THE PLAYERS OPENS 83rd SEASON WITH “APPLAUSE”
Sarasota, September 12, 2012 – The Players Theatre starts off its 83rd season with a round of Applause. The Tony award-winning show opens on September 20, 2012 and will run through September 30, 2012.
The story opens with middle-aged actress Margo Channing (played by Kaylene McCaw) presenting a Tony award to rising star Eve Harrington (played by Kathryn Parks). The story then flashes back to all the events leading up to that moment. We learn that Eve is a young woman who is alone and friendless in New York and an admirer of Margo’s work. Margo chooses to take her under her wing, adding her as an assistant. While struggling with fears that age is taking a huge toll on her career, Margo discovers her assistant isn’t so innocent. Eve is attempting to take over her career and Margo’s boyfriend Bill Sampson (played by Tom Westlake). In the end, Margo discovers that there are more important roles in life to play than just those on the stage.
Berry Ayers leads the production as both director and musical director with assistance from orchestra director Deidre Reigel and choreographer Jolie Rand.
Jeffery Kin, Artistic Director elaborates on the show selection “When I’m looking for a season opener, I am always searching for a show that has a fun script, a vivacious score and lots of dancing and Applause fits the bill perfectly. Add to the mix that the film All About Eve is a classic. The theme speaks just as loudly today as it did when it was written. All those things add up to musical theatre magic.”
The remainder of the cast is comprised of George Naylor, Will Horton, Jason Macumber, Shelley Whiteside, Michael Morris, Michael Brown, Jay Bowman, Jennifer Massey, Peter Vallance, Aly Foster, Sharon Bartley, Jamon Buie, Camilo Bustos, Shannon Cantalupo, Jaclyn Chanudet, Conner Chatfield, Gayle Foster, Ashley Jackson, Carrie Lutz, Victoria Miller, Nikki Testa, Vivienne Teyke, Victoria Tokarz, and Channing Weir.
Image: Kaylene McCaw and Kathryn Parks.
