fighting in theater and whathave you, and egos and all of
that. You know, all ofthat is just kind of dissipated through the
years. This is a loving cast. They help each other, they help
me, and I'm just like,I can't say enough good. Disney's Beauty
in the b Saturday, July eighthis opening night, seven thirty. You
(05:13):
can see it then on Sunday theninth, and then the next weekend Friday,
Saturday and Sunday Sunday shows are matinees. It is the Broadway musical and
Christy talked a little bit about obviouslychoreography is your thing. Have you done
this show before and was able tochoreograph it or is this all new for
you? Oh, I'm glad youasked that. Actually, this is the
third time I've done this show.I've done the junior production we did,
(05:35):
oh, I don't remember how manyyears ago now, and then we also
did at the high school with JamieRollins and my two of my children weren't
actually all three of them were inthose productions. Too, so it was
really fun for me to put iton adult bodies for a change. D
Yes, it's a great show.I was happy when it was chosen this
(05:56):
year because of course it appeals toevery demograph and I think we deserve those
audiences from year to year. It'shard we struggle with titles of shows to
do, and Disney's always are reallya nice safe haven. And I love
the music and it's just truly outstanding. Like Claire was saying, there's just
really no drama in this cast.And I was talking to Sarah Grody last
(06:19):
week and she's playing Bell, andshe just said, there's something different about
this show. I feel such asense of calm, and I think she
feels that way because everybody's got herback. Everybody's done a million shows for
us. They're all veterans, likeClaire was also saying, where many of
the chorus members have been leads inother shows, but they're still willing to
(06:41):
show up and be that, youknow, supportive background for everybody. And
that's why I feel this show isso strong, because everybody's giving one hundred
and twenty percent because that's what theyknow how to do. And we have
a few newcomers, and I thinkit's just such a wonderful setting for them
to learn and understand what we expectout of anybody who walks through those doors.
But the dancing is outstanding, andwith the set and the costumes.
(07:08):
What happens with a show like thisis I teach everything, but then we
have to kind of go back andreset it all once the set arrives and
they get these enormous costumes on theirbodies and they can no longer move.
We have to start all over again. But they've been real receptive and incredibly
flexible and just such a hard workingcast. And I know they're so excited
(07:28):
about the product that they've they've created, and I just hope everybody comes out
and kids. Everybody's going to enjoythis show. The Little Ones is so
visually stimulating, and it moves quickly, and of course they know all the
songs. So I just think thisis going to be a really great opportunity
for families to, you know,go out and support the community. I
(07:49):
love it now, Claire, youknow obviously doing you know, Disney's Beauty
and the Beast. It's some ofthe most some of the most popular I'm
doing well, some of the mostpopular, well known characters in the Disney
lineup are in this and you've gotsome stage veterans that are playing Missus Potts
(08:09):
and Lumier and Cogsworth and Chip.Talk a little bit about about the main
characters, the principles in this show. Well, Christie, I'm already mentioned
Belle played by Sarah Grody, whohas the voice of an angel. I
just am mesmerized by her every eveningand it's just that natural raw talent.
(08:30):
The Beast is played by Dustin Rawlins, who is in his first leading role,
and he will tell you that thesetypecasts such a gorgeous voice, and
together they are, they are fabulous. We happen to know Lumier pretty well.
That is played by Brady Wink justa little yeah, he is our
(08:54):
family clown. Coxworth is played byParker Baird, who is hysterica on the
two of them together so good,They're just so good. Oh, Missus
Potts, Yeah, Missus Potts.Sadie Wing. I listened to her Tuesday
night, and of course she's beenon the stage since she was five or
(09:16):
six, and she gets to singthe title song, Beauty and the Beast,
and we try not to indulge oryou know, brag or what have
you. But I just sat thereand I said to her afterwards, your
song is beautiful, honey, It'sjust beautiful. And I said, I
say that to you as a director, not as your grandmother. And our
(09:41):
tiny little chip the Teacup is playedby Madeline Rollins and she is the bomb.
I kid you not. She doesnot miss a beat. She's doing
a fantastic job. We have ninechildren in the show. They are cupcas
and cookies in bur guests. Otherveterans helped me out. Ye Danielle Danielle
(10:03):
Knight, who travels to us fromKentucky. Yes, that's how much she
loves theater. That's how much sheloves our hometown. She plays Madame Bousch.
She is hysteric, call just asuch a great actress. And John
(10:24):
and John Garnes veteran John Garnes playsMaurice the Dad. And one of our
newcomers who was in nonsense, BenjaminBlankenship from Upper He plays Lafu. He
is, I mean off the charts. He was standing backstage and he watched
John Garnes on stage for the veryfirst time, and he looked at me
and he said wow and I saidyeah, I said, you are up.
(10:48):
There was some real talent. Soakit in. Kane Anderson has his
first leading role this summer. Andwe all sat there and we all said,
when a audition, where did thatvoice come from? It? It's
beautiful. And Rick Baird, ourorchestra conductor, says it is one of
his favorite scores. These people havenot led him down because they are just
(11:13):
they're bringing it. They are bringingit. The orchestra comes in to night
and I can't wait because that justlifts the cast. Yeah, and it'll
be a great night. We'll tell. I gotta give you props. And
I I had Sarah on last weekand we talked about Bell and we talked
about the show, we talked abouteverything going on. And after I had
(11:35):
her on, I got a textfrom a friend of mine and he's absolutely
right, which is why I'm bringingit up, he said. Claire Christie
said the Palace staff has done awonderful job at keeping getting kids in the
theater and then working them through andmaking them phenomenal actors and actresses. You
don't find that in community theater around. I don't know. I've just been
(11:58):
here right, Um, but apparentlythat is something that that is very special
to Marian, that you get thosekids involved in these shows and then you
start to work with them, andthen you start to see which flower buds
a little differently and what areas Andso I wanted to mention that because that
is so true how we have cultivatedthe things that are going on to the
(12:22):
palace. You have cultivated them intoamazing people to keep the palace alive with
great talents. So I thought thatwas great that I got that text,
because well, it's our passion.I am now directing grandchildren of people I
had in high school. And yeah, but you know, everybody says to
me, aren't you tired? Areyou going to retire? Yeah, I'm
(12:45):
tired. Am I going to retire? No? Because if you stop,
you drop. Yeah, I'm I'malmost ready to trump. Not quite.
I taught Christian I was going toset up a hospital bed this weekend and
just sit down down there. It'sexhausting, but it's the greatest exhaustion you
can have, absolutely, because it'sso satisfying. And to see those kids
(13:09):
grow up on that stage, Yeah, it's just amazing, it really is.
And I know that. You know, we've got another show coming that's
that's going to be on stage inAugust, and that's cultivating some more some
more talent, and of course Christytalks about the junior shows and musicals and
plays that happen. It really isa special thing that we have here and
(13:31):
you're gonna want to come see atJuly eighth and ninth, July fourteenth,
fifteenth, and sixteenth at the historicMaryon Palace Theater. Disney's Beauty and the
Beasts of Broadway musical details are atMaran Palace dot Org. I would since
you guys suggest getting your tickets aSAP. Now, Kirk, you've got
sponsors Ohio Health, Advanced Smiles,Union Bank, Marrying Community Foundation, the
(13:52):
Kathleen Eosha Fund from the Married CommunityFoundation, any other big sponsors that you
want to mention. Obviously talked abouthow much help you had getting the you
know the set ends. Stephen BethCoumby are there are major costume sponsors.
Not only are they are sponsors oneof the sponsors for the show, they're
(14:13):
both in the pitch absolutely and havebeen for de love them, Yeah,
we love them. We need peoplelike that. I mean, it's it's
incredible how much community support we dohave, and we're very happy. Well,
it's just it's just nice to seeit really is going to be a
fantastic show. And I know,so much effort by so many people.
Um and and it's not just thepeople that you see. There are so
(14:35):
many things that go on behind thescenes back you know, downstairs, upstairs,
you know, in the wings ofthe stage and the offices at the
palace. It really does take afull on effort. So do you guys
all plan to take a vacation beginningaround the seventeenth of July. Well,
she took her early. I'm goingto Kansas City. I'm going nowhere.
(14:58):
Well, I have a there's somethingcalled el HAT, which is the League
of Historic American Theaters. They everyyear they do a conference and it's in
Kansas City. And I planned itso I didn't have to help with deconstructing
the epic set. Oh you didthat. Yeah, Well, I fly
out Sunday night, so it's like, literally, I will bring the two
o'clock show on on the sixteenth andthen I go to the airport. Oh
(15:18):
yeah, news for you. Westart tear down Sunday night. Okay,
Well, yeah, that's fine.I've believed it to market as long as
you about twenty or you haven't.Well, I'm putting market Mark in charge,
okay, because they were both.Yeah, Market and Mark will do
fine. And Mike, yes,Mark, Mark and Mike, yes they
will. They will do fine.But um, last plea for people to
(15:41):
come to the show. Why shouldthey come see it? Guys? If
they're sitting on the fence going Idon't know, I mean, ticket start
at twelve bucks for goodness sakes,depending on what's available when you go to
the box office. But why shouldthey come see the show? Not only
are they going to see members oftheir community and the surrounding communities you know,
put on this, you know,epic show. They are Their ticket
(16:03):
sales goes to preserve our historic MaryonPalace Theater, which is almost one hundred
years old yea, and very expensiveto maintain. Understood well. And it's
through you know, ticket sales andcommunity support and sponsors and members that we
can continue year after year. Christy, your thoughts on why people should come
(16:25):
to the show if they're on thefence right now? Oh my goodness.
I was also just thinking when whenKirk was saying, you know, come
in and get your tickets. It'sto preserve the theater. It's also time
to renew your memberships. If youif you're coming into the box office anyway
to renew your memberships, let's thinkgo ahead and get those tickets too.
I just think it's one of thoseshows you walk away and you're going to
keep thinking about it. My neighboris so supportive of everything we do,
(16:48):
and literally a month ago she said, I bought a ticket for every show
because she knows when you go backshow after show, you see different things.
And I feel that's so true withthis one, because, as we
were saying earlier, the course isso strong, and I sit out there
every night. I've been out thereevery night for you know, a few
weeks now, and I see somethingdifferent every time, And because every individual
shines and is so strong in theirown right, it's just so worth it.
(17:12):
And it's a family affair truly,on the stage and off, and
I just I just think it's soimportant to support these kids who are driving
back and forth from all over Ohiotruly to be there every night. And
it's Disney, and you know,it's a happy story, it's uplifting.
You'll be humming the tunes. Mynephew was humming a song yesterday at our
(17:36):
Fourth of July cook out, andthis is a man you know, it's
usually out fishing, and it's nota theatergoer per se, but was singing
one of the songs. I said, what are you humming over there?
And he said, I can't getit out of my head. I just
love it. So I think itwill really change your life. And I
think we're all at a point inour lives where we need those positive,
(17:56):
uplifting experiences and this is only oneof them. Oh a man and Claire.
It is a Broadway musical, andthat Broadway musical is being put on
in Marion, Ohio for a fractionof the cost you would pay to go
to New York to see it onBroadway. But the quality is as good,
if not better, right here withlocal people. Well, and I
(18:17):
would like to mention that when youhave people coming from all over, we
have people coming from New York,Florida, Pennsylvania. But my biggest thrift
for this show is this. Mymentor was Yula Watts. Everybody knew Yula.
She pointed at me. The veryfirst year I worked with her,
(18:40):
she pointed at my chest, herfinger in my chest, and said,
you've got a lot of talent,a little girl. Now put it to
work. Little did I know fortyseven years later I would still be working.
But Yula's son, Mike is comingfrom Arkansas and he is bringing his
wife and daughter, Yulis and grandsonand her great grandchildren are coming from Connecticut
(19:10):
to see the show. That's whatshe instilled in those people all those years
ago, the love of theater,the love of the arts, and the
love of your community. And Iguess if I ask nothing else, it
would be to support the arts.People do not realize what we have in
(19:32):
that Palace Theater. They really don't, especially today's generation. And I'm not
saying that's a bad thing. I'mjust saying, introduce yourselves to the Palace
if you haven't yet, and justsee what we bring. We have other
theaters who come to our theater tosee how it's done, and they always
say, how do you do this? How do you get these people here?
(19:56):
Well, it's a lot of work, it's a lot of nurturing,
and we have a great history withthat theater and I'm just so hoping that
people come out and appreciate our show, the work that people do in our
theater. I love at Disney's.Beauty and the Beast Saturday, July eighth,
seven thirty kicks it off. It'llbe July eighth and ninth, and
(20:18):
then July fourteenth, fifteenth, andsixteenth. The Sunday shows are matinees and
it's a wonderful production. You canget details, you can get tickets Marry
and Palace dot org. But wecertainly want to see you at the Palace
for this show. And we didn'teven mention Beauty and the Brunch. Yes,
last matinee, because you've got Beautyand the Brunch going on and some
other things too. Hit on thosereal quick because I know fair and I
(20:41):
talked about those last week. Yeah, if if you haven't got your ticket,
Shet, and this is geared towardsthe kids. The very last matinee,
hour and a half before the show, we have what's called Beauty and
the Brunch we are going to wehave a brunch prepared by Linda Kendall.
She's wonderful local caterer and she doesa lot of our smaller events. She's
(21:03):
wonderful. Um, but you we'regonna meet and greet with the cast of
characters. We debated on whether weshould bring the beast to the brunch,
but we thought he might scare thechildren. We went to wait till you
know so, plus it takes somehours to put on his man. All
the little girls should dress up likeprincesses. That's what Sarah and I talked
(21:25):
about. And your little girl wantsto be a Disney prince. Oh my
god. But you know, Iwatched the high school musicals and you know,
pleasant did Cinderella last year, andthey all came, all the little
girls dressed up as Cinderella. Ilove it, you know, And uh,
yeah, we expect that. Yeah, and and I guess Sarah and
I talked about that, and Isaid, you know, as a little
girl, did you ever think youwould be that Disney princess? And she
(21:48):
said, it's awesome, so fantastic. Well, she was also Mary Poppins.
She's the Disney girl. She's sheis a Disney girl. Great stuff,
guys, anything else you want totoss in before we're done, because
this has been good stuff? Well, I think Dustin Rawlins would kill me
if I didn't mention that we haven'ta musical in August next to normal.
He's directing it and it'll be Augusteighteen through twentieth in the May Pavilion and
(22:12):
uh yeah, so I just dothen I won't get any feedback from him.
Take details at Marian Pallas dot org, Claire, anything else you want.
I just want to thank you.You're welcome. Rice such a great
host, and you help us alot, and we appreciate it. It's
my pleasure. I like I said, we are looking forward to going to
the show. It's going to bein and around our vacation, but we're
(22:33):
making time to make sure that we'rethere because we think, like you guys
do, that it's going to bean epic performance. And it's just nice
to see your friends perform and performat such a high level. And you
mean you literally walk away feeling completelyinspired.
Joining me in studio today. Alot of folks from the Marion Palace Theater.
Beauty and the Beast will be onstage beginning this Saturday. Job,
can I correct you? Yes,by our contract, we have to call
it Disney's Disney's Beauty and the Beast. You know what. I actually had
heard that, but I didn't livethat way, did not live that way.
I didn't live that way. SoDisney's a Beauty and the Beast.
(00:22):
Kirk Detwiler, Welcome to the show. Claire Cook Christie is in with us
today, and we've got a lotto talk about today. Because Claire said
there is one word to describe thisshow, go ahead and tell everybody what
that is. Epic. Epic.I love it, and you guys have
a lot going on. So Kirk, talk a little bit about the show
and then we'll go around the roomand see what's happening. Well, Claire's
(00:45):
got a steadfast rule that no picturesof costumes or set can be released on
social media until the show opens,because but we're going to start with the
set. The set is epic.Yeah, it was a fun several days
putting it together. Yeah, Imean it came on a semitruck and I
(01:07):
don't know, there must be fivehundred pieces. Mike Andrews is our go
to guy for SAT Mike Andrews Construction. Uh, he's he and his wife
are very very loyal to the PalaceTheater, very generous to the Palace Theater,
and so he was the go toguy. But we had it.
We had how many people do wehave on stage putting it together? To
(01:27):
well? I think like three wereactually doing work. Everybody else was like,
well, the thing was we wehad a great turnout. We said
we need volunteers coming and it's likethere were there were too many people.
I took them into the pavilion toclean up after the soakop. So I'm
like, I've got to give thesepeople some to dude, and I'm not
good with a hammer and yeah,or besides that, they were probably walking
(01:49):
around just in awe and how beautifulit is because you did all the costumes.
Just it's just like she says,it's it's epic. It is epic,
but I mean beyond epic getting pastthe set in the costumes. We
have an epic cast. Yeah,absolutely, Claire, talk a little bit
about your cast you have assembled becauseI know you're very proud of the work
that they've done in the cast thatyou have put together. Every time you
(02:13):
do a show and you sit downat the audition table and you know the
characters in your mind, and youknow what quality of talent you want for
those particular roles, you're always sometimesdisappointed, sometimes elated. I cannot tell
you how thrilled I am with thequality of talent. And it's not just
(02:38):
in the leads. It'sn't every singlerole on that stage. And the thing
about this show in particular is everybodyreally understands his or her role and what
I expect out of them. Wetweak it every single night. They come
back. They're just energetic. Ican't say enough good about them. I
(03:00):
really can't. I'm I'm telling you. When I watched them up there,
I say to myself, take aboutClaire. You're You're done, You're gone,
You're not gonna, You're not gonna, You're gonna going to top this
one kind of We were sitting atorchestra rehearsal and Christie looks at me and
(03:20):
she said, I think this isthe one, and I thought everybody says
that, you know, and thenI walked into the auditorium and John Garns
is sitting there and he goes,miss Claire, this is the one.
So uh yeah. And I don'tlike to put that pressure on myself or
anybody else, but I am sopleasantly surprised with this show. I mean,
(03:44):
you know, when I looked atit in the beginning, I thought,
this is a nice little show.It's at Disney, it's fun.
I never dreamed it was this big, and I mean it is big.
And Kirk mentioned the set. Ihad a friend come in Tuesday night to
help with the show and she lookedat the set and she said, now,
did this come in like three differentsections? And I said, I
(04:09):
came in five hundred different sections.Yes, And we didn't even use it
all. They were like, well, it's it's probably too big for our
it's the intermediate set. But wethink we got to large, large rector
set you've ever seen that really datesus. If we talk about her,
it is Broadway quality. Something issomething you would say a Broadway Yeah.
(04:30):
And so are the costumes correct?Oh yes, yeah, yeah. They're
trying to navigate their costumes and it'sfun for me to watch them have fun
and I was just thinking back inthe early, my early days, there
was so much drama in theater andthere were you know, as people would
(04:51):
say, fighting in theater and whathave you, and egos and all of
that. You know, all ofthat is just kind of dissipated through the
years. This is a loving cast. They help each other, they help
me, and I'm just like,I can't say enough good. Disney's Beauty
in the b Saturday, July eighthis opening night, seven thirty. You
(05:13):
can see it then on Sunday theninth, and then the next weekend Friday,
Saturday and Sunday Sunday shows are matinees. It is the Broadway musical and
Christy talked a little bit about obviouslychoreography is your thing. Have you done
this show before and was able tochoreograph it or is this all new for
you? Oh, I'm glad youasked that. Actually, this is the
third time I've done this show.I've done the junior production we did,
(05:35):
oh, I don't remember how manyyears ago now, and then we also
did at the high school with JamieRollins and my two of my children weren't
actually all three of them were inthose productions. Too, so it was
really fun for me to put iton adult bodies for a change. D
Yes, it's a great show.I was happy when it was chosen this
(05:56):
year because of course it appeals toevery demograph and I think we deserve those
audiences from year to year. It'shard we struggle with titles of shows to
do, and Disney's always are reallya nice safe haven. And I love
the music and it's just truly outstanding. Like Claire was saying, there's just
really no drama in this cast.And I was talking to Sarah Grody last
(06:19):
week and she's playing Bell, andshe just said, there's something different about
this show. I feel such asense of calm, and I think she
feels that way because everybody's got herback. Everybody's done a million shows for
us. They're all veterans, likeClaire was also saying, where many of
the chorus members have been leads inother shows, but they're still willing to
(06:41):
show up and be that, youknow, supportive background for everybody. And
that's why I feel this show isso strong, because everybody's giving one hundred
and twenty percent because that's what theyknow how to do. And we have
a few newcomers, and I thinkit's just such a wonderful setting for them
to learn and understand what we expectout of anybody who walks through those doors.
But the dancing is outstanding, andwith the set and the costumes.
(07:08):
What happens with a show like thisis I teach everything, but then we
have to kind of go back andreset it all once the set arrives and
they get these enormous costumes on theirbodies and they can no longer move.
We have to start all over again. But they've been real receptive and incredibly
flexible and just such a hard workingcast. And I know they're so excited
(07:28):
about the product that they've they've created, and I just hope everybody comes out
and kids. Everybody's going to enjoythis show. The Little Ones is so
visually stimulating, and it moves quickly, and of course they know all the
songs. So I just think thisis going to be a really great opportunity
for families to, you know,go out and support the community. I
(07:49):
love it now, Claire, youknow obviously doing you know, Disney's Beauty
and the Beast. It's some ofthe most some of the most popular I'm
doing well, some of the mostpopular, well known characters in the Disney
lineup are in this and you've gotsome stage veterans that are playing Missus Potts
(08:09):
and Lumier and Cogsworth and Chip.Talk a little bit about about the main
characters, the principles in this show. Well, Christie, I'm already mentioned
Belle played by Sarah Grody, whohas the voice of an angel. I
just am mesmerized by her every eveningand it's just that natural raw talent.
(08:30):
The Beast is played by Dustin Rawlins, who is in his first leading role,
and he will tell you that thesetypecasts such a gorgeous voice, and
together they are, they are fabulous. We happen to know Lumier pretty well.
That is played by Brady Wink justa little yeah, he is our
(08:54):
family clown. Coxworth is played byParker Baird, who is hysterica on the
two of them together so good,They're just so good. Oh, Missus
Potts, Yeah, Missus Potts.Sadie Wing. I listened to her Tuesday
night, and of course she's beenon the stage since she was five or
(09:16):
six, and she gets to singthe title song, Beauty and the Beast,
and we try not to indulge oryou know, brag or what have
you. But I just sat thereand I said to her afterwards, your
song is beautiful, honey, It'sjust beautiful. And I said, I
say that to you as a director, not as your grandmother. And our
(09:41):
tiny little chip the Teacup is playedby Madeline Rollins and she is the bomb.
I kid you not. She doesnot miss a beat. She's doing
a fantastic job. We have ninechildren in the show. They are cupcas
and cookies in bur guests. Otherveterans helped me out. Ye Danielle Danielle
(10:03):
Knight, who travels to us fromKentucky. Yes, that's how much she
loves theater. That's how much sheloves our hometown. She plays Madame Bousch.
She is hysteric, call just asuch a great actress. And John
(10:24):
and John Garnes veteran John Garnes playsMaurice the Dad. And one of our
newcomers who was in nonsense, BenjaminBlankenship from Upper He plays Lafu. He
is, I mean off the charts. He was standing backstage and he watched
John Garnes on stage for the veryfirst time, and he looked at me
and he said wow and I saidyeah, I said, you are up.
(10:48):
There was some real talent. Soakit in. Kane Anderson has his
first leading role this summer. Andwe all sat there and we all said,
when a audition, where did thatvoice come from? It? It's
beautiful. And Rick Baird, ourorchestra conductor, says it is one of
his favorite scores. These people havenot led him down because they are just
(11:13):
they're bringing it. They are bringingit. The orchestra comes in to night
and I can't wait because that justlifts the cast. Yeah, and it'll
be a great night. We'll tell. I gotta give you props. And
I I had Sarah on last weekand we talked about Bell and we talked
about the show, we talked abouteverything going on. And after I had
(11:35):
her on, I got a textfrom a friend of mine and he's absolutely
right, which is why I'm bringingit up, he said. Claire Christie
said the Palace staff has done awonderful job at keeping getting kids in the
theater and then working them through andmaking them phenomenal actors and actresses. You
don't find that in community theater around. I don't know. I've just been
(11:58):
here right, Um, but apparentlythat is something that that is very special
to Marian, that you get thosekids involved in these shows and then you
start to work with them, andthen you start to see which flower buds
a little differently and what areas Andso I wanted to mention that because that
is so true how we have cultivatedthe things that are going on to the
(12:22):
palace. You have cultivated them intoamazing people to keep the palace alive with
great talents. So I thought thatwas great that I got that text,
because well, it's our passion.I am now directing grandchildren of people I
had in high school. And yeah, but you know, everybody says to
me, aren't you tired? Areyou going to retire? Yeah, I'm
(12:45):
tired. Am I going to retire? No? Because if you stop,
you drop. Yeah, I'm I'malmost ready to trump. Not quite.
I taught Christian I was going toset up a hospital bed this weekend and
just sit down down there. It'sexhausting, but it's the greatest exhaustion you
can have, absolutely, because it'sso satisfying. And to see those kids
(13:09):
grow up on that stage, Yeah, it's just amazing, it really is.
And I know that. You know, we've got another show coming that's
that's going to be on stage inAugust, and that's cultivating some more some
more talent, and of course Christytalks about the junior shows and musicals and
plays that happen. It really isa special thing that we have here and
(13:31):
you're gonna want to come see atJuly eighth and ninth, July fourteenth,
fifteenth, and sixteenth at the historicMaryon Palace Theater. Disney's Beauty and the
Beasts of Broadway musical details are atMaran Palace dot Org. I would since
you guys suggest getting your tickets aSAP. Now, Kirk, you've got
sponsors Ohio Health, Advanced Smiles,Union Bank, Marrying Community Foundation, the
(13:52):
Kathleen Eosha Fund from the Married CommunityFoundation, any other big sponsors that you
want to mention. Obviously talked abouthow much help you had getting the you
know the set ends. Stephen BethCoumby are there are major costume sponsors.
Not only are they are sponsors oneof the sponsors for the show, they're
(14:13):
both in the pitch absolutely and havebeen for de love them, Yeah,
we love them. We need peoplelike that. I mean, it's it's
incredible how much community support we dohave, and we're very happy. Well,
it's just it's just nice to seeit really is going to be a
fantastic show. And I know,so much effort by so many people.
Um and and it's not just thepeople that you see. There are so
(14:35):
many things that go on behind thescenes back you know, downstairs, upstairs,
you know, in the wings ofthe stage and the offices at the
palace. It really does take afull on effort. So do you guys
all plan to take a vacation beginningaround the seventeenth of July. Well,
she took her early. I'm goingto Kansas City. I'm going nowhere.
(14:58):
Well, I have a there's somethingcalled el HAT, which is the League
of Historic American Theaters. They everyyear they do a conference and it's in
Kansas City. And I planned itso I didn't have to help with deconstructing
the epic set. Oh you didthat. Yeah, Well, I fly
out Sunday night, so it's like, literally, I will bring the two
o'clock show on on the sixteenth andthen I go to the airport. Oh
(15:18):
yeah, news for you. Westart tear down Sunday night. Okay,
Well, yeah, that's fine.I've believed it to market as long as
you about twenty or you haven't.Well, I'm putting market Mark in charge,
okay, because they were both.Yeah, Market and Mark will do
fine. And Mike, yes,Mark, Mark and Mike, yes they
will. They will do fine.But um, last plea for people to
(15:41):
come to the show. Why shouldthey come see it? Guys? If
they're sitting on the fence going Idon't know, I mean, ticket start
at twelve bucks for goodness sakes,depending on what's available when you go to
the box office. But why shouldthey come see the show? Not only
are they going to see members oftheir community and the surrounding communities you know,
put on this, you know,epic show. They are Their ticket
(16:03):
sales goes to preserve our historic MaryonPalace Theater, which is almost one hundred
years old yea, and very expensiveto maintain. Understood well. And it's
through you know, ticket sales andcommunity support and sponsors and members that we
can continue year after year. Christy, your thoughts on why people should come
(16:25):
to the show if they're on thefence right now? Oh my goodness.
I was also just thinking when whenKirk was saying, you know, come
in and get your tickets. It'sto preserve the theater. It's also time
to renew your memberships. If youif you're coming into the box office anyway
to renew your memberships, let's thinkgo ahead and get those tickets too.
I just think it's one of thoseshows you walk away and you're going to
keep thinking about it. My neighboris so supportive of everything we do,
(16:48):
and literally a month ago she said, I bought a ticket for every show
because she knows when you go backshow after show, you see different things.
And I feel that's so true withthis one, because, as we
were saying earlier, the course isso strong, and I sit out there
every night. I've been out thereevery night for you know, a few
weeks now, and I see somethingdifferent every time, And because every individual
shines and is so strong in theirown right, it's just so worth it.
(17:12):
And it's a family affair truly,on the stage and off, and
I just I just think it's soimportant to support these kids who are driving
back and forth from all over Ohiotruly to be there every night. And
it's Disney, and you know,it's a happy story, it's uplifting.
You'll be humming the tunes. Mynephew was humming a song yesterday at our
(17:36):
Fourth of July cook out, andthis is a man you know, it's
usually out fishing, and it's nota theatergoer per se, but was singing
one of the songs. I said, what are you humming over there?
And he said, I can't getit out of my head. I just
love it. So I think itwill really change your life. And I
think we're all at a point inour lives where we need those positive,
(17:56):
uplifting experiences and this is only oneof them. Oh a man and Claire.
It is a Broadway musical, andthat Broadway musical is being put on
in Marion, Ohio for a fractionof the cost you would pay to go
to New York to see it onBroadway. But the quality is as good,
if not better, right here withlocal people. Well, and I
(18:17):
would like to mention that when youhave people coming from all over, we
have people coming from New York,Florida, Pennsylvania. But my biggest thrift
for this show is this. Mymentor was Yula Watts. Everybody knew Yula.
She pointed at me. The veryfirst year I worked with her,
(18:40):
she pointed at my chest, herfinger in my chest, and said,
you've got a lot of talent,a little girl. Now put it to
work. Little did I know fortyseven years later I would still be working.
But Yula's son, Mike is comingfrom Arkansas and he is bringing his
wife and daughter, Yulis and grandsonand her great grandchildren are coming from Connecticut
(19:10):
to see the show. That's whatshe instilled in those people all those years
ago, the love of theater,the love of the arts, and the
love of your community. And Iguess if I ask nothing else, it
would be to support the arts.People do not realize what we have in
(19:32):
that Palace Theater. They really don't, especially today's generation. And I'm not
saying that's a bad thing. I'mjust saying, introduce yourselves to the Palace
if you haven't yet, and justsee what we bring. We have other
theaters who come to our theater tosee how it's done, and they always
say, how do you do this? How do you get these people here?
(19:56):
Well, it's a lot of work, it's a lot of nurturing,
and we have a great history withthat theater and I'm just so hoping that
people come out and appreciate our show, the work that people do in our
theater. I love at Disney's.Beauty and the Beast Saturday, July eighth,
seven thirty kicks it off. It'llbe July eighth and ninth, and
(20:18):
then July fourteenth, fifteenth, andsixteenth. The Sunday shows are matinees and
it's a wonderful production. You canget details, you can get tickets Marry
and Palace dot org. But wecertainly want to see you at the Palace
for this show. And we didn'teven mention Beauty and the Brunch. Yes,
last matinee, because you've got Beautyand the Brunch going on and some
other things too. Hit on thosereal quick because I know fair and I
(20:41):
talked about those last week. Yeah, if if you haven't got your ticket,
Shet, and this is geared towardsthe kids. The very last matinee,
hour and a half before the show, we have what's called Beauty and
the Brunch we are going to wehave a brunch prepared by Linda Kendall.
She's wonderful local caterer and she doesa lot of our smaller events. She's
(21:03):
wonderful. Um, but you we'regonna meet and greet with the cast of
characters. We debated on whether weshould bring the beast to the brunch,
but we thought he might scare thechildren. We went to wait till you
know so, plus it takes somehours to put on his man. All
the little girls should dress up likeprincesses. That's what Sarah and I talked
(21:25):
about. And your little girl wantsto be a Disney prince. Oh my
god. But you know, Iwatched the high school musicals and you know,
pleasant did Cinderella last year, andthey all came, all the little
girls dressed up as Cinderella. Ilove it, you know, And uh,
yeah, we expect that. Yeah, and and I guess Sarah and
I talked about that, and Isaid, you know, as a little
girl, did you ever think youwould be that Disney princess? And she
(21:48):
said, it's awesome, so fantastic. Well, she was also Mary Poppins.
She's the Disney girl. She's sheis a Disney girl. Great stuff,
guys, anything else you want totoss in before we're done, because
this has been good stuff? Well, I think Dustin Rawlins would kill me
if I didn't mention that we haven'ta musical in August next to normal.
He's directing it and it'll be Augusteighteen through twentieth in the May Pavilion and
(22:12):
uh yeah, so I just dothen I won't get any feedback from him.
Take details at Marian Pallas dot org, Claire, anything else you want.
I just want to thank you.You're welcome. Rice such a great
host, and you help us alot, and we appreciate it. It's
my pleasure. I like I said, we are looking forward to going to
the show. It's going to bein and around our vacation, but we're
(22:33):
making time to make sure that we'rethere because we think, like you guys
do, that it's going to bean epic performance. And it's just nice
to see your friends perform and performat such a high level. And you
mean you literally walk away feeling completelyinspired.
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