Decatur’s Mid-Summer Moon Productions latest show a family event | Arts and Theater
DECATUR — The latest musical presented by Mid-Summer Moon Productions is truly a family show.
Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” will be on stage Friday through Sunday, Sept. 16-18, at the Decatur Civic Center.
The story is told of a rich, yet arrogant, man who is cast under a spell because of his selfishness.
“It’s one of my favorites,” said director Maria Lightner. “I love the theme; not judging someone by their outward appearance, but looking inside of their true beauty.”
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The musical has a large cast filled with groups of families. Since the Decatur Civic Center has a stage large enough to produce a grand show with several characters, Mid-Summer Moon Productions welcomed children and families to audition for the show.
“If you’re taking your child to rehearsals, you might as well be on stage with them,” Lightner said. “And how fun is it to be on stage with your child and be there when they make their stage debut.”
Jennifer Power will be on stage as Mrs. Potts. Her daughters, ages 8 and 11, will be in the ensemble. As a dancer, Power has performed in “The Nutcracker” for the local production company in the past. “When my younger daughter, Kenna, heard they were doing “Descendants” last year, she begged me to do it with her,” Power said. “I thought that would be fun.”
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After watching the family perform together, the older Katie decided to audition for the current show. The Power women will be joined on stage by other families. “But it’s a family friendly show,” Power said. “And the theater is wonderful for all ages.”
To encourage young actors, Mid-Summer Moon Productions has invited members of the Boys and Girls Club and Homework Hangout to their Saturday matinee show. “Then the cast will stay after the show so the audience can ask questions,” Lightner said. “The more opportunities that we can provide (to be on stage) in this community, the better.”
26 famous people who performed at the Lincoln Square Theatre
A look back
Bob Hope
In 2003, comedian Bob Hope died in Toluca Lake, California, at age 100.
Magician Harry Blackstone
John Philip Sousa
1929: John Philip Sousa, center, was a guest of the Rotary Club. He has brought his band and his dry wit to Decatur audiences at least a dozen times during the first three decades of this century. (H&R file photo)
Heavyweight boxer Jack Dempsey
Heavyweight boxer Jack Dempsey punches the heavy bag as spectators watch at his training camp at Saratoga Lake, NY, on July 6, 1927. (AP Photo)
AP
Al Jolson
Actors, from left to right, Al Jolson, Douglas Fairbanks, Eddie Cantor, Ronald Colman (behind Cantor) and producer Samuel Goldwyn, use this unique telephone in front of Mary Pickford’s bungalow at a Hollywood studio on Aug. 23, 1932 to announce the making of a new motion picture. Miss Pickford is by the mouthpiece. (AP Photo)
Chico Marx
Four of the five Marx brothers, from left, Chico, Groucho, Harpo and Zeppo, pose in 1930. (AP Photo)
Lionel and Ethel Barrymore
Actors John, Ethel, and Lionel Barrymore are shown at a family reunion, 1932. The famous acting siblings appear together for the first time in “Rasputin.” (AP Photo)
AP
Anna Pavlova
Famed Russian dancer Anna Pavlova with her teacher Enrico Cecchetti, date and location unknown. (AP Photo)
Russian pianist Pesetzki
Presidential candidate Hiram Johnson (1924)
wikipedia.org
Violinist Friedrich “Fritz” Kreisler
Fritz Kreisler, internationally famous violinist shown August 4, 1958, plays at a recital in London’s Albert Hall in 1932. Before he left the platform a few years ago, Kreisler had an uninterrupted series of triumphs in Europe, making many command performances for royalty. His popularity with American audiences was tainted because he served with the Austrian army in World War I. (AP Photo)
Johnny Russell
Ernest Tubb
Country music singer Ernest Tubb is shown in March 1980 (AP Photo)
Steppenwolf with John Kay
John Hartford
Musician John Hartford plays the banjo at his home in Nashville, Tenn., in this file photo from Aug. 1986. Hartford was a versatile and wry performer who wrote the standard “Gentle on My Mind.” (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Ozark Mountain Daredevil
wikipedia.org
Muddy Waters
Muddy Waters, entertainer, as he performed at New York’s Palladium Theater on Oct. 1, 1977, in a benefit performance for the New York Public Library to purchase rare blues records. (AP Photo)
BB King
1981: BB King, with his guitar Lucille, performed the blues – of which he is the reputed master – for about 1,000 people in concert at the Lincoln Theater in Decatur Sunday night. Although King is cutting down on concert appearances, he isn’t considering retiring after 35 years of performing. “As long as I have my health or until the Great Creator says that’s enough, I’ll keep playing” he told the Herald & Review. (Herald & Review file photo)
Pure Prairie League
Jackson Browne
Jackson Browne performs at a fundraiser gala in Beverly Hills,Calif., on Sept. 18, 2006. Browne, Don Black and Dolly Parton were among that year’s inductees into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, dedicated to recognizing the work of composers and lyricists who create popular music worldwide. The induction ceremony was June 7, 2007, in New York. (AP Photo/Mario Anzuoni,pool)
Guitarist Steve Hunter
Here Come The Mummies
Here Come The Mummies heat up the stage.
V-Shape Mind
Big Wreck
mtv.com
Pauly Shore
Contact Donnette Beckett at (217) 421-6983. Follow her on Twitter: @donnettebHR