Grand Rapids Players Announce Spring Musical

By Toni Moore

The Grand Rapids Players are proud to announce their selection of “Hubba Hubba,” a 1940’s Hollywood movie musical, for their spring production.

The cast includes actors and actresses aged junior high school on up. Several parts specifically call for high school or college-aged individuals as well as adults of all ages. Part range from learning lines, music and dancing to lines, music or dancing only. Individuals who might have stage fright but wish to take part are encouraged to help backstage with set construction and design painting, sound, makeup, and props. All are a great way to meet new people and have a fun experience with the theatre.

Auditions for “Hubba Hubba” will be at the Myles Reif Performing Arts Center on: January 6, 6-9pm, January 7, 10am- Noon & 1-4 pm, and January 8, 1-4 pm. Tryouts will consist of reading certain parts from the script as well as determining your vocal pitch/range and dancing skills. People auditioning can come at anytime during those hours and do not have to stay for the entire time, nor do they have to attend all auditions. Everyone is encouraged to read for a part. Please bring a non-returnable picture for future publicity use, not a jpg printed on photo paper. If you do bring a jpg, please bring it on disk or cd or be prepared to e-mail it.

For more information visit www.grlayers.com, e-mail info@grplayers.com or call Mike Mattson: 218 328 6222. If you cannot make any of the audition times, call to set up an audition.

“Hubba Hubba” is a satire of the movie musicals of the 1940’s. It tells the story of Jane Talbot, the movie star with the “Million Dollar Knees,” who goes on a bond-selling tour to find her long lost love, Stew Wright. Meanwhile, a few patriotic kids in Small City, USA, are planning a show to raise money to build a servicemen’s canteen. As luck, circumstances and the movies would have it; Jane arrives in Small City, decides to combine the two shows into one grand spectacle, and finds her Mr. Wright.

A virtual collage of the era; there are glimpses of Betty Grable’s insured anatomy, Ann Miller’s taps, Dorothy Lamour’s south sea fantasies, Carmen Miranda’s trills and produce, the Andrews Sisters unique harmony, the jitterbug, boogie woogie, saddle shoes, sling pumps and the snood. The jargon and jive all come alive. It’s about the patriotic unity of all those movies that told us war and brotherhood was synonomouse.. and they were.

Scripts will be available for prior reading at the Grand Rapids Public Library.

“Hubba Hubba” is being produced by special arrangement with Pioneer Drama Service, Inc. Original book, music and lyrics by Gene Casey and Jan Casey.