"Anything Goes"

A MUSICAL  

Performed Jan 13-23, 2005

 Love found, love lost, love rediscovered but how can Billy stay onboard a transatlantic liner without a ticket, passport or luggage?
Well he could use the cabin of the FBI's Public Enemy #1 and maybe his friend, a famed evangelist, Rene Sweeney can help dis"engage" his true love from her fiancé, a silly English Baronet. After all: Anything Goes!

Book by Wodehouse, Bolton Lindsay, Howard & Crouse
Music & Lyrics By Cole Porter 

Meet the Directors

Director/Choreographer

JAMES GRENELLE  (Directing/Choreography)  -  A twenty year veteran of local theatre, James has appeared on stage in too many roles to list.  Some of our favorites have been,  How to Succeed (Bud Frump), Crazy for You (Bobby) and the title role in George M!  When not actually "treading the boards" on stage, James role as director/choreographer has kept him busy, he's done; The Fantastiks, The Sound of Music, The Man Who Came to Dinner, The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 and more, plus choreographing both the FWP and Los Angeles productions of Wild Dust...The Musical.   James has received Lary Awards for all of his various talents and his work ethic was memorialized at last year's awards by the song,  "He's Just a Man Who Can't Say No!"  FWP is very happy James said, "yes" to directing & choreographing our production of Anything Goes!

Musical Director

MARK JELKS (Musical Director) - Teacher, musician, dancer, Mark Jelks has been a part of nearly every aspect of the performing arts.  Mark trained as a dancer with Dame Sonia Arova at the Alabama School of Fine Arts and pursued a dual major of music and dance at Birmingham-Southern College.  He has performed as a dancer internationally and upon his return to the United States conducted musical theatre for national tours, musical directing such shows as Evita, Little Shop of Horrors, A Chorus Line, and Sweeney Todd.  In 1994 he was the pianist and casting assistant for the Tony Award winning revival of Carousel at Lincoln Center and the highly acclaimed Broadway production of Mathew Bourne's Swan Lake.  Mark was inducted into the national registry of "Who's Who" for excellence in the field of dance in 1997.  He would like to thank his partner Rocco Morabito for his never ending support.  Mark has been a musical director for us in the past and FWP is very pleased to welcome him, once again, to our little corner of the theatre world.

 I hope you enjoy this show as much as we've enjoyed bringing it to you!

Meet the Cast

J. D. ALLEN (The Captain) - Jay is glad to be back at FWP with so many friends.  Some favorite shows he's appeared in are: My Favorite Year at EOT, Chicago at EOT and  Of Thee I Sing - FWP. As always, love to Vicki and Janelle

ERIC ANDERSON (Ensemble) - An FWP debut performer!  Eric has also appeared in Over Here at Clearwater H.S.  He would like to thank his parents for their encouragement and his sister for her help.

COLLEEN BOYLAN (Ensemble) - Colleen recently played a "damsel in distress" in My Favorite Year at EOT.  She also appeared in Footloose at EOT and  is thrilled to be back at FWP where she performed in last year's production of How To Succeed in Business (without really trying.)

KEVIN BOYLAN (Bishop Henry T. Dobson)  - Another FWP debut!  Husband of Margaret, father of Colleen.  Perhaps another great theatre family dynasty is being created right before your eyes!

MARGARET BOYLAN (Ling) - Margaret is pleased to be out of the classroom and on the stage with so many of her theatre family. A special thanks to her "Chinese" buddy, Ellie, and to Kevin for all his support.

HEATHER BURGHORN (Patience) - Heather is a graduate of FWP's summer teen workshop, Teen Arts Program (TAP), where she performed as Cinderella in Brother's Grimm Out of Order.  She would like to thank James for this opportunity to perform as one of Reno's "Angels."

JASON BURGHORN (Steward) -  Jason recently performed as Marius in Les Miserables at WCP and will appear in their next production as well.  He is a graduate of FWP's Teen Arts Program and says he is loving working in Anything Goes.

LAUREN CLARK (Virtue) - Lauren is excited to be making her FWP debut.  She is an experienced performer with a BA in Performing Arts from the University of Tampa.  Her credits include: A Little Night Music, The Club, My Favorite Year, Meet Me In St. Louis, Fiddler on the Roof  and more.

ADRIENNE CLOVER (Ensemble) - Adrienne sends her thanks to James, Mark, Janet, Ro, Catherine and my RBS, Colleen for all of your assistance and guidance.  Love and gratitude to her family and the "boys in the band." 

ELAINE COFFIN (Mrs. Harcourt) - Elaine is delighted to be working with the wonderful James Grenelle, who not only has played her son but has cast her twice as a mother (is there a pattern here?).  She is also astounded to be cast in a musical (is there a career change here?)!  Love to Mario, Ella and Wini!

REID COMPTON (Cameraman/Ensemble) - Reid is making his premier FWP performance in Anything Goes!  he was seen recently as Lucky in the Clearwater H. S. production of Over Here!  (We think he likes shows with exclamation points as part of the title.)  He would like to thank his family for all their love.

TERI ESGUERRA (Ensemble) - Teri, at 16 years old, has an impressive theatre background.  She has performed opera and operettas at TSPAC, and for the G&S Players. She has appeared as a soloist at the 2004 Chasco Festival, the Richey Suncoast Theatre, The Palladium, and the Suncoast Opera.  

 SUZANNE DANI'L FAITH (Hope) - Suzanne is making her FWP debut.  No stranger to the stage,  she free-lances with a corporate wedding band, and apprenticed at the Broadway Theatre Project.  She thanks her mother and grandmother for all their  ! and support, and James for bringing her back "home" to the theatre.

TANYA L. FISHER (Chastity) - Tanya has a B.A. in theatre from Eckerd College and last performed at FWP in Naughty Marietta. She's been busy at SPLT with Once Upon A Mattress, Guys & Dolls, Mousetrap, Geiorge M and Annie Get Your Gun.  We wondered why we hadn't seen her in a while...  

BRITTANY FIX (Charity ) - Although this is Brittany's FWP debut, she has appeared in SPLT's Crazy For You and EOT's My Favorite Year.  She'd like to thank God for his many blessings.  She sends her love and thank you's to Dad, Mom, Bryan and the rest of her family and friends for  their love and support.

CHUCK FONSHELL (Purser) - Chuck is happy to be participating in his first production at the illustrious FWP.  He has learned the true meaning behind the phrase, "better late than never," in joining us, and is delighted to be working with this talented cast.  He is ever thankful to God and his family for this opportunity. 

CATHERINE FOWLES (Bonnie) - Catherine recently won a Lary Award for her performance in SPLT's Crazy For You.  Other credits include EOT's My Favorite Year, City Players Carousel, and FWP's How To Succeed...  She sends love and thanks to Mom, Grandma, and Mr Peaches (Boo!.)    "This is for you, Daddy."

JOHN HUGHES ( Drunk, Ensemble) - John says, and we quote, "I'm happy to be in a play such as Anything Goes - because, at my age, "everything is GONE!!"

PAT HUGHES (Ensemble) - This is Pat's 4th show at FWP.  She has always enjoyed appearing with local community groups.  Thanks James, you make me smile, Love Ya'!! 

TRACY ALAN HUGHES (Sir Evelyn Oakleigh) - First musical, first performance at FWP but, not his stage debut.  Tracy appeared in The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 at SPLT and he is Drama Coordinator for the Pasadena Community Church.  Thanks to all the cast for such an enjoyable experience.

RAY KENNEY (Elisha J. Whitney) -  Ray is delighted to be "singing and dancing" with the first partner he had in his first show at FWP in 1985 --- Here's looking at you, "Olga"!

ELLIE LE VINE (Ching/Ensemble) - Ellie performed in FWP's How To Succeed... with "buddy" Margaret Boylan and is glad to be paired with her again because they always have a great time.  Ellie thanks her loving husband, Mitch, and her six wonderful kids for always supporting her theatre thing!

OLGA MALYKHIN (Ensemble) - Olga is President of Boca Ciega H.S. International Thespian Society and a graduate of FWP's Teen Summer Workshop.  Her credits include Proposals and Less Said The Better.  She thanks everyone involved with the show for this wonderful opportunity.

TIM MATHEWS (Billy Crocket) - Tim performed in FWP's How To Succeed... and is excited, pleased and determined to "succeed" in Anything Goes!  "This is one step closer to fulfilling a lifelong dream, thanks James - for everything.  Break a leg everyone!  Love, Tim."

ROBIN MEDICUS (Purity) - Robin, another graduate of FWP's Teen Summer Workshop, is a senior in the Center for Wellness and Medical Professions at Boca Ciega H.S.  She will soon major in Biology at USF.  Happily she is taking some time for fun and performing here for us in Anything Goes!

NANCY METZGER (Reno Sweeney) - Nancy takes time from performing to be on the FWP Board of Directors and to usher 2nd Wednesdays for us.  She's thrilled to get a chance to sing Cole Proter's songs again.  She thanks James for casting her and Bob, her husband, for his loving support.

LEAH RADEL (Joy) - Do you may recognize Leah, whom you last saw as Helen Keller in the FWP's production of The Miracle Worker?  She says, "Thanks to James, Mark, Micki, Tim, the cast and crew for making this such a fun show." She sends love to her Mom, family and the theatre community.

FRED SCHUMACHER (Moonface Martin) - Moonlighting as a database analyst, Fred enjoys moonlit walks under a blue moon with his wife after a fine repast of Moon-Over-My-Hammy and Moon Pies with moonshine (even though this may result in an inadvertent full-moon.)  Love you, Micki!

JOE SOUTHALL (Reporter) - Joe is an FWP "veteran" player.  He has appeared in The Music Man and The Brothers Grimm - Out of Order. He recently performed in the Clearwater H.S. production Over Here!  Joe thanks everyone who has given him the opportunity to perform.

JANET TUCKER (Stage Manager) - Janet is delighted to be stage managing at FWP again.   How to Succeed... at FWP, My Favorite Year at EOT and Crazy For You at SPLT are amongst her credits.  Her expertise is invaluable to us all and FWP is very happy to see her name in our program once again.

Cast of Characters

Elisha J. Whitney                            Ray Kenney

Purser                                       Chuck Fonshell

Reporter                                         Joe Southall

Cameraman.                               Reid Compton

Sir Evelyn Oakleigh              Tracy Alan Hughes

Hope Harcourt                  Suzanne Dani'L Faith

Mrs. Harcourt                                Elaine Coffin

Bishop Henry T. Dobson               Kevin Boylan

Ching                                              Ellie LeVine

Ling                                        Margaret Boylan

Steward                                    Jason Burghorn

Reno Sweeney                          Nancy Metzger

Billy Crocker                               Tim Mathews

Moonface Martin                   Fred Schumacher

Bonnie                                   Catherine Fowles

Captain                                              Jay Allen

Drunk                                           John Hughes

The Angels:

Charity                                          Brittany Fix

Chastity                                       Tanya Fisher

Purity                                       Robin Medicus

Patience                               Heather Burghorn

Joy                                                Leah Radel

Virtue                                         Lauren Clark

Ensemble:    Eric Anderson, Colleen Boylan, Adrienne Clover, Reid Compton,  Teri Esguerra, John Hughes, Pat Hughes,  Ellie LeVine, Olga Malykhin,  Katie Russo & Joe Southall

Director's Notes

"In olden days a glimpse of stocking was looked at as something shocking, but now God knows...Anything Goes!"

 Before the days of Kristin Chenowith, Marin Mazzie, and Patti LuPone, women like Ethel Merman, Sophie Tucker, Vivian Vance, and Mary Martin were gracing the Broadway stages singing the infectious music of Cole Porter.  Songs like "You Don't Know Paree", "I Get A Kick Out of You", Begin the Beguine", "My Heart Belongs to Daddy", and "You're the Top" became everyday songs of the 1930's; the decade when anything was possible.  The crash of 1929 was behind us and everything looked "De-Lovely".

 This has been a fun and wild ride.  I have been blessed with amazingly talented people around me; from the incredible designs of Jim Demetrius and Micki Schumacher, Rocco Mrabito's wigs, and of course the musical abilities of Mark Jelks.  I have also been lucky to have working with me a great Stage Manager in Janet Tucker, a terrific orchestra and crew, plus Catherine Fowles who showed people that dancing is easy; Anne Fowles and Ro Grenelle "the queens of props", Dianna Hanger, "the princess of the light booth", and a hard working, talented cast.  I would like to thank Ray Kenney and the Francis Wilson Playhouse (my second home) for giving me this wonderful opportunity to direct such a classic show.