Director Alan Wilson (director of Hairspray in 2012), assistant director Kelly Slater (Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray and Logainne Scwhartzandgrubenierre in 2013's Spelling Bee), producers Chris Terven (Hairspray's Mr. Pinky) and Mark Robinson (Wilbur Turnblad), stage manager Wendi Fleming (Hairspray's Velma Von Tussle), choreographer Wendy Baugh (Hairspray and Spelling Bee), prop manager Dorothy Mundy (Spelling Bee), Rachel Grampp (Hairspray) and the rest of a talented crew backdropped an exciting debut of Community Players Theatre's production of Aida, a cast reunion of past CP musicals ambitiously disguised as an Elton-John-styled musical of forbidden and doomed love amidst the Egyptian pyramids.
The overtures of Mark's wife JoLynn, bolstered by the musicianship of Sean Stevens (Hairspray White Council member), Tim and Corinne Zehr (Hairspray and Spelling Bee) set the beat for a sound track of upbeat and soulful numbers about love, angst, joy and despair.
At the forefront, Austin Travis (White Council and Spelling Bee's Leaf Coneybear) starred as the fabulous bare-chested Captain Radames with the head-turning angelic tenor in the most tender moments, as he courted Jennifer Rusk's (Hairspray's Motormouth Maybelle) typically soul-stirring vocal rendering of the slave girl (and erstwhile Nubian princess) Aida.
Meanwhile, Jennifer Stevens (White Council) and Aimee Kerber (White Council and Spelling Bee's Rona Lisa Peretti) captivate the audience with their multi-octave talents in their portrayals of the wistful Amneris and ultra-loyal Nehebka, respectively. Tony Smith's (Hairspray's Black Council and Spelling Bee's assistant director) impeccable comic timing is finally unleashed for all to enjoy in the character of Mereb the Nubian slave.
The supporting cast is rife with powerful vocals and electrifying dancing from the likes of Samm Bettis (White Council), Sequita and Katrice Bridges (Black Council and Hairspray's Little Inez, respectively), Christie Vellella (Black Council), Chris Stanford (White Council and Spelling Bee's Mitch Mahoney) and Kallie Bundy (Spelling Bee's Olive Ostrovsky). The sound of the full cast on stage during the bows was a fitting crescendo to an energetic evening.
The appreciative audience included Brett Cottone (Hairspray producer, Spelling Bee director), Sara Schramm (Hairspray prison matron), and Dennis Gotkowski (Spelling Bee musical director).
The event was the ushering debut of Joe McDonald (Hairspray's Corny Collins and Spelling Bee's Douglas Panch).
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