I began learning how to play the piano in 4th grade at RITZMAN Grade School in ELLET (EAST AKRON)and began playing cello in the orchestra at HYRE Jr. High School in 1962 and was told by our director, Mr. ELEY, that ELLET High School needed a cellist for their senior musical. They were performing "BRIGADOON". I got to leave Hyre early every day in order to get to the rehearsals at ELLET. I also played for ELLET in 1963 for their production of "OKLAHOMA". HYRE decided to add what would have been my Freshman year of high school to their curriculum, so I was an Upper Classman in Jr. High School ! My Sophomore year at Ellet began the fall of 1963.
My association with Goodyear Musical Theatre begins with "KISMET"...it was the first musical I saw there. Three shows later, my oldest brother, Dan and his wife Joanne, who had been singing in the chorus there, told me that the theatre company needed men for the chorus of "OKLAHOMA" in 1964. I was then 16. Dan got the lead part of "Curly". Joanne and I were in the singing chorus. That began a 30 year association with that theatre company.
Shows in which I performed on stage are followed by an [*]. Shows for which I was their accompanist: [**]. Shows for which I was also Musical Director: [***]
- Dec. 1958: THE KING & I
- May 1958: SHOWBOAT
- Nov. 1959: WONDERFUL TOWN
- Apr. 1959: CAN-CAN
- Nov. 1960: BELLS ARE RINGING
- Dec. 1960: DAMN YANKEES
- Apr. 1961: HIGH BUTTON SHOES
- May 1961: THE BOYFRIEND
- Jul. 1961: THE VISIT
- Nov. 1961: DESTRY RIDES AGAIN
- Dec. 1961: ANYTHING GOES
- Apr. 1962: ONCE UPON A MATTRESS
- Nov. 1962: LI'L ABNER
- Apr. 1962: KISMET
- Nov. 1962: BYE, BYE BIRDIE
- Apr. 1964: OKLAHOMA*
- Nov. 1964: THE KING & I* "Buddha" in "Small House Of Uncle Thomas"
- Apr. 1965: CAROUSEL* Chorus/Dancer
- Nov. 1965: THE PAJAMA GAME - Missed that one for some reason.
- Apr. 1966: THE MOST HAPPY FELLA* Chorus/Dancer
- Apr. 1968: HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS...* Chorus/Dancer. I was also the "Voice of The Book"
- Nov. 1968: SOUTH PACIFIC* Chorus/Dancer & "Ensign Quayle"
- Apr. 1969: GUYS AND DOLLS* Chorus/Dancer
- Nov. 1969: THE SOUND OF MUSIC* Chorus/Dancer
- Apr. 1970: ANNIE GET YOUR GUN* Chorus/Dancer/Bass in the Lullaby Trio
- Nov. 1970: CAMELOT* "Merlin"/Chorus/Dancer
- Apr. 1971: Man OF LA MANCHA Had a stupid argument with the Director/Musical Director, Jack HORNER over two bars of music. The lead was having trouble entering his first song, which was nothing but vamped, identical measures. He could have come in on ANY measure! Jack, by that space in time, had trusted me enough, that he walked to the back of the theatre to listen to the song. The lead messed up several times...then Jack walked down to the pit...he started the song again. By this time, I was getting upset with that lead and jumpy and started playing the rest of the song too early. Then, Jack became aggitated...started the song AGAIN and this time HE jumped the cue while I was waiting for the guy to start singing. That lead's ineptitude caused Jack to yell at me when it wasn't my fault, so I yelled right back, which stunned Jack for a few seconds...no-one EVER talked back to Him in the History of the Theatre...but, since I was the wronged party and being young and hot under the collar, I said "You may be the director, but you DIDN"T teach me how to play the piano!" He said "I think you'd better leave.", to which I replied, "You're dxxxxed right I'm leaving!". I grabbed my score and vaulted out of the orchestra pit and walked out of the theatre and headed for home. Halfway there, my then, best friend from the theatre company, Steve BERG pulls up in his car. He said that Jack called off the rehearsal! Something that had NEVER happened before!...and that Jean (SHEPHERD, the Choreographer) wanted me to come back and apologize to Jack...She was only a few rows away from us and she hadn't heard what was said...I said. "NO WAY!...HE should apologize to ME!" So that ended my relationship with Goodyear Theatre. In the back of my mind, was the thought that I'd never be able to move to Maine [which was something I had contemplated since my first summer stock experience there in 1968 and subsequent trips in 1969 and 1970] because the pull of Goodyear Theatre always drew me back every fall....so THIS was the 'Straw that broke the camel's back"...I was suddenly free!
- Nov. 1971: THE MUSIC MAN
- Apr. 1972: HELLO DOLLY
- Nov. 1972: OLIVER
- Apr. 1973: FINIAN'S RAINBOW
- Nov. 1973: FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
- Apr. 1974: KISMET
- Nov. 1974: WEST SIDE STORY
- Apr. 1975: MY FAIR LADY
- Nov. 1975: MAME
- Apr. 1976: A FUNNY THING...
- Nov. 1976: TEAHOUSE OF THE AUGUST MOON
- Apr. 1977: THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER
>GOODYEAR COMMUNITY THEATRE:
- Oct. 1977: A CELEBRATION (Musical Review)
- Nov. 1977: ON FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST
- Brad FRENCH took over as Director/Choreographer:
- Apr. 1978: GYPSY
- Nov. 1978: CAN-CAN
- Mar. 1979: PIPPIN** I began accompanying for the musicals after this.
- Oct. 1979: THE MOUSETRAP
- Feb. 1980: CHARLY'S AUNT
- Apr. 1980: THE SOUND OF MUSIC**
- Oct. 1980: DAMES AT SEA***
- Feb. 1981: FRONT PAGE - I began playing in a band [REDFERN] at this time.
- May 1981: GODSPELL**
- Nov. 1981: LAST OF THE RED HOT LOVERS
- Feb. 1982: HARVEY
- May 1982: THE MIRACLE WORKER
- Nov. 1982: CAROUSEL** Lull in the band's gigs........
- Feb. 1983: THE BUTLER DID IT
- May 1983: CACTUS FLOWER
- Nov. 1983: HOW TO SUCEED...Car accident two broken legs
- Feb. 1984: SEE HOW THEY RUN - Began losing weight, so had to quit the band.
- May 1984: PETER PAN**
- Nov. 1984: OKLAHOMA**
- Feb. 1985: YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU
- May 1985: WEST SIDE STORY
- Nov. 1985: A CHORUS LINE
- Feb. 1986: WAIT UNTIL DARK
- May 1986: ANNIE
- Nov. 1986: CABARET
- Feb. 1987: THE ART OF DINING
- May 1987: THE MUSIC MAN
- Dec. 1987: BABES IN TOYLAND
- Feb. 1988: NOISES OFF
- May 1988: FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
- Oct. 1988: GODSPELL**
- Dec. 1988: BABES IN TOYLAND
- Feb. 1989: GOD'S FAVORITE
- May 1989: ANNIE GET YOUR GUN
- Oct. 1989: THE FANTASTICKS
- Dec. 1989: BABES IN TOYLAND
- Feb. 1990: YOU'RE A GOOD MAN CHARLIE BROWN
- May 1990: GYPSY
- Oct. 1990: MAME
- Dec. 1990: BABES IN TOYLAND
- Feb. 1991: CHARLEY'S AUNT
- May 1991: THE SOUND OF MUSIC**
- Oct. 1991: DO BLACK PATENT LEATHER SHOES....
- Dec. 1991: BABES IN TOYLAND
- Feb. 1992: THE BOYS NEXT DOOR
- May 1992: PETER PAN**
- Oct. 1992: PINCHPENNY PHANTOM OF THE OPERA***
- Dec. 1992: BABES IN TOYLAND***
- Feb. 1993: SLY FOX
- May 1993: ANYTHING GOES**
- Oct. 1993: INTO THE WOODS
- Dec. 1993: BABES IN TOYLAND**
- Feb. 1994: STEEL MAGNOLIAS
- May 1994: HELLO DOLLY**
- Oct. 1994: NUNSENSE**
- Dec. 1994: BABES IN TOYLAND**
- Feb. 1995: AIN'T MISBEHAVIN'
- May 1995: OKLAHOMA***