SUGAR LAND, Texas (April 3, 2019) – Inspiration Stage presents Singin’ in the Rain JR. at the historic Sugar Land Auditorium with four shows April 26 – 28. With a cast of young actors, ages 10 through 18, Singin’ in the Rain JR. offers two evening shows and two matinees.
Singin’ in the Rain JR. has the starlet, the leading man and a love affair that could change lives and make or break careers! In silent movies, Don Lockwood and Lina Lamont are a hot item, but behind the scenes, things aren’t always as they appear on the big screen! Meanwhile, Lina’s squeaky voice might be the end of her career in “talking pictures” without the help of a talented young actress to do the talking and singing for her.
Inspiration Stage is excited to announce a special guest director/choreographer, Michael Tapley, for this musical. Tapley is excited to work with this youth cast on one of his all-time favorite shows. He’s played the role of Singin’ in the Rain’s Cosmo Brown three times — at the Maine State Music Theatre, Galveston Outdoor Musicals, and the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia.
“This show’s slightly different creative team is keeping us on our toes, in more ways than one, because there’s quite a bit of tap dancing,” says the musical’s Lina Lamont, 13-year-old Aly Gregorek, a Ft. Bend Christian Academy 7th grader living in Greatwood. “My role suits my own character off stage, although she is not the sharpest tool in the shed. But, I always try to have that happy, everything’s great tone in my voice that she sometimes has. She’s a fun character to play because she’s SO over the top.”
“We are ecstatic to welcome Michael Tapley to our Artistic Team for this toe-tapping journey to old Hollywood,” says Inspiration Stage’s artistic director, Mandy Seymore-Sensat. “Singin’ in the Rain holds a special place in my heart and childhood as I watched it dozens of times as an aspiring dancer. I know Michael loves this show too and will inspire a new generation to adore this fabulous piece of theatre.”
Tapley began his professional career in 1973 at the age of 10 in Kismet starring MGM film actor Howard Keel at Theater Under The Stars (TUTS). Later he would work with other MGM greats like Eddie Bracken in HGO’s Showboat in Chiro, Yvonne DeCarlo in Gypsy at The Windmill Dinner Theater, Deloris Grey in the first national tour of 42nd Street, Juliet Prowse in the National Tour of Mame, and Debbie Reynolds in the National Tour of The Unsinkable Molly Brown. Other national tours are Evita and The Who’s Tommy playing the title role at DC’s Kennedy Center and then on Broadway.
As a director/choreographer his work has been seen at Goodspeed Opera House, Seattle’s 5th Ave., Theatre, The North Carolina Theatre, Kansas City Starlight, Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, American Musical Theatre of San Jose, Galveston Outdoor Musicals and TUTS. Some of Tapley’s favorite roles include Riff, Action, Arab and Baby John in West Side Story, Mike in A Chorus Line, Judge Turpin in Sweeney Todd, Jud Fry and Will Parker in Oklahoma, Tommy in Tommy and Alfred P Doolittle in My Fair Lady.
Tickets available for advance purchase at inspirationstage.com, or at the door before showtime. Shows run Fri. and Sat. night at 7:30, Sat. and Sun. afternoon at 3:30, April 26 – 28.
Inspiration Stage is a national award-winning performance arts studio located in the historic Sugar Land Auditorium at 226 Lakeview Dr. The 2018/2019 season includes youth and adult productions, as well as acting and production classes. Inspiration Stage recently announced its summer schedule with 24 summer camps for ages four through 19. Tuition assistance is available to qualifying participants. For tickets and information, visit www.inspirationstage.com.
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- iStage Singin in the Rain Director Tapley — Guest director/choreographer Michael Tapley joins the Inspiration Stage team to lead Singin’ in the Rain JR.
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- Tapley is uniquely qualified to direct this junior show after playing Cosmo Brown (right) in Singin’ in the Rain three times.
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- iStage SITR Don Lina Kathy Cosmo — Don Lockwood (Andrew Sackett, 15, of League City), Lina Lamont (Aly Gregorek, 13, of Greatwood, Sugar Land), Kathy Selden (Jane Delahoussaye, 11, of Sugar Creek, Sugar Land) and Cosmo Brown (Drew Doyle, 13, of Missouri City) lead the antics in Singin’ in the Rain, JR. at Inspiration Stage.
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- iStage SITR Don Kathy Cosmo — Don Lockwood (Andrew Sackett, 15, of League City), Kathy Selden (Jane Delahoussaye, 11, of Sugar Creek, Sugar Land) and Cosmo Brown (Drew Doyle, 13, of Missouri City) are Singin’ in the Rain.
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- iStage SITR Lina Lamont — The glamorous and exasperating Lina Lamont is played by 13-year-old Aly Gregorek of Greatwood.
Photo credit for Tabley: unknown
Photo credit for youth cast: Sarah Patterson
Photo captions
iStage Singin in the Rain Director Tapley — Guest director/choreographer Michael Tapley joins the Inspiration Stage team to lead Singin’ in the Rain JR.
iStage Singin in the Rain Director Tapley 2 — Tapley is uniquely qualified to direct this junior show after playing Cosmo Brown (right) in Singin’ in the Rain three times.
iStage SITR Don Lina Kathy Cosmo — Don Lockwood (Andrew Sackett, 15, of League City), Lina Lamont (Aly Gregorek, 13, of Greatwood, Sugar Land), Kathy Selden (Jane Delahoussaye, 11, of Sugar Creek, Sugar Land) and Cosmo Brown (Drew Doyle, 13, of Missouri City) lead the antics in Singin’ in the Rain, JR. at Inspiration Stage.
iStage SITR Don Kathy Cosmo — Don Lockwood (Andrew Sackett, 15, of League City), Kathy Selden (Jane Delahoussaye, 11, of Sugar Creek, Sugar Land) and Cosmo Brown (Drew Doyle, 13, of Missouri City) are Singin’ in the Rain.
iStage SITR Lina Lamont — The glamorous and exasperating Lina Lamont is played by 13-year-old Aly Gregorek of Greatwood.
iStage SITR Kathy Don — Aspiring actress Kathy Selden (Jane Delahoussaye/Sugar Creek, Sugar Land) and Hollywood’s leading silent film actor, Don Lockwood (Andrew Sackett, 15/League City) get close in Singin’ in the Rain JR.