The church involvement leads to choristers singing out their praises on a regular basis. Good stuff to hear.

In a town where dancing is banned, teenagers look for something to do other than church-going. But somewhere along the line, Mama Hewitt must have said that laws can be changed. Therein lies the plot of the play - finding God�s intended joy in what we do.

I was particularly impressed (�overwhelmed� is a better word) by the voice of Robert Godfrey. Godfrey, cast in the role of Reverend Shaw Moore, delivered what I consider to be the best song in the show, �I Confess�. Godfrey often performs with the Cleveland Opera and has recorded 3 CD�s. On hearing his vocal performance in a song about leading with love, one is not surprised by his other accomplishments.

In the best impressions column I also would like to include the names of Melinda Smith and Adam Kapis. Smith, as the title singer for Irene & her Country Kickers, was so Tammy Wynette, Reba McIntyre and Loretta Lynn rolled into one that listeners could think they were at the Opry in Nashville or waiting for a postcard from the edge. Kapis, in the role of the town�s biggest �Bubba�, was absolutely delightful in his character portrayal and even more applause demanding with his rendition of �Mama Says�, probably the overall vocal hit of the show.

The Straw Hat Theatre advertises its auditions over a large geographic area; this summer three students from the greater Cleveland snagged leading roles in this production. Wes Wilson as Ren, the city slicker from the Windy City, had the looks, the attitude, the energy and the moves to carry off this role. He was a crowd pleaser. Meryl Murman, preacher�s daughter Ariel, was cast opposite Wilson - sort of Romeo and Juliet with a twang and a happy ending. The two complemented each other�s role to perfection, with Murman mirroring the enthusiasm, energy and talent of Wilson.

Another Murman Clevelander appeared in this production of �Footloose�. Eryn Murman played the role of Rusty, and played it with every part of her being. This young lady, too, embodies a multitude of talents and they were always evident on stage. Jim Hunter as Chuck Cranston, the boy mothers warn their daughters about, was evil from the beginning and held that pose throughout the entire evening. Martha Sorohan as the wife of the Reverend, and Anne Anne Kelly as Ren�s mother deserve mentions for their performances in their respective roles. Each was believable and steady as a woman singing about �Learning to be silent�.

The entire cast of this show was right on the money every moment, whether singing or executing the excellent choreography or just being a part of the crowd. The orchestra, under the direction of youthful Alex Lowe, was an absolute integral part of the show - and it performed well.

The lighting for this production was realistic; that is to say, evening looked like evening rather than looking like someone dimmed the lights. Special effect lighting for some dance numbers enhanced, enhanced and enhanced.

�Footloose� runs weekends through July. It�s a show well worth seeing. Call the Ashtabula Arts Center box office at 440-964-3396 for tickets.

The 36th season is off to a fantastic start, as the family musical "Oliver" kicked off this summer�s lineup with a three weekend run in June. The show, which closed June 29th, brought out crowds of children and adults as both audience members and cast participants. Over 30 area children appeared in the show, filling the roles of street urchins, workhouse orphans and members of Fagin�s notorious gang of young pickpockets.

"Oliver" featured Heather Helms in the title role, with Larry Gasch as Mr. Bumble, Rita Werman as the Widow Corney, Rich Werman as Mr. Sowerberry, Pat Betteley as Mrs. Sowerberry, Jordan Malin as Nancy, Therese Scarf as Bet, Adam Jackson as Bill Sykes, and Nick Meloro as the Artful Dodger. Mark Pendelton pulled double duty in "Oliver,"filling not only the role of the show�s director, but also that of main character Fagin.

If you missed "Oliver," you still have a chance to catch a show at Straw Hat this summer, as two exciting and fun shows round out the lineup. Coming in July is "Footloose," the stage version of the hit movie which opened to rave reviews on Broadway in 1998. Directed by Darrell Lowe, this musical will feature large group dance numbers set to a Top 40 soundtrack with such memorable songs as "Let�s Hear It For The Boy," "Footloose," "Heaven Help Me," and "Almost Paradise."

The story is that of Ren McCormack, a teenager from Chicago who moves with his mother to a small farming town in Iowa. Ren is prepared for the transition to a new high school and way of life ... but what he is not ready for are the strict laws of the conservative town, including a ban on such "sinful" things as rock music and dancing. These laws are the brainchild of a preacher determined to exercise control over the town youth that he cannot command in his own home. When the reverend�s own daughter, Ariel, falls for Ren, many of her roughneck friends set out to sabotage his reputation and get the locals to believe the worst about this "new kid."

Wes Wilson will be featured in the role of Ren, with Anne Kelley playing his mother, Ethel. Meryl Murman and Kim Weston will share the role of Ariel, and Kristen Wojciechowski and Eryn Murman will share the role of Rusty. The role of Reverend Shaw Moore will be played by Robert Godfrey, and Principal Clark will be played by Tom Udell.

Other cast members include Martha Sorohan, Ellie Portman, Tom Davis, Nick Boyd, Douglas Eric Anderson, Kimberly Godfrey, Caitlin Dubsky, Jim Hunter, Phillip Werman, Danny Henning, Jordan Malin, Adam Kapis, Justin Nigro, Eric Rutherford, Neil Meloro, and Mindy Smith. Alex Lowe will provide musical direction for the show.

The final show of the season will be the musical comedy "Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?" Based on the book by the same name, this show is sure to tickle the funny bone of anyone who has ever attended school - Catholic or otherwise. The show begins with Eddie Ryan, who has returned to his old school - St. Bastien�s Roman Catholic Academy - in an attempt to find his boyhood love, Becky. While he waits to see the principal, the events of his growing up flash through his mind, from his first day in elementary school to the night of his senior prom. In his reminisces, the audience gets an affectionate look at growing up Catholic 30-some years ago, with references to parochial school rituals such as embarrassing moments in the confessional, hands slapped with rulers, and nuns patrolling dance floors with yardsticks to ensure the proper space between dancing couples.

"Patent Leater Shoes" will be directed by Debra Greene-Lowe, with musical direction provided by Joy Leirer.


Tickets for both "Footloose" and "Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?" are available by calling the Arts Center at (440) 964-3396. Great seats are still available for most all performances.

We look forward to seeing you at the theater this summer!