Opening night is history.
Director, Christopher Weaver's instincts to add humor were spot on. The audience loved it. Opening night is usually filled with families, good friends and fellow actors, which automatically offers a friendly and supportive audience. Due to the work done for some recent reunions and subsequent re-connecting on Facebook many former high school classmates of Joe LaChappelle were also in attendance creating an extremely friendly atmosphere.
Joe, playing the part of Henry Drummond, couldn't have done any wrong in our eyes...even if he had, but he didn't. In the lobby I heard one patron saying that the guy playing Drummond was born to play that part. Indeed, Joe had called it a "bucket list" role for him right from the start. But of course, Joe couldn't and didn't do it alone. The entire cast (which follows) did a wonderful job. Christopher finessed parts that would barely be noticed into several delightfully quirky, funny moments. The exchanges between Drummond and all others in the courtroom scenes were appropriately intense. I'll discuss some of what I consider to be bright spots in a future post.
The Cast:
Joseph Scott Anthony: E K Hornbeck
Jerry Borths: George Sillers
James Booth Burr, Jr: Matthew Harrison Brady
Toby Weiner Dolinka: Mrs. Sarah Brady
Frances Gentile: Mrs. McClain
Shiloh Gilbert: Melinda Loomis
William Handy: Rev Jeremiah Brown
Mary Howing: Mrs. Blair
Andrew Howing: Timmy Blair
Peter Huschilt: Mr. Bannister and Elijah
Silas Kachman: London Rueters News Man, Photographer, Harry Esterbrook, Bollinger, Hot Dog Vendor
Michael Kohlenberger: Bertram Cates
Joe LaChappelle: Henry Drummond
Jim Lax: Jessie H Dunlap
Candy Novenski: Mrs. Loomis
Clara Osbeck: Rachel Brown
Todd Osbeck: Mayor
Michael Phelp: Tom Davenport
Joey Riedy: Hurdy Gurdy Man and Reporter
Bob Rose: George Meeker
Kitty Slasinski: Mrs. Krebs
Sam Vandersluis: Howard Blair
Gary Walker: Judge Merle
Jurors: Ray Gautreau, Russ VanAllen, Dan Brooks, Keenan Foley, Mark Moran, Mike Rose, Alan Petkus, Bud Thompson, Bradford Winkler, Esq., George Noyes, Ron Vetter, Jeff Thomas, Ed Phelps, David Atkinson
Community theater is well-represented in the Grand Rapids area, but Heritage Theatre Group is just one of several groups. While operating on a shoestring budget, they have managed to provide wonderful opportunities for our local actors, directors, stage managers and production staff. At the same time they provide entertainment opportunities, reasonably priced and very well done.
There are seven performances left, and I encourage you to attend one of them. You will not be disappointed.
Just to entice you, here's a YouTube clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnlV5FYMH68
And here is a link to a review in the Grand Rapids Press: http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2010/07/review_clever_lines_and_humoro.html
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Cast and crew for "Inherit the Wind"
Hornbeck to Drummond
Cast and crew for "Inherit the Wind"
Hornbeck to Drummond
Performance Dates and Times
Performance dates and times are as follows:
July 29, 30, 31, August 1, and August 5, 6, 7 and 8
Thursday, Friday and Saturday performances are at 8:00 pm, and Sunday performances are at 2:00 pm.
The performances will all be at the Spectrum Theater, 160 Fountain NE, Grand Rapids. Their phone # is: 616-234-3946, and the link to their site is: http://www.heritagetheatregr.org/
Please come and bring a friend!! Shoot, bring several friends, strangers, too!!!
July 29, 30, 31, August 1, and August 5, 6, 7 and 8
Thursday, Friday and Saturday performances are at 8:00 pm, and Sunday performances are at 2:00 pm.
The performances will all be at the Spectrum Theater, 160 Fountain NE, Grand Rapids. Their phone # is: 616-234-3946, and the link to their site is: http://www.heritagetheatregr.org/
Please come and bring a friend!! Shoot, bring several friends, strangers, too!!!
WELCOME!!!
This purpose of this blog is to follow Joe Lachappelle from audition to performance of the play "Inherit the Wind". Other performances of "Inherit the Wind" that you may have heard of, or may have seen are:
Inherit the Wind (play), a 1955 play by Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee
Inherit the Wind (1960 film), directed by Stanley Kramer, starring Spencer Tracy, Fredric March, Gene Kelly, Harry Morgan, and Dick York Written by Nedrick Young and Harold Jacob Smith, based on the play above.
Inherit the Wind (1965 film), starring Melvyn Douglas, Ed Begley, and Dick York Inherit the Wind (1988 film), starring Jason Robards, Kirk Douglas, and Darren McGavin
Inherit the Wind (1999 film), starring Jack Lemmon, George C. Scott, and Beau Bridges
Inherit the Wind (play), a 1955 play by Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee
Inherit the Wind (1960 film), directed by Stanley Kramer, starring Spencer Tracy, Fredric March, Gene Kelly, Harry Morgan, and Dick York Written by Nedrick Young and Harold Jacob Smith, based on the play above.
Inherit the Wind (1965 film), starring Melvyn Douglas, Ed Begley, and Dick York Inherit the Wind (1988 film), starring Jason Robards, Kirk Douglas, and Darren McGavin
Inherit the Wind (1999 film), starring Jack Lemmon, George C. Scott, and Beau Bridges
SPENCER TRACY
Spencer Tracy played the role of Henry Drummond in the 1960 movie version of "Inherit the Wind". During two different periods in 1924 and 1925 Spencer Tracy lived in Grand Rapids. At that time he was part of a stock theater group owned by William Wright. The Wright Company occasionally tested plays for Broadway. While in Grand Rapids, they did repertory work, sometime doing a different play every week!
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