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Hawthorne Players Open 63rd Season With ‘Stepping Out’ at Civic Center
The Hawthorne Players open their 63rd season at the Florissant Civic Center Theatre with the toe-tapping comedy, “Stepping Out.” The Richard Harris play will star veteran St. Louis actress and choreographer Cindy Duggan and will be presented from April 17-26.
The play follows the stories of a group of women and one man attending a weekly tap class. As the play unfolds, the class’ banter highlights the troubles and personalities of each of the characters.
Duggan plays Mavis, the former professional dancer, who runs the class. She is joined by her crusty accompanist Mrs. Frazer; the bubbly, gum- chewing Sylvia; the nervous, insecure Andy; the pretentious exhibitionist, Vera; the confident, abrasive Maxine; the sensitive, smiling Lynne; the anxious bicycling Dorothy; the candid, concerned mom, Rose; and Jeffrey, the lone widowed male.
The Hawthorne production also features Dottie Bertolino, Andrea Hayes, Katie Nestor, Jeanette Remines, Julie Strathman, Marc Strathman, Rosemary Wall, Sarah Wieck and Marilyn Woods. Assistant Director Jean Heckman creates the costumes; Sean Robertson, the lighting; and Pam Geppert, the sound.
Hawthorne’s production is directed by actress and director Nancy Crouse, who says, “It’s certainly fun to direct this combo of Hawthorne veterans and newbies, whose ages span three decades and truly represent the composition of many adult education classes available locally in our community. You don’t have to be a tapper to understand the human dynamics at work in the class.
“I definitely think our Florissant audiences will relate to the characters and come to care about their success in the stunning finales.”
The choreographer and star of Stepping Out is Cindy Duggan. Cindy
first stepped on stage as a child in a church production of Carousel, starring her father. She has been involved in over forty Hawthorne shows, mainly onstage but also as choreographer and director.
“My job as choreographer is to make the cast look good, not to show off every fancy step I have learned or want to see. I, like my character “Mavis” in the play, get tremendous satisfaction when the dances I have created look exciting and fun, and when the dancers themselves also enjoy what they have accomplished. This time, I guess I am playing myself!”
Tickets are $16 and $14 at the door, but are only $14 and $12 in advance. Call the box-office at (314) 921-5678.
