Entertainment : ACT I Presents Summer Musical, 13

ACT I of Benton County announces our summer musical and the start of our 2010 – 2011 season with the Iowa premiere of Jason Robert Brown’s Broadway musical “13”. The production will be presented on the stage of the Vinton-Shellsburg High School Auditorium in Vinton.

Curtain times for the performances are 7:00 pm on Fridays and Saturdays, August 6, 7, 13 and 14 and 2:00 pm on Sundays, August 8 and 15.

Adult tickets are $7.00, and $5.00 for students and seniors. Reservations can be made by calling 472-9957 or online at www.act1.org.

The book for “13” was written by Dan Elish and Robert Horn. Composer/ lyricist Jason Robert Brown, considered one of the rising stars in the American musical theatre scene, has been compared to Stephen Sondheim. His prior works for the musical stage include “Parade,” “Songs for a New World,” and “The Last Five Years.”

“13” had its world premiere in January, 2007 at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles. It ran at the Bernard Jacobs Theatre on Broadway from October 2008 through January, 2009, starring Graham Phillips.

The only all-teen show to ever run on Broadway, “13” is the story of Evan Goldman, a Jewish boy from New York City whose parents divorce just before his Bar Mitzvah, the ceremonial passage into manhood a Jewish boy undergoes at the age of 13. Evan finds himself moving to Indiana with his mother where he must struggle to survive in a new school. He attempts to find acceptance from the “cool kids;” and struggles with having to choose between popularity and acceptance from the friends who matter to him.

The thirteen actors in the show represent four different school districts. Evan Goldman is played by Bentlee Birchansky, 12, of Cedar Rapids. The supporting cast includes Katie Hancock, 13, of Vinton as Patrice; Ian Stuelke, 14, of Center Point as Archie; Will Hancock, 15, of Vinton as Brett; Taylor Livengood, 14, of Center Point as Lucy; Mikala Niemeier, 13, of Walker as Kendra; Collin Schlotfeldt, 14, of Center Point as Eddie; Luke Owens, 14, of Vinton as Malcolm; Hannah Seitz, 14, of Vinton as Molly; Sydney Monson, 13, of Urbana as Cassie; Willow Huber, 15, of Vinton as Charlotte, Nathaniel Seitz, 15, of Vinton as Simon, and Kevin Schlotfeldt, 12, of Center Point as Richie.

The show is directed by Steve Arnold, assisted by Sue Gates. Jesse Bunge is music director, and the choreographer is Joan Cooling-Noeller. The pit band is directed by Judy Trygstad and includes Lori Ferguson, keyboard; David Arnold, guitar; Mark Hancock, keyboard / guitar; Caleb Bendull, bass; and Jeremiah Janssen, percussion. The set will be created by Allan Merchant and Rich Hainstock. Bunny Fritch and Jill g. Lockard-Bopp are the stage managers, and the costume mistress is Marcy Horst. Eric Upmeyer is the lighting designer, and Alex Shields is the rehearsal pianist.