Aloha Performing Arts Company

Amanda Woodwell made her stage debut at the Aloha Theatre in 1991, at age 5, in Aloha Performing Arts Company's "The King and I." She's now a 23 year old Pomona College graduate, and has come back home to appear as Hope Harcourt, the ingenue in APAC's upcoming production of Cole Porter's legendary Broadway musical comedy "Anything Goes." Woodwell, who will turn 24 during the performance run of the show, shares top billing with Sue Boyum, who plays the evangelist-turned-nightclub chanteuse Reno Sweeney, and Sam Valenti, who plays the young leading man Billy Crocker. These three APAC veterans are joined by nearly 40 other volunteer singer/actor/dancers from the community. The company is well into rehearsal, in preparation for the February 19 opening at the Aloha Theatre in Kainaliu.

Catherine Hansen, last seen in "Nunsense," plays the comic role of Evangeline Harcourt, Hope's mother. Kelly Drake appears as the wealthy Englishman Lord Evelyn Oakleigh, Hope's fiance, and John Holliday is Elisha Whitney, a Wall Street investor and Billy's hard-drinking boss. APAC newcomer Bryan Riley plays Moonface Martin, a gangster with a heart of gold, and Malia Lugo plays the flirtatious vamp Erma. Eugene Gall portrays Rev. Henry T. Dobson, and his two Chinese converts, John and Luke, are played by Chuck Makanui and LiChia Liao. Peter Schonberg plays the captain of the S.S. American, on board which most of the show takes place, and the ship's purser is played by Don Chinery. Reno's backup singer/dancers, a quartet of "Angels" named Purity, Chastity, Charity, and Virtue, are played by Tiffany Kutsunai, Chamika Fujioka, Jana Powell, and Robin O'Hara. A pair of FBI agents are played by Dick Gray and Alec Lugo, and three real life mother/daughter pairs, Tracy and Kayla Walsh, Pamela and Alicia Hicks, and Marie-anne and Sarah Rouse, play passengers. Other passengers, crew members, reporters, photographers, and sailors are played by an ensemble including Gordon Thomas, Bill Cottle, Paula Cornwell, Jackie Kalani, Heather Bartlett, Eileen Weiner, Cathleen Ellis, Lee Vinson, Tracey Fosso, Madison Vetter, Karen Makanui, Margaret Miche, Christine Giblin, Janemarie Singer, Sara Frazier, Margaret Dexter, Pu'uwai Medina, and Dylan Ressler. The cameo role of Fred, the bartender, will be played by a rotating roster of local celebrities.

"Anything Goes" boasts music and lyrics by the immortal Cole Porter, with original book by Guy Bolton, P.G. Wodehouse, Howard Lindsay, and Russel Crouse, and a new book by Timothy Crouse and John Weidman. The choreography, which includes tap and various other dance genres, is being created by Lee Vinson, who is also serving as hair designer. Director is Jerry Tracy, music director is Joel Gimpel, and choral director is Dick Gray. Ann Marsh is designing the costumes, Tracy Walsh is graphic designer, and the set design team consists of Valenti, Tracy, and Roy Damron. Jaquelynn Collier is assistant choreographer, and Kelly Ann Miles is assistant director. Producers are Jill Collier and Jan Rae. Performances are February 19 through March 13, at the Aloha Theatre, with Friday and Saturday shows at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2:30 p.m. The Aloha Theatre Cafe will be open on performance evenings, and dinner reservations can be made at 322-3383. Tickets for "Anything Goes" are $15 and $18, and may be purchased by phone at 322-9924, on line at www.apachawaii.org, or at the box office beginning one hour prior to curtain time. For more information, call the APAC office at 322-9924.

1/21/10