Musical parody, dinner theater planned Aug. 4-6

Ginny Quinley and her crew at Columbia Basin College in Pasco have been wanting to stage Musical of Musicals (The Musical!) for years.

But they needed the stars to align, figuratively and literally.

The clever, fast-paced show lovingly parodies five classic musical theater styles. It requires actors who can handle everything from Chicago or Cabaret-like dancing to pop operatic leanings in the Andrew Lloyd Webber mold.

Plus skilled choreographers, costumers and the like.

The CBC crew found them. The show will run Aug. 4-6 on CBC’s Diane C. Hoch outdoor stage.

It’s a dinner theater production, with The Country Gentleman catering.

“The challenge of the play — that was part of appeal. And it’s so clever, so well-written,” Quinley said. “People who don’t know musicals will still think it’s funny. And people who know musicals will love it.”

A welcome reception is at 5:30 p.m. and dinner starts at 6 p.m.

Cost is $100 per person and includes the show and a three-course dinner.

Musical of Musicals was written by Eric Rockwell and Joanne Bogart, and it premiered off-Broadway in 2003.

The same story — about a woman who can’t pay her rent — is told in the styles of Rodgers and Hammerstein (Oklahoma!, Sound of Music, South Pacific), Stephen Sondheim (Sweeney Todd, Company, Into the Woods), Jerry Herman (Mame and Hello, Dolly!), Andrew Lloyd Webber (Evita, Phantom of the Opera, Jesus Christ Superstar) and Kander and Ebb (Chicago, Cabaret).

Each vignette has different song, choreography and costume styles.

“The actors have risen to the challenge of having different movement, voice,” said Quinley, who’s directing. “It’s like they’re playing five parts instead of one. That was fun and challenging for the actors and for me.”

The cast includes Molly Holleran as June, the woman who can’t pay her rent; plus Erin Dickey as her friend Abby; Nicholas Trowbridge as her love interest; and Ted Miller as the landlord.

Alex Eberle, Paul Nelson, Kailie Thomsen and Cydney Thompson make up the chorus.

The production staff includes Justin Raffa as music director, Verna Schwilke handling costumes, John Tuttle as choreographer and Ben Walley performing all the music.

“It’s been huge fun and the best group to work with,” Quinley said. “It’s a wonderful way to spend a summer evening in the Tri-Cities.”

The show is rated PG for adult themes and some language.

Tickets are available at columbiabasin.tix.com through Aug. 2. After that, they’re available by calling the performing arts office at 509-542-5531.

This story was originally published July 28, 2016 at 6:05 AM with the headline "Musical parody, dinner theater planned Aug. 4-6."