Summer Place Theatre gives winter a try

The folks at Summer Place Theatre hope to make Friday evening an enchanted one for theatergoers.

Ditto for Saturday.

The Naperville-based stage company, long known for its large summer performances, is adding a March show to its schedule with "Some Enchanted Evening," a musical revue of Rodgers and Hammerstein hits.

This week's show, with a relatively small cast of 19, gives Summer Place a way to keep in touch with its audience and create awareness among potential fans and company members, producer Heather Hutchison said.

Summer Place productions usually are presented at Naperville Central High School, she said, but "Some Enchanted Evening" will use the sanctuary at Naperville's Wesley United Methodist Church as a performance space.

"We haven't found a (permanent) home yet for our winter show," she said. "They (at Wesley) want to reach out to the community, let them know, 'Here's a space, we want you to use it.' They've just upgraded the sound system and they have fantastic acoustics."

"It's a very large space," said Mark Duebner, who is sharing directorial responsibilities with Keith Cornell. "It is one of the most acoustically amazing spaces in Naperville."

The cabaret-style show serves up a string of Rodgers and Hammerstein's classics.

"There's no script. It's just song after song -- duets, solos and large ensemble numbers," said Hutchison, who, as pianist, will provide the show's sole musical accompaniment.

The performance, of course, will feature the title song, "Some Enchanted Evening," from "South Pacific." It also will include numbers from "The Sound of Music," "Cinderella," "The King and I" and "Oklahoma!"

Duebner said the tunes Rodgers and Hammerstein wrote for Broadway blockbuster musicals stand up well on their own, out of context, unlike many songs written for modern musicals.

"Years ago, Broadway musicals were the pop music of the time," he said.

Duebner, who has long been associated with Tempo Players, another suburban theater group, marks his return to Summer Place after a 20-year absence.

He said he was cast in the show as a singer before he and Cornell were chosen to replace the show's original director.

The evening will showcase a wide range of players.

"We've got quite a variety of young talent and seasoned professionals," Duebner said.

And, he said, it's appropriate for all ages.

"It's definitely something that's family friendly."

If you go

What: "Some Enchanted Evening," staged by Summer Place Theatre

When: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday

Where: Wesley United Methodist Church, 21 E. Franklin Ave., Naperville

Tickets: $15

Info: (630) 355-7969 or summerplacetheatre.org