Kelsey Theater’s season opener is a world premiere musical production of “Alice in Wonderland.” Twenty Minutes to Curtain Productions, under the wing of legendary costume designer and show producer Arthur Gerold, presents the family classic. The opening night performance on Friday, September 4, at 7 p.m., is a fundraiser for the fledgling company, which hopes to take “Alice” to New York City later this year and return to Kelsey with other productions in future seasons. Tickets for opening night are $50 per person and include a reception following the show.##M:[more]##
The production will follow the traditional plot of the Lewis Carroll classic, but with embellishments that will delight children and adults alike. “There will be a new approach to an old story. Everything will be slightly askew,” Gerold promises, including the Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee characters popping up as commentators throughout the show. “We are aiming for the absolute best in family entertainment — no bleeps.”
The script, music, and lyrics were written by Gerold’s late wife Marilyn, who died in 2002. Under the stage name Marilyn Day, she sang with the Guy Lombardo Orchestra and starred on Broadway in the original “Kiss Me Kate.” “She retired from stage and screen in 1952 at the age of 26 to marry me, but never gave up her passion for theater,” Gerold says. “This show is written in the style of the grand musicals from the 1950s — straightforward and beautiful.” Gerold, 86, who says that the production company is a tribute to his wife and her commitment to quality children’s theater, plans to produce “Snow White” at Kelsey next year.
Twenty Minutes to Curtain Productions is yet another chapter in Arthur Gerold’s storied history as a costume creator in theater, film. and television. For many years Gerold owned and managed Brooks Van Horn costumers on both the East and West coasts, one of only two major companies that supplied costumes to Hollywood and Broadway for many years. He worked with such actors as Katherine Hepburn (his favorite), Shirley MacLaine, Pearl Bailey, and Dustin Hoffman and did costumes for Broadway shows “Mame,” “Irma La Duce,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Hello Dolly,” and “42nd Street.”
Gerold also worked with Lorne Michaels and the original cast of “Saturday Night Live.” “They would bring us a script on Thursday and the costumes had to be ready by Saturday afternoon in time for the dress rehearsal,” he says. “We worked around the clock.” Gerold created killer bee costumes, coneheads, and the Samurai warrior for John Belushi. “They were such a fantastic bunch of actors,” he says.
Eric Fabian Simon, 11, of West Windsor portrays the Dormouse. A rising sixth grader at Grovers Middle School, this is his third show. He was in “Rumplestiltskin” at Kelsey and the Halloween Show at West Windsor Library. He has studied tap and jazz at Stewart Johnson in Hamilton and begins studies at Arts Youniversity this fall. He plays trumpet in the school band and has been a chorus member in the past.
His father, Paul, who works at CheckPoint in Cherry Hill, found the audition notice. “I thought it was a good idea,” says Eric. “It has been a good experience and I’m learning a lot.”
His mother, Milagros, teaches Spanish and has resumed studies at FIT, 20 years after receiving her degree from the school. His three older sisters are Ingrid, a junior at High School South; Paola, a graduate of South, Class of 2008, and a student at Lehigh University; and Milagros, South, Class of 2007, and a professional dancer. Both Paola and Milagros were captains of the swim team at South.
Marissa Marciano, 8, of Plainsboro portrays the dual role of Daisy Number Three and the Littlest Juror. Her second show at Kelsey, she was in “Twas the Night before Christmas” last year.
She began theater studies with Plainsboro Recreation department’s Broadway Babies, and has studied musical theater at Westminster Conservatory for two years. “She fell in love with performing,” says her mother, Denise, who works in finance at Firmenich in Plainsboro. “I can’t get her to stop singing and dancing.” Marissa will be taking vocal lessons with Jennifer Garr at Westminster this year.
Her father, Michael, who has been playing the drums since he was three years old, was raised in Spotswood, where he was in allstate band. He works at ICL in Carteret. Her brother, Michael, a rising sixth grade student at Grover Middle School, plays baseball and is a Boy Scout.
Marissa, a Brownie from WWP Troop 71514, had a solo performance at the annual Girl Scout talent show this past spring. She is a rising third grade student at Towne Center Elementary. “She’s learning a lot about theater,” says Denise. “All of the kids involved really love the show.”
Alice in Wonderland, Kelsey Theater, Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road. Friday, September 4, 7 p.m. $50 includes a reception with the cast and crew. 609-570-3333. www.kelseytheatre.net.
Additional performances at regular ticket prices ($16 for adults; $14 for seniors; and $12 for students) are Saturdays, September 5 and 12, at 2 and 7 p.m.; Friday, September 11, at 7 p.m.; and Sundays, September 6 and 13, at 2 p.m.
