While most Drake University students are focused on Drake Relays, wrapping up the spring semester and looking ahead to the summer, two students spend night after night in rehearsals for the Des Moines Community Playhouse’s spring production of “Crazy for You.”
The production is a musical centered on Bobby Child, a banker who loves to dance, and Poppy, the feisty daughter of the owner of a run-down theater in Nevada. The two meet, and Bobby vows to put on a show to save the theater and win Poppy’s heart.
The Playhouse prides itself on encouraging people of all walks of life to participate in its productions, citing “a strong and well-documented history of reaching out to diverse groups for … programming,” on its website.
Drake student Danielle Bax, who plays Elaine, one of the eight showgirls, said she has enjoyed working among a diverse ensemble of performers.
“If you look at the cast bios, you can see we all come from very different backgrounds, and this show is often a second life for most people,” Bax said. “[Performers] have full-time jobs or go to school full-time, but still come to the theater every night to tell the story.”
In the eight weeks leading up to the opening show on April 17, general rehearsals took place from Monday to Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m. A rigorous rehearsal schedule, Bax said, was intensified by many actors holding multiple roles.
Drake student Josie Gillette plays Maggie, one of the other showgirls, and agreed that the rehearsal process was long but rewarding.
“The showgirls were called for basically every rehearsal,” Gillette said. “We are in a ton of dance numbers. It was a lot of work, but it is worth it to feel confident and have fun every night.”
With music and lyrics by George and Ira Gershwin, “Crazy for You” won the 1992 Tony Award for Best Musical for songs such as “Embraceable You,” “I Got Rhythm” and “Nice Work If You Can Get It.”
“My favorite part of the show is probably performing ‘I’ve got Rhythm,’” Gillette said. “This song is iconic, and there are so many fun parts. We get to use taps, tambourines and mining trays, as well as doing lifts with brooms and plungers.”
With choreography by Alison Shafer, dancers use a variety of creative techniques to complement the lyrics of the songs.
“‘Slap That Bass’ is a lot of fun as the girls hold up ropes to be a ‘bass’ and the cowboys play the instrument,” Bax said.
The scenes are often simple and mainly involve Bobby and Polly developing their love story with dances that complement the upbeat music played by the live orchestra.
“I will say how amazing it is to have a full orchestra; it is just so much better than doing a show with tracks,” Bax said.
The technical staff members utilized sound effects, in addition to the orchestra. Elements such as gunshots, glass breaking and loud thuds, accompanied by the actor’s motions on stage gave the fights realism, leaving many audience members ooh-ing and ahh-ing.
“I also love watching the fight in Act 2,” Bax said. “Although I am onstage for it, I’m not a part of the fight, so it’s really cool to know what’s going on to make it look real.”
The audience consisted of people of all ages, but mainly older viewers; something that reflects the era of this musical.
“This show is reminiscent of golden age musicals, and is very happy and lovey-dovey,” Gillette said. “Sometimes it feels trite, but sometimes we just need a break from all of the harshness of reality.”
The production run time is two hours and 15 minutes with a 15-minute intermission. More information about accessible seating, audio, and content advisory warnings can be found on the Des Moines Community Playhouse website. For audio assistance, the Playhouse asks that attendees call ahead.
The show runs May 3, with shows at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets can be purchased online at the Des Moines Community Playhouse website.
