Pontiac already draws visitors to see museums, parks and stores; this summer a musical production will be added to the city’s list of attractions.
The musical is a joint effort between Pontiac Tourism and Pontiac’s own Vermillion Players.
“We are in the beginning stages of adding a musical that can be done on an as-needed basis. When coach groups come we can pull it out,” stated Ellie Alexander, director of Pontiac Tourism.
Alexander said that the Pontiac Tourism office chose to work with Bob McKenzie, director for Vermillion Players, to make this idea a reality.
One of the reasons visitors are fascinated with Pontiac is because of the famous highway, Route 66.
So when Alexander’s sister, Taylor Johnson, saw Roger Bean’s “Route 66: A New Musical Review,” she told Alexander that Pontiac should pursue it.
Bean wrote the musical based on his impressions while driving parts of Route 66. “I live in Los Angeles, so I am at the tail end of it. I have been inspired by these places, that is why I chose so much of the music,” Bean said.
The tourism office followed Johnson’s advice. They plan to show a preview of the musical on a stage set up along the square during the Walldogs Festival on Thursday, June 25 at 7 p.m.
“We are calling it a sneak peek performance because it is a shortened version of the actual musical and it is free,” Alexander said.
Showing only a snippet of the musical will benefit the tourism bureau. The condensed show will fit into the festival schedule and will save money on royalties. It will hopefully whet the appetite for the full-length performance scheduled for the end of the summer at the Chautauqua Park pavilion.
McKenzie came on board with Pontiac Tourism office by agreeing to form a cast and work out the details of the musical.
“I have not held auditions yet. I am still working out the music. Some of it is unknown to me,” McKenzie said.
In the musical, the characters are riding along the mother road, listening to the theme song, “Route 66.” The song is known for the repeated phrase, “Get your kicks on Route 66.”
The characters start in Chicago and make stops in all the places mentioned in the song, including St. Louis, Oklahoma City and Texas. Eventually they end up in California with songs by the Beach Boys.
“The story is not just about the road itself, but it is about the people and places along the road,” said Bean.
“When they are in Chicago there is a mid-western sound. As they move south the music becomes more country and twangy,” Bean explained.
McKenzie said, “The staging and choreography will be fun for the audience and the performers.”
The show includes many songs. “If there is one full page of dialogue, I will be surprised. It is song after song after song with vintage radio commercials breaking it up,” McKenzie said.
“The soundtrack of commercials are the real commercials used at that time in history. The track even includes the static you used to hear when you changed from one radio station to another,” McKenzie continued.
The writer recommends using four men for the show. McKenzie plans to cast more.
He said, “It is a very demanding show for four men. I would like to have six to 10 men, and use four men for special numbers.”
For now McKenzie continues to work out the staging for both the sneak peek performance on a portable stage and the full length production on the permanent indoor stage.
“It will be a challenge to make every scene look fresh. But I always enjoy what the cast creates,” McKenzie concluded.
|
