Youth and experience find harmony in 'Music Man' production of Fridley Community Theatre
BY PAUL RIGNELL
- Sun NewspapersPublished: Thursday, July 22, 2010 2:16 PM CDTA
Fridley Community Theatre, for its debut show this summer, has cast members ranging from 5 to 78 for this musical set in small-town Iowa in the early 20th century.
To see how youth and experience among actors can blend and produce bursts of enthusiasm, focus on a male singing quartet featured in the Fridley production. Cast members Aaron Booth and Collin Jones, both in their 20s, and Pat Delaney and Paul Christensen, in their 70s, combine into one wonderful voice when featured on stage.
Delaney, of Fridley, was the only one among the four with barbershop experience before the FCT rehearsals began. He has performed with groups including the St. Paul North Star Chorus and the Metro Men Singers. More locally he has sung - and played a bucket like a drum - with the New Brighton Kitchen Kut-Ups band for 20 years and shared his voice in a choir at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in New Brighton for 46 years.
Christensen, of Columbia Heights, was on staff at First Lutheran Church - Columbia Heights, serving as music director for 37 years before retiring from the post in 2000. He has stayed active in music through appearing in St. Anthony Community Theatre's recent production of "Fiddler on the Roof."
Booth and Jones were involved in musical theater at their respective high schools. A favorite role for Jones was as the Cowardly Lion in "The Wizard of Oz" at Fridley High School in 2006. Booth has stayed on in theater at the University of Minnesota - Morris after taking on such roles as Cogsworth of "Beauty and the Beast" at Spring Lake Park High School in 2008.
Of their work this summer on "The Music Man," Delaney said: "It's a lot more involved than I thought it would be." He has taken on extra work for the show, helping with set design.
In speaking with Sun-Focus together, the men agreed all of their work has been worth the effort. "There are a lot of talented people here," said Christensen. "I've enjoyed this experience."
FCT's production of "The Music Man" opens 7 p.m. Friday, July 23, in the Fridley District Auditorium at Fridley High School, 6000 W. Moore Lake Drive. The run continues with 7 p.m. performances Saturday, July 24, and the following Friday and Saturday, July 30-31. A fifth performance at 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 1, will be accompanied by American Sign Language interpretive service.
- Sun NewspapersPublished: Thursday, July 22, 2010 2:16 PM CDTA
Fridley Community Theatre, for its debut show this summer, has cast members ranging from 5 to 78 for this musical set in small-town Iowa in the early 20th century.
To see how youth and experience among actors can blend and produce bursts of enthusiasm, focus on a male singing quartet featured in the Fridley production. Cast members Aaron Booth and Collin Jones, both in their 20s, and Pat Delaney and Paul Christensen, in their 70s, combine into one wonderful voice when featured on stage.
Delaney, of Fridley, was the only one among the four with barbershop experience before the FCT rehearsals began. He has performed with groups including the St. Paul North Star Chorus and the Metro Men Singers. More locally he has sung - and played a bucket like a drum - with the New Brighton Kitchen Kut-Ups band for 20 years and shared his voice in a choir at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in New Brighton for 46 years.
Christensen, of Columbia Heights, was on staff at First Lutheran Church - Columbia Heights, serving as music director for 37 years before retiring from the post in 2000. He has stayed active in music through appearing in St. Anthony Community Theatre's recent production of "Fiddler on the Roof."
Booth and Jones were involved in musical theater at their respective high schools. A favorite role for Jones was as the Cowardly Lion in "The Wizard of Oz" at Fridley High School in 2006. Booth has stayed on in theater at the University of Minnesota - Morris after taking on such roles as Cogsworth of "Beauty and the Beast" at Spring Lake Park High School in 2008.
Of their work this summer on "The Music Man," Delaney said: "It's a lot more involved than I thought it would be." He has taken on extra work for the show, helping with set design.
In speaking with Sun-Focus together, the men agreed all of their work has been worth the effort. "There are a lot of talented people here," said Christensen. "I've enjoyed this experience."
FCT's production of "The Music Man" opens 7 p.m. Friday, July 23, in the Fridley District Auditorium at Fridley High School, 6000 W. Moore Lake Drive. The run continues with 7 p.m. performances Saturday, July 24, and the following Friday and Saturday, July 30-31. A fifth performance at 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 1, will be accompanied by American Sign Language interpretive service.