“Brigadoon” is one of those shows that leaves you humming as you exit the theater. Not every musical is like that.
But who can resist songs like “Almost Like Being in Love,” which became an American standard, and others like “The Heather on the Hill,” “The Love of My Life” and “Once in the Highlands?”
Alton Little Theater in Alton, Illinois, is bringing the classic love story to the stage as it reopens following the stay-at-home orders surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
And make no mistake, the new world of theater – at least for the time-being – has been a tricky one to figure out. Local and regional theaters have come together – not as competitors – but as fellow actors, producers and directors to figure out how to make social distancing guidelines work in an industry that traditionally brings people closer together.
The St. Louis Theatre Community Task Force, of which ALT has been a regional participant through the “shutdown,” has been a resource that ALT executive director, Lee Cox, said has helped all area theaters with resources that provide truth and possibilities. Cox said plans are in place to abide by all social distancing rules to keep theater goers, performers and crew safe, yet able to once again, enjoy a live show. As of now, this includes removal of seats to provide safe distancing with a smaller crowd, use of masks, disposable programs, and changes in entrance and exits. As with all things surrounding COVID-19, that can change on a daily basis.
But ALT is ready to restart its interrupted offerings of productions with the summer treat, “Brigadoon,” the mystical tale of a city that appears for only one day.
As the story goes … two American tourists stumble upon a mysterious Scottish village that appears for only one day every 100 years. When they arrive, a fair is going on, which brings in a whole cast of characters. One of the tourists, Tommy Albright (played by Kurtis Leible), falls in love with Fiona MacLaren (Jessica McCawley) – who is from the village, Brigadoon. Jeff, the second tourist, is led away by the flirtatious dairymaid, Meg.
With a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, and music by Frederick Loewe, the original production opened on Broadway in 1947. It reopened in 1949 – and both had long runs. A Gene Kelly film version was released in 1954, and a remake was made for television in 1966.
ALT facility manager and artistic director, Kevin Frakes, who is also the director of “Brigadoon,” said luckily, auditions for the musical were held before the COVID-19 social distancing orders hit.
Kevin Frakes on the set of “Brigadoon”
“We had a couple of singing rehearsals, and then we were told we had to all go home for a lockdown,” Frakes said. “We are definitely living in a different time. I had to come up with new ways of doing things. All of the actors are at home learning their music with the use of technology.”
Rehearsals are now starting with 10 people or less at a time … with everyone wearing a mask and being as safe as possible.
“‘Brigadoon’ is a love story, and the real challenge is to get that feeling across without too much cast contact or singing ‘directly at’ each other,” Frakes said. “I have to come up with some creative blocking!”
But everyone is excited that after moving dates a couple of times, an opening is set.
“We can’t wait to put on this wonderful show with its beautiful music,” he said.
Lee Cox with some of the set dressings and props that are just waiting for actors as ALT prepares for reopening
Due to the COVID-19 crisis and the governor’s extension of stay-at-home orders through May, ALT cancelled its original July production of “Shrek” that is now rescheduled for July 2021.
“This of course was a huge disappointment to us but we were able to reschedule ‘Brigadoon,’ and the cast hung in there with us,” Cox said. “Brigadoon” had originally been scheduled for May.
“We will be starting with a small audience with all social distancing practices in place, and hopefully, slowly rebuild from there,” she said. “Seeing the auditorium with so many ‘missing’ seats is sobering in and of itself, but we are so looking forward to opening the show.”
Other cast members include Cole Gutmann as Charlie Dalyrymple, Brianna Hall as Jean MacLaren, Kelly Hougland as Jeff Douglas, Kayla Burton as Meg Brockie, John Kirkpatrick as Mr. Lundie, Kevin Hester appears as Stuart Dalyrymple, Michael Arthur – Harry Beaton, Benjamin Mazure – Angus MacGuffie, Megan Kolosieke – Jane, Ty Dunn – Frank, Bill Burke – Andrew MacLaren and Jake Tenberge as Archie Beaton. Ensemble members and sword dancers are Tiffani Bowen, Olivia Buck, Linda Fergurson, Emily Grace, Corrine Jones, Gabe Levi and Melissa Mulrean.
The musical director is Rich Alexander, Cox is production assistant and costumer, Sydney Martin is the choreographer, and the technical director is Brant McCance.
“The cast age range is 15 to 65-plus, so we have the chance to introduce a ‘Golden Age’ musical to a new generation (or two),” Cox said.
Four cast members are on hiatus from college, some have moved back to the area after spending time in equity houses and Walt Disney World. Others are helping fellow cast and crew learn the ropes, some have Scottish ancestry that they proudly play up for the production.
Frakes has wanted to do this show for 30 years but some thought it was “just too big of a show for ALT’s stage.”
“Our stage has been expanded twice since then, and with the use of screens and projections and Kevin’s ingenious construction of set pieces that mirror and appear out of the projections, it changes the whole vastness of the staging,” Cox said.
Twelve set pieces hang in the wings with 50 or so props, and the set changes with the use of wings, lights and the cast of 21 using 60 costumes to play multiple ensemble roles.
“‘Brigadoon’ is glorious, not just because of the sweeping ballads, but because as old fashioned as it might sound – true love is a powerful force that defies the limits of time and space,” Cox said. “We’ve all hopefully, experienced the feeling when we fall in love that we can do anything together. I still feel that way, and I love a story where people choose to change their lives forever to be together.”
Preparing to reopen for the July production of “Brigadoon” takes talent and creativity. Kevin Frakes, who is the theater’s facility manager and artistic director, pulls items from the bounty of furniture in ALT’s storage coffers.
ALT sits on 4.5 acres of land, with 20,000 square feet of performance and storage space. Frakes figures out how to build, refurbish and store just about everything needed to mount productions throughout the year.
“We are so fortunate to have a bounty of furniture and accessories and costumes, and we often share our accumulation with Curtain’s Up Theater Company in Edwardsville and Alpha Players in Florissant, Missouri,” Cox said.
If they don’t have what they need for a set, Kevin Frakes is often known to come up with a way to build it – whatever it is.
“We also still barter with The Rep, Stages, Little Theater on the Square and Grand Ball Costumes for specialty needs, because our mission is to spend money at least regionally, if not locally,” she added.
Because so many small theaters are really struggling to even think of startup after so many cancellations, ALT is offering to loan lights and other materials to those theaters in need.
“Our inventory is built up to the point that we want to share our blessings!” Cox said.
“Brigadoon” officially opens on Friday, July 24, with additional performances on July 25, 26, 28, 29, 30 and 31, and Aug. 1 and 2. Evening performances are at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday matinees are at 2 p.m. Tickets are $25 each. To purchase, or for more information, call (618) 462-3205 or visit altonlittletheater.org.