SUN DAY – Traditionally, a seven-year anniversary is marked by copper. But for the Theatre Group of Sun City, a seven-year run is marked by music, laughter, and a good deal of brass.
Sun City resident Dick Storer rehearses his role as Prince Dauntless in Once Upon a Mattress. (Photo by Chris LaPelusa/Sun Day)
At 7:30 p.m., Thursday, April 23 in Drendel Ballroom, the Theatre Group of Sun City will return to their very first production with Once Upon a Mattress, the quirky adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale Princess and the Pea.
Theatre Group President and Once Upon a Mattress producer, Linda Davis, N.8, said the musical is back by popular demand.
“[Once Upon a Mattress] is fun. It’s light; it’s for any age group,” said Davis, who played three characters in the first production seven years ago. “We didn’t have enough people. Everybody had to play all these different roles.”
The Theatre Group of Sun City has grown from 50 to 100 members since its inception, entertaining the community and the greater Huntley area.
Davis said that many of the cast members from the original production of Once Upon a Mattress are back on stage and anticipating the return.
“It’s phenomenal,” Davis said.
Beginning to end, each production, Davis said, takes 13 weeks to produce, starting with auditions and ending with show time.
Despite the Theatre Group’s growth, it still lacks a strong male presence in membership, especially during the cold months, when so many Sun City residents depart to secondary homes in warmer climates, such as those in Florida and Arizona.
“We have some women who are playing men [male characters] in this show,” Davis said.
Davis explained that for every one cast member, there are three crew members backstage on a typical production.
“It’s amazing how many people are involved in getting this together,” said Davis, noting that for many cast or crew members, participating in the Theatre Group is their first time working in theater.
“We have some [members] who have been in theater for a long time,” Davis said. “[But] a lot of the people have never been in a show before. Some of the members were in shows in high school or grade school and have the time now to do this. And they’ve grown so since the very beginning. It’s unbelievable.”
Once Upon a Mattress is the Theatre Group’s spring musical, which will be followed by another musical in the fall. Davis compared the Theatre Group of Sun City to any standard theatre company, explaining that the Theatre Group’s performances will be open to the general public.
“If you want to have a good time and just go out for an evening of laughter and lightness, it’s the show to see,” Davis said. “It’s just fun.”
