Editor=92s Note: To =
schedule an=20
interview or guest appearance with Dennis Courtney, please =
contact=20
River Campus Marketing Manager Amanda Thornberry at (573) =
651-2682=20
or Director of Development Angie Wilson at (573) 986-6845.=20
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., Sept. 4, 2008 =96 Little more than =
one month=20
ago, Dennis Courtney=92s landmark production of =93Fiddler =
on the Roof=94=20
opened in Tel Aviv, Israel, as the official theatrical =
production=20
for the 60th Anniversary of the State of Israel. =
Presented in=20
Hebrew (Courtney had to work through an interpreter), the =
$10=20
million production is expected to run for no less than four=20
years.
Now, less than one month after returning to the United =
States,=20
Courtney is in Cape Girardeau, Mo., spending the next five =
weeks=20
visiting Southeast Missouri State University=92s River =
Campus as he=20
directs the Department of Theatre & Dance=92s production =
of the=20
hit musical, =93The 1940=92s Radio Hour.=94
"The 1940=92s Radio Hour,=94 sponsored in part by a =
special grant=20
from the Missouri Arts Council, will be presented by the =
Department=20
of Theatre & Dance at the Donald C. Bedell Performance =
Hall=20
located in the Cultural Arts Center at Southeast Missouri =
State=20
University=92s River Campus. The production runs =
Wednesday, Oct.=20
1, through Sunday, Oct. 5.
Last fall, the Department of Theatre & Dance =
conducted a=20
nationwide search for a guest director with national or=20
international credentials for =93The 1940=92s Radio =
Hour.=94
Courtney read about the opening and says he was attracted =
first=20
to the show.
=93I love the music and spirit of the 1940=92s, and =
I=92ve done several=20
other 1940=92s shows,=94 Courtney said. =93I also look =
for=20
opportunities to work with talented college-age =
actors. Their=20
energy and enthusiasm are infectious and a joy to be =
around.=94
Courtney is a critically acclaimed director/choreographer =
of=20
stage and television as well as corporate and special =
events. Based=20
in New York City, N.Y., Courtney has won numerous awards as =
the=20
director/choreographer of more than 150 stage productions =
including=20
=93Peter Pan=94 with Cathy Rigby and =93Can-Can=94 with =
Leslie Uggams.
The award-winning regional premieres of =93I Love You, =
You=92re=20
Perfect, Now Change=94 and =93Summer of '69,=94 along with =
the premiere=20
productions of =93Red Hot Mama,=94 =93Beggar=92s Holiday,=94 =
=93The Beethovens,=94=20
and numerous other musicals and plays highlight Courtney=92s =
impressive depth of experience. These performances =
have taken=20
place throughout the United States as well as in Canada and =
Europe.=20
The Department of Theatre and Dance regularly brings in =
outside=20
professionals to direct, choreograph and design during its =
regular=20
season. Recent guest artists include Pat Atkinson =
(designer),=20
Nana Shineflug (choreographer), Sean Curran (choreographer), =
the=20
Jump, Rhythm, Jazz Project, and Judith Farris, who is now =
the=20
Department=92s renowned Broadway vocal coach.
Courtney also feels it is important to give back. =
=93I=92ve learned so much throughout my career so far, =
and want=20
upcoming actors to learn about =91show business=92 outside =
the=20
classroom,=94 he said.
On stage, Courtney has directed such stars as Bette =
Midler,=20
Celine Dion, Quincy Jones, Warren Beatty, Carol Channing, =
David=20
Hasselhoff and Helen Reddy.
Courtney has been in Cape Girardeau just a few days, =
holding=20
auditions for =931940=92s Radio Hour.=94
=93I can see in the students=92 eyes the enthusiasm and =
willingness=20
to learn and work hard. They are very talented and =
it=92s great=20
to audition so many who are already becoming triple threats =
(actors,=20
singers and dancers),=94 Courtney said.
The New York Daily News described =93The =
1940=92s Radio=20
Hour=94 as =93an exhilarating evening of singing, dancing, =
and=20
fun.=94 Filled with 1940=92s big-band music, swing =
dancing,=20
patriotism, and old-fashioned sound effects, this show is a =
musical=20
treat.
=93Audiences will fall in love with =91Radio Hour,=92 and =
they will=20
delight in Mr. Courtney=92s extraordinary talent and unique =
vision for=20
this musical,=94 said Kenneth Stilson, professor of acting =
and=20
directing, from the Department of Theatre & Dance. =
=93You=20
don=92t want to miss this one.=94
Courtney said, =93You can expect not only a great evening =
of music=20
and comedy, but you=92ll also see some of the future=92s =
major actors on=20
the stage. I=92m looking forward to all of us doing =
our best=20
work to create a terrific show.=94
Courtney also has had a successful performing career =
including on=20
Broadway, television and in concerts. He appeared on =
Broadway and on=20
tour in =93Starlight Express,=94 =93Joseph and the Amazing =
Technicolor=20
Dreamcoat,=94 =93Peter Pan=94 with Sandy Duncan, =93Roza=94 =
with Georgia=20
Brown, =93The Fantasticks,=94 =93Grease=94 with Andrea =
McArdle and=20
regionally in many other shows.
Some of Courtney=92s past television experiences include =
several=20
national commercials and Afterschool Specials, along with =
"All My=20
Children"and "The Wonder Years.=94
Tickets may be purchased by contacting the River Campus =
Box=20
Office, located in the Cultural Arts Center, 518 S. Fountain =
Street,=20
weekdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., or by calling (573) =
651-2265. =20
Tickets also may be purchased online at metrotix.com, =
keyword=20
=93radio=94 or by calling toll free: (800) 293-5949.
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