NCC community theater to present 'My Favorite Year'
A portal into Benjy Stone's memory of 1954 gives rise to comedy, music and a bit of pathos in "My Favorite Year."
Stone is the hero of the musical comedy set to open tonight at North Central College's Pfeiffer Hall in Naperville.
"Benjy's father left when he was 7," director Suzy Olsen said.
Stone finds a father figure in actor Alan Swann, whose work he studies with intensity as he grows up.
When he gets his first job as a TV writer, Stone is given the task of reining in a wayward, drunken Swann, who is guest starring on the show for a week.
"We're exploring his memory," said Olsen, a Naperville resident who has performed on Chicago-area stages for 10 years and has been involved with North Central summer community theater for six years.
"It brings with it a little more drama that way. There's a little more heart to this than the movie," Olsen said.
A movie version of the story, made in 1982, focused on Swann's character, she said, and didn't feature music.
"I fell in love with the music before ever seeing the show," she said, adding that she saw a production of "My Favorite Year" last year in Chicago. "It's got the best opening production number ever."
Broadway presented a musical version in 1992, but it didn't do well, Olsen said, perhaps because of the extremely dark portrayal of Swann's character.
"He was crazy and wild. He was always getting drunk and getting into trouble," said Olsen.
She said she coached Warrenville actor Tom Sipla to play the Swann character as a flamboyant, happy drunk, rather than as desperate and tragic.
Sipla, a community theater veteran who has played key parts in several North Central summer community theater productions, including "Fiddler on the Roof" and "My Fair Lady," said playing Swann is a treat.
"It's easy to play a drunk. It's hard to play the emotional scenes when (Swann) is not drunk," Sipla said. "It's fun. You get to play with it and have a good time. You need to have all your lines down cold."
Sipla said the show's 1950s feel is evoked with styles and stereotypes.
One stereotype that makes the show fun is Benjy Stone's Jewish mother, Belle May Steinberg Carroca, played by Woodridge actress Linda Musselman.
"I want that (Benjy) should bring Alan Swann home to dinner in Brooklyn," Musselman said in a thick New York accent.
A former substitute teacher, Musselman said she is making her theater debut.
"It's the first time I've ever done this. I've been watching my children all do this for years," she said. "I never realized how much work it is. I just thought they were having a good time."
Three of her children are involved with the show. Daughter Kathy plays a key role, Alice Miller, while son David plays several bit parts and son Michael is a trumpet player in the pit orchestra.
Family members performing together in North Central summer shows is common, she said. So is cooperation.
"I'm acting with many other people that have a lot of experience," Musselman said. "It's really nice. Everybody helps each other."
If you go
What: "My Favorite Year," presented by North Central College community theater
When: 8 p.m. today, Friday and Saturday and Aug. 14-16
Where: North Central's Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton Ave., Naperville
Tickets: $15 for adults, $10 for students and seniors
Info: (630) 637-7469 or northcentralcollege.edu
'My Favorite Year' cast
Benjy Stone: Garrett Lutz, Aurora; Nick Graffagna, Lisle
Alan Swann: Tom Sipla, Warrenville
K.C. Downing: Erin Oechsel, Naperville; Leslie Smith, Naperville
King Kaiser: Sean Roe, Aurora; Jason Linder, Bensenville
Sy Benson: Anthony Urso, Lombard; Spencer Diedrick, Glen Ellyn
Belle May Steinberg Carroca: Linda Musselman, Woodridge
Alice Miller: Kathy Musselman, Woodridge; Jen Berosek, Streator
Rookie Carroca: Nico Nepomuceno, Naperville; Jordan DeLeon, Bolingbrook
Herb Lee: Curtis Stelter (town not available)
Uncle Morty: Chris Oechsel, Naperville
Aunt Sadie: Gwen Sanborn, Naperville
Leo Miller: Stuart Vance, Naperville
Tess: Bridget Ameche, Naperville