Calamity Jane

The Synopsis

Deadwood City’s two most famous peace officers, Calamity Jane & Wild Bill Hickock, get involved in saving the neck of Henry Miller, the local saloon operator. It seems “Millie” has been promoting a beautiful actress named Francis Fryer, who turns out to be a boy – Francis. Millie’s attempt to cover up is soon unmasked by the angry miners, and only Calamity can cool the crowd with her trusty pistols. To keep the peace, Calamity sets out for Chicago to bring back the miners’ real heartthrob, Adelaide Adams. In Chicago Calamity mistakes Adelaide’s maid, Katie Brown, for the actress & hauls her back to Deadwood. Onstage Katie is greeted warmly, but breaks down & confesses that she is not the famous star. Calamity once more restores order & persuades the audience to give Katie a chance. They do, & she wins the heart of every male in town – including Calamity’s dashing love hope, Lt. Danny Gilmartin. Calamity reluctantly overcomes her jealousy over losing Danny & discovers her “Secret Love”.

The Production Team

Director – Patti Franklin

Choreographer – Sandra Towle

Musical Director – Laurence Bell

Ensemble Mistress – Judy Croucher

Pianist – Cathie Hill

The Cast

Geoff Lee (Joe), Fred Waski (Prospector), Bob Neill (Miller), Jenny Wakeling (Susan), Alan Lobb (Doc Pierce), Gordon Clarke (Wild Bill Hickock), Noelene Jeffs (Calamity Jane), Graham Seaman (Rattlesnake), Jeff Ferguson (Francis Fryer), Leigh Lawson (Hank), Greg Higgs (Pete), Michael Lubke (Lieut. Danny Gilmartin), Alia Adams (Adelaide Adams), Barbara Benson (Katie Brown), Chris Edwards, Peter Jex, John Beynon, Betty Tougher, Farley Baumgartner, Jenny Birch, Suzanne Bunn, Elizabeth Devlin, Jenny Devlin, Gayle Dutton, Monica Foggin, Susan Laplain, Elizabeth Makepeace, Denise Marr, Karen Marr, Sue Power, Vicki Tomlinson, Cathy Trevenar, Caryn Williams, Tony Clayton, Stephan Greaves, Ron Ogle, Jim Richards, Alan Shepherd, Fred Waski.

The Gondoliers

The Synopsis

There is great excitement among the Contadine on the Piazetta in Venice as the two most handsome Gondoliers, Marco and Giuseppe Palmieri, come to choose and marry their brides. Marital happiness however, is short lived, as the newly-weds discover one of the brothers is King of nearby Barataria. As there is a little confusion as to which one is the king, both have to reign jointly until the problem is resolved, while their wives must stay at home in Venice. Further problems arise when it is learned that Casilda, beautiful daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Plaza Toro, was wed in infancy to the heir presumptive of the throne of Barataria and her parents have brought her to Venice to take her position as Queen. Casilda, however, is already in love with her father’s drummer, Luiz, and is as happy about the Royal marriage as Marco and Guiseppe. All is resolved when Inez, the King’s foster mother, reveals that in an attempt to foil would-be traitors, she had abducted the Prince and reared him as her son. The rightful king claims his bride and Queen, and happiness again prevails.

The Production Team

Director – Marjorie Simpson

Choreographer – Jennifer Wakeling

Musical Director – Laurence Bell

Pianist – Elaine Keogh

The Cast

Lucille Hartshorne (Fiametta), Valerie van Doorn (Giulia), Marion Palazzi (Vittoria), Michael Lubke (Francesco), Gordon Clark (Antonio), Frank Isaacs (Giorgio), Phillip Godley (Marco Palmieri), Stephen Godley (Guiseppe Palmieri), Patti Franklin (Gianetta), Patricia Rafter (Tessa), Neil Litchfield (Duke of Plaza Toro), Betty Tougher (Duchess of Plaza Toro), Alia Godley (Casilda) David Ellyard (Luiz), Brian Watkins (Don Alhambra DelBolero), Chris Edwards (Annibale), Marjorie Simpson (Inez)., Barbara Benson, Jenny Birch, Marilyn Dave, Gail Dutton, Monica Fogging, Lorraine Grant, Lucille Hartshorne, Elizabeth Makepeace, Marji Simpson, Jennifer Wakeling, Lorraine Williams, Noela Williams, Robert Foggin, Greg Higgs, Peter Jex, Fred Jones, Leigh Lawson, Bruce Ogle, Jim Richards, Graham Seaman, Alan Shepherd, John Van Ling.

The Music Man

The Synopsis

As the name implies, Professor Harold Hill is a “MUSIC MAN”. That is, he ‘sells’ band instruments to young boys in small towns across the American country. Unfortunately, Professor Hill is a con man and doesn’t know one note from another, therefore Professor Hill usually escapes from the town before the townspeople realise the instruments will never arrive. River City is the exception. The lovable con man hits River City and decides to include uniforms in his big sell. By the time the uniforms are due to arrive Hill has his foot well and truly ‘stuck in the door’. He falls in love with the town librarian/ music teacher – Marion. After he has won the trust of all the townspeople, including Marion and the children, some confusion reigns brought about by Charlie, a travelling salesman who is out to get Hill. But, all ends well with a boy’s band to beat all boys’ bands – with uniforms as well!

The Production Team

Director – Laurie Butler

Choreographer – Sandra Towle

Musical Director – Laurence Bell

Pianist – Ruth Beatty

The Cast

Ted Williams (Harold Hill), Patti Franklin (Marion Paroo), Marjorie Simpson (Mrs Paroo), Jeff Ferguson (Mayor Shinn), Patricia Rafter (Eulalie Shinn), Chris Edwards (Marcellus Washburn), Lorraine Williams (Zaneeta Shinn), Robert Tompsett (Tommy Djilus), Owen Hogan (Winthrop Paroo), Marjie Simpson (Amaryllis), Frank Isaacs, Gordon Clark, Michael Lubke, Brian Watkins, Jennifer Wakeling, Julie Adams, Marion Palazzi, Monica Foggin, Allan Ingles, Peter Jex, Jenny Leitch, Graham Seaman, Vicki Tomlinson, Karen Williams, Nigel Truslove, Debra Guthrie, Daphne Ferguson, Gayle Dutton, Wendy Dowdell, Liz Devlin, Jenny Devlin, Linda Denton, Suzanne Bunn, Tanya Clark, Allison David, Melanie Fisher, Christine Hall, Melanie Harris, Stephen Hayward, Suzanne Jeffries, Stephen Young, Joanne Beresford, Therese David, Shirley Dettmar, Terri Hayword, Sue Power, Beverly Taylor.