By Gus Gordon
Labor Day 2024 has come and gone, and that means that kids are back in school, those swimsuits have been stored in the closet, and the Muni has wrapped up another successful season under the stars. Muni has been a Springfield tradition for almost 75 years, and this year the popular outdoor theatre by Lake Springfield presented a crowd-pleasing quartet of shows, including JERSEY BOYS, THE MUSIC MAN, CINDERELLA, and THE LITTLE MERMAID.
Steve Rotello, Muni’s 2024 Board of Managers President, was happy with the way the season went. “I was very pleased. The shows were well done, audiences were enthusiastic, casts and staffs enjoyed working with each other, and Mother Nature cooperated,” Rotello said. “Even the cicadas, which made massive sound during the day early in the season, quieted down well before show time.”
The season started on May 31 with the local community theatre premiere of JERSEY BOYS. The biographical show showcased the rise of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, the famous rock and roll group that introduced such hits as “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Sherry,” and “Walk Like A Man.”
Local favorite Damien Kaplan starred as Valli, a role that he was born to play. Kaplan has an amazing tenor voice, and he was able to recreate Valli’s distinctive falsetto in song after song. He was joined by the equally- talented Cooper Coker as Bob Gaudio, Gavin Gardner as Tommy DeVito, and Matt Woodson as Nick Massi. The audience roared with approval as this gifted foursome sang the hits of The Four Seasons all night long. The lead quartet was joined by a small cast of versatile singer/dancers, and they helped tell the rags-to-riches story of the four boys from New Jersey who started it all by singing under a lamppost.
“I have loved JERSEY BOYS from the moment I first saw it, about 15 or 16 years ago,” said Christie Lazarides, the show’s co-director alongside Craig Williams II. “The non-stop pace of the show, in conjunction with the music you can’t stop singing along to, made me completely fall in love with it. I wanted to direct the show so that we could tell this story in our community, share the music, and watch The Four Seasons come to life on stage. I loved getting to make music with this group every night.”
“One of the biggest reasons I wanted to do JERSEY BOYS was because Christie has always wanted to co-direct it,” said Williams. “It’s her all-time favorite show, and I couldn’t give up the opportunity to direct it with her.”
From the streets of Jersey, Muni next took audiences to the prairie of River City, Iowa at the turn of the previous century. THE MUSIC MAN is one of the most beloved musicals from Broadway’s Golden Age. This was the sixth time that Muni had presented the show about travelling con man Harold Hill and his efforts to sell instruments and music lessons to the townsfolk in order to swindle them out of their money. Along the way his heart softens when he gets to know the residents of River City, especially Marian Paroo, the pretty young librarian who sees right through him.
The husband and wife team of DJ and Alyssa Shultz are both amazing vocalists, and their natural chemistry translated effortlessly to their performances as Harold and Marian. They led the enthusiastic cast in creating an enjoyable evening. Other standouts included Kevin Hart as a spirited Marcellus Washburn, Harold’s old partner in crime; Kayla Primm as Marian’s Irish mother; and Gil Opferman and Kelly Robertson as the blustering Mayor and First Lady of River City.
THE MUSIC MAN featured a large cast, including a talented troupe of young performers. Muni excels at presenting family musicals, and this happy group helped create what regulars refer to as “Muni Magic.”
“The best part of presenting THE MUSIC MAN at Muni this summer was working with so many nice people with a common interest and a common goal,” said director Laurie McCoy. “Part of what makes Muni so magical is the fact that the actors are performing outside under the stars with no physical confines. Their performances are going out into the audience and beyond. And when the cast, music, lights, sound and audience are all in unison, it’s truly magical.”
The recent Broadway update of CINDERELLA was the next show to hit Muni’s stage in July. The classic Rodgers and Hammerstein children’s musical has been updated to reflect a more modern sensibility, and Muni’s production was suitably magical and entertaining.
Hannah Levin gave a star turn in the title role, showing off her acting and singing abilities to great effect. Everyone knows the story: Cinderella’s father has passed away, and she is left to live with her nasty step-mother, played by the very funny LaDonna Wilson, and comical step-sisters, played by Lindsey Rudd and Chrissy Mauck. One of the major changes to this newest version of the story is to soften the step sisters so they aren’t as hateful as portrayed in the past. As a matter of fact, Gabriella (played by Chrissy Mauck) is actually Cinderella’s ally, and has a romance of her own. All four of these exceptional actresses gave wonderful performances.
Cinderella is known as Ella in this version, and Prince Charming, played winningly by Brock Bordenkircher, has been given a name (Topher) and a more interesting back story.
Directors Laurie Barnes and Betsy O’Brien were attracted to this new take on an old tale. “I liked that Ella and Prince Topher had more depth,” said Barnes. “Ella helped Prince Topher gain the confidence to take control of his kingdom, and Topher helped her see herself as a beautiful strong woman. I also loved the improved vocal arrangements and orchestrations. There were gorgeous harmonies in this new version of the show.”
Muni ended their 2024 season under the sea, with THE LITTLE MERMAID, the colorful stage adaptation of the animated Disney film. The show was co-directed by Tiffany Williams and Donna Ragan.
Anna Southern, a graduate of Sacred Heart-Griffin High School, did a beautiful job in the starring role of Ariel, the mermaid who dreams of being a part of the human world. She was joined in the show by Carson Cole as Prince Eric, Robert Napier as Sebastian, Kinsey Peotter as Ursula the Sea Witch, and Sean Robb as King Triton, all giving outstanding performances.
According to co-director Donna Ragan, “The best part of presenting THE LITTLE MERMAID this summer was seeing the eyes of the children light up when Ariel popped up out of the water, and feeling their excitement at the end of the show when they turned on their light-up tridents and shells to help King Triton send Ariel on to be part of Eric’s world. We had the best, most amazing cast and staff a director could ask for. They were willing to do whatever they could to make the production magical.”
Ragan’s co-director, Tiffany Williams, was very pleased with the success of the show. “We had a tremendous opening night, and each night, as everyone settled more and more into their roles, the applause was thunderous. Young children stood in line to meet Princess Ariel and Prince Eric after the shows, while other audience members, of all ages, took the time to shake hands with the cast and offer praise to these brave actors and actresses.”
Thousands of audience members once again enjoyed a little “Muni Magic” this summer, provided by hundreds of dedicated volunteers who worked hard all season long to help bring these four Broadway hits to Springfield’s treasured outdoor venue.
And what is the special ingredient that makes Muni so magical? “It’s a combination of things that just can’t be beaten by any other theater around,” explained Rotello. “The energy and enthusiasm are palpable, especially when the weather cooperates. We had many beautiful nights under the stars this summer, often with the moon making an appearance behind the stage. Add to those things the welcoming nature of our volunteers, and you have the recipe for a beautiful evening.”
For more information, check out their website at www.themuni.org.
