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Singin' in the Rain' opens at North Central College

Posted July 30, 2009 11:00 pm

By Jessica Sabbah Daily Herald Staff

Director Brian Lynch calls "Singin' in the Rain" an "old tap-dancing musical comedy." Bev Horne | Staff Photographer

When Nick Graffagna would watch the film version of "Singin' in the Rain" growing up, he always dreamed of getting to bring a character from one of his favorite movies to life.

Now he gets his chance.

The Lisle resident and soon-to-be freshman musical theater major at Western Michigan University plays the "larger than life" Cosmo Brown for three performances of North Central College's community theater production of the classic musical.

"The movie was one of the things that made me want to pursue (musical theater) in general," he said.

Graffagna, along with 107 other cast members, will take the stage in "Singin' in the Rain" at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, today through Aug. 9, at Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton Ave., Naperville. Characters Don Lockwood, Cosmo Brown and Kathy Selden are double-cast.

Director and choreographer Brian Lynch shares Graffagna's love for the show.

"This musical is one of the reasons why I'm in the business because it's pure entertainment," Lynch said. "It's entertainment at its finest. It's sort of an introspective look at the movies and Hollywood, and it's kind of the heart and soul of what entertainers are about in a certain way."

The story was made famous by the 1952 cinematic version featuring Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor and Debbie Reynolds.

Lynch, who said he tried to be as true to the original as possible, said his two favorite moments of the show are the musical numbers "You Were Meant For Me" and "Singin' in the Rain" because it will actually rain on stage.

Lynch urged audience members to be ready for an incredibly enjoyable evening in what he describes as an "old tap-dancing musical comedy" and a "feel-good show" with a talented, tight-knit cast.

For Naperville resident Leslie Smith, this will be her eighth and possibly last NCC community theater production.

Smith, who plays Kathy Selden, is a junior vocal performance major at Indiana University and will not be able to return home next summer. Throughout her time on the Pfeiffer Hall stage, she said she has enjoyed the people and the friendships she has made along the way.

Likewise, the Oechsel family of Naperville has turned the summer productions at North Central into an annual tradition over the past six or seven years.

After coaching his son's soccer team, Chris Oechsel decided to join his daughters in a performance. All six members of the Naperville family are involved in the production. While mom Beth helps out with costumes and her 15-year-old son, Christopher, works on tech crew, the rest of the family will perform.

Chris Oechsel gets to share the stage with his three daughters - Erin, 19, Alexandra, 13, and Taylor, 9.

"It's been great to have something to do together," he said.

Throughout their participation, the Oechsels also have gained an extended family they refer to their "Pfeiffer family."

Erin Oechsel has been affected so much by her time at the theater that she has chosen to pursue it as a career. The sophomore musical theater major at Ball State cites Brian Lynch as a major influence.

"His passion for his art is contagious," she said.

Wesley Dean Tucker also hopes to make a career of performing, a passion he has had since he was 5.

A senior musical theater major at North Central, Tucker plays Don Lockwood in his debut with the community theater and aspires to be a performer in musical theater. He has been in productions at NCC, his high school and community theater closer to his hometown of Mason City, Ill.

"Where I'm from, shows are a lot smaller," he said.

Tucker said the theatrical version of the musical has a lot of laughs and impressive dancing similar to the film.

"It's a musical for nonmusical lovers and regular theater lovers," he said. "I think it covers everyone."

"Singin' in the Rain" is called a musical for "nonmusical lovers." Bev Horne | Staff Photographer

Jeremy Gould, 10, dances as part of a cast of more than 100 that will present "Singin' in the Rain" for the next two weekends in Naperville. Bev Horne | Staff Photographer

Dave Musselmann is Don Lockwood and Lauren Roesnor is Kathy Selden in "Singin' in the Rain" at North Central College. Bev Horne | Staff Photographer

Garrett Lutz, one of two actors in the role of Cosmo Brown, sings "Make 'Em Laugh" during the North Central College Community Theater production of "Singin' in the Rain." Bev Horne | Staff Photographer

Dave Musselmann and Garrett Lutz take the stage this weekend in North Central College's community theater production of "Singin' in the Rain." Bev Horne | Staff Photographer

What: "Singin' in the Rain," staged by North Central College's community theater When: 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, July 31 to Aug. 9 Where: North Central College's Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton Ave., Naperville Tickets: $15 for adults, $10 for students and seniors Info: (630) 637-7469 or <a href="http://northcentralcollege.edu/show" target="new">northcentralcollege.edu/show</a>

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