All together now
By Gretchen Ammerman
Oregon Coast TODAY
The Lincoln City Playhouse is thinking globally while acting locally for its next production — a collection of popular show tunes curated by Musical Theatre International.
The musical revue will have two performances on Sunday, Nov. 14, at the Lincoln City Cultural Center.
The set, presented as “All Together Now! A Global Event Celebrating Local Theatre” is being offered to schools and theater groups with no royalty or rental fees and includes songs from “Rent,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Once on this Island,” “Little Women,” “Newsies,” “Guys and Dolls,” “Godspell” and “Annie.”
“‘All Together Now’ is happening all over the world,” said Karen Bonelli Sanquist, Playhouse executive artistic director and founder. “What’s really nice about it for us is that any money we make from the fundraiser goes back to us 100 percent. MTI never does free things like this and some of the licenses are really expensive, so to be able to participate in this to raise money for the playhouse is great.”
The playhouse began putting on workshops to teach costuming, makeup and improv and planning plays in 2019.
Originally welcoming kids ages eight through 18, it soon expanded to allow in older and younger kids when the popularity of the group grew. The upcoming production will even have some adult performers.
“So far it looks like we will have 14 kids and three adults in this one,” Bonelli Sanquist said. “Some of our adults are the moms of our young performers.”
Though the group has had successful productions, including “Seussical Jr.” at the Beach Club in Lincoln City in 2019, and last year's “Alyse in Wonderland, Steampunk Style” at the Lincoln City Cultural Center, the pandemic has created challenges.
“This is something different for us but one thing that inspired us to do it was, after being closed down for most of 2020, this gives us another way to be on stage and help us warm up for our next full production.”
The musical revue features songs from Musical Theatre International's most popular shows.
“This all started because MTI reached out to me,” Bonelli Sanquist said. “I looked over it and saw how fun the songs were, then presented the idea to the group and they were really excited about doing it.”
At last count, the project had 5,500 scheduled performances in 2,500 schools and theaters in more than 40 countries and every state in the US.
The revue features 15 slots for musical performances with multiple song options per slot, so theaters have flexibility with how they present the show. The option to choose from two or three songs for each slot allows producers to tailor the show to best fit their artistic vision, the talents of their cast and the composition of their audience.
“I played all the songs and let them pick,” Bonelli Sanquist said. “Some kids wanted to be in every song, which is awesome.”
One song that not many opted for was "Let it Go” from “Frozen.”
“That totally surprised me,” Bonelli Sanquist said. “There was a lot more excitement about ‘Be our Guest’ from “Beauty and the Beast.” The plan is to have mics in front so each kid in that one will have a chance for a solo. Everyone is going to be in the first and last song.”
Inclusiveness has always been a driver for Bonelli Sanquist since she first started the Playhouse.
“Any child is welcome here, it does not matter if you have a disability or what that disability is,” she said. “I have worked with kids who have ADHD, kids with Asperger’s or are on the spectrum and dyslexic kids. I am willing to be patient and find out from the parents and kids what works best for them and how we can make them feel comfortable. It is so important for the company that any child feels welcome.”
The next step for the Playhouse will be a production of “Elf Jr.,” on stage at the Lincoln City Cultural Center from Dec. 11 through 19.
“I can’t say how the musical revue will go since this is the first time doing something like this,” Bonelli Sanquist said. “But rehearsals are going great, the kids and even the adults are having fun and it’s helping us shake off the dust and be ready for ‘Elf.’”
The musical revue also calls for less work for Bonelli Sanquist, who does a bulk of the costume creation for the Playhouse productions.
“We won’t have costumes for this one,” she said. “But I am having them dress in their Sunday best.”
“All Together Now!” will take to the stage at the Lincoln City Cultural Center, located at 540 NE Hwy. 101, at 4 pm and 7 pm on Sunday, Nov. 14. Tickets are $15. For more information, go to lincolncity-culturalcenter.org or call 503-913-6876.