Auditions for State Fair

Anamosa - "Starlighters II Theatre announces auditions for the Rodgers & Hammerstein's musical “State Fair” May 18, 19, 20 at 7:00 p.m. Starlighters II Theatre will present the musical State Fair, based on the screenplay by Oscar Hammerstein II and the Novel by Phil Stong, as their second production of their 40th season.

Performance dates will be July 25, 26, 27, August 1, 2, 3 at Starlighters Theatre, 200 East Main Street, in Anamosa. Friday and Saturday performances will be at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday performances at 2 p.m.

The cast of State Fair has a wide variety of characters including Abel Frake - a farmer, Gus - the Frake's hired man, Margy Frake - the Frake's daughter, Melissa Frake - Abel's wife, Wayne Frake - the Frake's son, Dave Miller - the local storekeeper, Eleanor - Wayne's girlfriend, Harry - Margy's boyfriend, The Fair Announcer, The Hoop-La Barker, Emily Arden, The Astounding Stralenko.

State Fair showcases a large singing and dancing ensemble consisting of a Barkers, Vendors, Judges, and Fairgoers. They include: Vivian - a cooch dancer, Jeanne - a cooch dancer, Pat Gilbert - a newspaper reporter, Charlie - a newspaper photographer, Lem - a farmer, Clay - a farmer, Hank Munson - a farmer, The Chief of Police, Violet - his daughter, The Fairtones, Judge Heppenstahl, Mrs. Edwin Metcalf of Pottsville, 2 Roustabouts , Barkers, Vendors, Judges and Fairgoers. Because the farming community is so critical to Iowa, director Barb Andreeson's goal is to make State Fair a tribute to those who participate in the real annual event. “There won’t be anything hokey about our production. It’ll be basically like Oklahoma only set in Iowa in the 1940’s.”

State Fair is the only Rodgers & Hammerstein musical written directly for the screen. Set against the colorful backdrop of an American heartland tradition, State Fair travels with the Frake family as they leave behind the routine of the farm for three days of adventure at the annual Iowa State Fair. Mom and Pop have their hearts set on blue ribbons while their daughter and son find romance and heartbreak on the midway. Set to the magical strains of an Academy Award-winning score and augmented by other titles from the Rodgers and Hammerstein songbook, State Fair is the kind of warm-hearted family entertainment only Rodgers & Hammerstein could deliver! For information about State Fair, visit the Starlighters Theatre website at www.starlighters.org. For interviews, contact director Barb Andreeson at robakusa@netins.net or call 319-462-4793, ext. 821."


Source: Starlighters II Press Release