History of Encore Players Inc. This page contains a
conglomeration of information that has been acquired since Sam Hampton has
taken over as president of Encore Players Inc. At the moment this is all we
have. Any new information is greatly
appreciated. Encore
Players entertain large crowd Presentation
of George M. Cohan show RAYMOND- Encore Players scored
another success Friday and Saturday nights at Lincolnwood High School
auditorium with their presentation of the Geroge M. Cohan musical, “Give My
Regards to Broadway,” where an appreciative audience viewed the show in
air-conditioned comfort. The scene
was the rehearsal stage of an off-Broadway theatre where a group of actors,
singers, and dancers were preparing for a new play, but had no heat in the
building, no leading lady, and no funding for the production. The “mob” gets into the act when a shady
bookie, Legs Ruby, played by Mike Plunkett, takes refuge in the building
where his girlfriend, Trixie, played by Carol Burke, is working as one of
the chorus girls. Two hit men from the mob arrive and search for Legs, but
he is hidden from them by the cast.
Dick Foster, director of the show, played by Tim Price, is working
hard to provide for his troup, and think he has a Broadway star, Mona
Monroe, played by Teresa Watters, for the starring role, but when Mona
learns how bad the situation is at the theatre, she declines. In the meantime, a young aspiring
actress, Mary Collins, played by Donna Price, arrives, proves she can act,
dance, and sing, and is hired for the part.
But funds have run out by this time and the show is about to close
when they are saved by an anonymous donation of $100,000. Director Foster believes that Mona was
the benefactor and again gives her the starring role, which she accepts
when she sees that circumstances have greatly improved. Mary is devastated by the news, but being
a real “trouper,” she accepts the inevitable. However, the cast finds out that Legs was
the “angel” who saved the production with his funds, Foster fires Mona and
hires Mary, and they both realize that they are in love with each
other. The show will go on! The cast obviously enjoyed
playing their characters in the show, and the music was lively and well
done. Several well-known Cohan songs
were in the production, including the title song, Give My Regards to
Broadway, Only Forty-five Minutes From Broadway, Yankee Doodle Boy, It’s A
Grand Old Flag, So Long, Mary, and Mary’s A Grand Old Name. Another tune,
When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again, written by Louis Lambert, was also
featured. Elaine Walch is pianist for Encore Players. Singing solos were Tim Price, Donna
Price, Becky Bishop, Mike Plunkett, and Carol Burke, and, as in previous
Encore Players’ productions, their talents were obvious. Cast members in addition to those already
named were Paul Hampton, Sheri Morris, Tonya Payne, Kristy Harper, David
Cornwell, Darin Harms, and Derek Floyd.
Darin Harms directed the show, Patrice stock was the music director
and Ceil Moore was choreographer. Jim Wreath is president of Encore
Players. The
Montgomery County News Vol.
126, No. 70 Monday,
June 12, 1995 Journalist
not listed. Previous Shows (If you know the month/year for
any of these shows, please let us know so we can update the page. Email to shampton@smstagecrew.org or
voicemail at 217-710-8200) 12 Angry
Jurors A
Christmas Carol A Funny
Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Annie
Get Your Gun Bye, Bye
Birdie Christmas
Tea Courtship
of Eddie’s Father 1999 Damn Yankees Done to
Death Dracula:
The Musical? First in
Line June 1995 Give My Regards to Broadway Guys
& Dolls Harvey March 2000 Harvey Here
Comes the Showboat My Fair
Ladie Picnic Pippin March 1993 Sagebrush Same
Time Next Year Send Me
No Flowers Slow
Down, Sweet Chariot The
Miners Daughter Vaudeville
Tonight
History of Encore Players Inc.
©Servants
of the Messiah Stage Crew 2009 Sam
Hampton, Owner
Providing
sound, minor lighting, and stage crew services to southern Illinois
www.smstagecrew.org s_m_stagecrew@smstagecrew.org 217-710-8200