We're one weekend down and have one to go for The Merry Widow! Haven't had a chance to catch it yet? Not to worry - you have three chances this weekend! One of the loveliest elements of the show is the luscious orchestration. And VLOC has a full orchestra to bring it to life! Today in our cast interview we bring you a view from the orchestra pit. Please welcome bassist and rehearsal pianist Ross Capon!

Name
Ross Capon

What's your role in The Merry Widow?
Rehearsal pianist & orchestra string bassist

What made you decide to get involved with The Merry Widow?
I've been with VLOC starting with Sousa's The Charlatan in summer of 2014. Each show has been a special treat, especially the ones I either didn't known or--like this one-- didn't know well.

What are you enjoying most about working on The Merry Widow with VLOC?
As one of the two rehearsal pianists, the opportunity to work with superb singers and conductor and to get more and more familiar with Lehar's wonderful score (and story). Doing both piano and string bass means I get to follow close-up the show's development from early rehearsals to performances. It is also fun to play in the same orchestra with our 17-year-old son who is the oboist. 

What is your dream role/job?
Conducting, which I do every year at the Bethesda Friends Meeting Christmas Celebration -- in which I have involved a total of three VLOC soloists the past three years.

What is the first musical/opera/play you ever saw and what effect did it have on you?
Probably sitting in the front row with my dad at a performance of Oklahoma! given by Northeastern University's Silver Masque. My dad was an English professor and advisor to the jazz band at Northeastern. Oklahoma! -- my first real experience outside "classical" music -- opened my eyes (ears) to the many wonderful Broadway shows.

When you're not performing in community theatre, what do you do? (job, hobby, family, etc.)
I consult in transportation, primarily as Washington Representative for the America Association of Private Railroad Car Owners. These are folks who own (mostly historic) passenger cars that can ride behind Amtrak trains. My job is to help save Amtrak, as I did for 39+ years for the National Association of Railroad Passengers (now Rail Passengers Association) where I am president emeritus. Also am president of Wyngate Citizens Association, and on the boards of Travelers Aid International and Friends House Retirement Community (Sandy Spring).

Thank you, Ross! If you'd like to snag tickets to one of the three remaining performances, you can get them online HERE or call the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theater box office at 240-314-8690. We hope to see you there if we haven't seen you already!

The Merry Widow opens tomorrow!!  We are pumped for our opening night and hope you are, too (hint: do you have your tickets yet?)! To get you ready for this fabulously fun show, our final cast interview before opening is none other than The Merry Widow herself - Mary Claire Sullivan!

Name
Mary Claire Sullivan

What's your role in The Merry Widow?
Hanna Glawari (aka The Merry Widow)

What made you decide to get involved with The Merry Widow?
I'm always looking for opportunities to perform in the area, and I'd heard a lot about VLOC from folks at The Georgetown Gilbert and Sullivan Society (insert shameless plug for GGSS's production of Ruddigore in April). 

What are you enjoying most about working on The Merry Widow with VLOC?
My favorite number is "The Cavalier" from the middle of Act II. In it, I'm supposed to be a tad drunk and messing with Danilo, and it's just so much fun to perform. Also, for the record, the Polka was way easier to learn than the Waltz. 

What is your dream role/job?
I've wanted to play Maria von Trapp from The Sound of Music since I saw the movie version with Julie Andrews (which spans 2 VHS Tapes) when I was about 7. 

What is the first musical/opera/play you ever saw and what effect did it have on you?
I kind of already answered this question (it's The Sound of Music) but I'll give you a different answer instead. The first musical I was ever in was My Fair Lady. My elementary school put on an annual musical theater production as a fundraiser -- you got to be in the chorus if you had a parent working on the show, and my mom was the costume designer that year. I think I was in the second or third grade? I'd only ever sung at church before, and I was terrified. I think I refused to do it, at first. Unfortunately for my mother, after that I insisted on being in any and every production I could find. 

When you're not performing in community theatre, what do you do? (job, hobby, family, etc.)
By day, I work at NPR, and, when I'm not preoccupied with rehearsals, I love to cook! 

Thank you, Mary Claire! You only have 6 chances to catch VLOC's The Merry Widow, so don't miss out! Even better, opening night tickets are all half price - just $14! Get yours before they sell out! Call the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theater box office at 240-314-8690 or purchase tickets online HERE. We'll see you at the theater!

It's The Merry Widow week! The show opens on Friday, and we've got fabulous dance numbers, fancy costumes, and of course, some gorgeous music just about ready to go! Today's cast interview is not just with a member of the cast, but also the choreographer for the show! Please welcome Jackie Rogers, whose creative choreography AND performance will wow you on stage!

Name
Jackie Rogers

What's your role in The Merry Widow?
Choreographer/Grisette/Chorus member

What made you decide to get involved with The Merry Widow?
Prior to this show I have done two concerts with VLOC and I have really enjoyed them, so I wanted to try a fully-staged operetta. I was especially interested in The Merry Widow because I had heard that it has a lot of dancing opportunities. 

What are you enjoying most about working on The Merry Widow with VLOC?
I really enjoy getting to spend time with my family while I'm doing this show. My dad is also in the show and my mom, my dad, my sister (when she is home from school), and I spend most of our Saturdays working on painting and building the sets. I love that we all get to contribute to the show while spending time together. 

What is your dream role/job?
To be a Rockette (but I'm 3 and a half inches too short).

What is the first musical/opera/play you ever saw and what effect did it have on you?
I don't remember the first one I saw on stage, but I grew up watching lots of "Golden Age" MGM musicals. I especially loved watching Eleanor Powell, Fred Astaire, and Gene Kelly and I started taking tap classes when I was 3. Over the years I added more dance classes and singing classes and then started doing musicals when I was in sixth grade. 

When you're not performing in community theatre, what do you do? (job, hobby, family, etc.)
I graduated last year from Dickinson College with a B.A. in archaeology and history. I currently work part-time with an archaeology firm in Maryland and my goal is to attend graduate school and become a bioarchaeologist. Outside of the theatre world I also enjoy doing CrossFit. 

Thanks, Jackie! The Merry Widow opens in just a few short days - grab your tickets before it's too late! Purchase online HERE or call the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theater box office at 240-314-8690. 

The Merry Widow opens in a week, and we're getting psyched! Do you have your tickets to see this deliciously fun show yet? We're also psyched to bring your our next cast interview subject. Please say hello to Dave Robinson!

Name
Dave Robinson

What's your role in The Merry Widow?
Chorus

What made you decide to get involved with The Merry Widow?
In years past I have done shows with Joe Sorge. I was looking for a show I could do after Wizard of Oz in Greenbelt and prior to my April, 3 week safari in Africa. Now I'm also squeezing in Patience with VLOC!

What are you enjoying most about working on The Merry Widow with VLOC?
Singing and dancing - not memorizing my words. Joking around and dancing with Suzanne [member of the ensemble].

What is your dream role/job?
Padre in Man of LaMancha, Herr Schultz in Cabaret and Uncle Henry in High Society.

What is the first musical/opera/play you ever saw and what effect did it have on you?
I saw lots when I was a teenager. I mainly recall Oklahoma. Although I've done lots of singing, it never occurred to me to audition until both of my kids were in college and I was looking for something different.

When you're not performing in community theatre, what do you do? (job, hobby, family, etc.)
I'm retired now, but keep busy training for competitive swimming, cycling in warmer weather, playing with my two Bethesda grandsons, ballroom dancing, and traveling. New Zealand/Australia next winter.

Thank you, Dave! Tickets are still on sale for The Merry Widow, but they're going fast, so get yours today! Get them online HERE or call the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theater box office at 240-314-8690. The show runs Feb. 23rd through March 4th. We hope to see you there!

Opening night of The Merry Widow is coming up soon, and we are getting excited to bring this show to the stage! This show is full of old-world European glamour, and one of the most important elements of bringing that glamour to life is hair and makeup. Our first interview in this series for The Merry Widow is not only with a member of the cast and a long-time member of VLOC, but also the hair and makeup designer for the show! Please welcome Maureen Roult!

Name
Maureen Roult

What's your role in The Merry Widow?
Ensemble; hair & makeup designer

What made you decide to get involved with The Merry Widow?
I did the show both times VLOC did it before and fell hopelessly in love with the music. Those waltzes!

What are you enjoying most about working on The Merry Widow with VLOC?
Aside from the wonderful waltz music, I've been having a lot of fun researching hairstyles for the period and figuring out how to bring them to life.

What is your dream role/job?
I'd love to play the Fairy Queen, Katisha, or Dolly Levi.

What is the first musical/opera/play you ever saw and what effect did it have on you?
I don't remember the first show I ever saw, but I do remember seeing a high school classmate in a local production of The Music Man. That was when I first realized that I could do this theater thing outside of school, that the school play wasn't the only game in town.

When you're not performing in community theatre, what do you do? (job, hobby, family, etc.)
I'm a part-time college student. I'm also on the board of Bowie Community Theater and pick up the occasional hair/makeup design job.

Thanks, Maureen! The Merry Widow opens on February 23rd, so get your tickets! Call the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theater box office at 240-314-8690 or buy tickets online HERE. We'll see you there!

VLOC is excited to present The Merry Widow, the gorgeous and gloriously fun operetta by Franz Lehar opening later this month! We're also excited to introduce you to the amazing cast of The Merry Widow! 

Hannah - Mary Claire Sullivan
Count Danilo - Doug Benton
Baron Mirko Zeta - Blair Eig
Valencienne - Jennalee Allen
Camille de Rosillon - Rishabh Bajekal
Raoul de St. Brioche - Kevin Schellhase
Cascada - Michael Beder
Njegus - Mary Mitchell
Kromov - Kent Woods
Bogdanovich - Bill Rogers
Pritschitsch - Michael Wolyniec

Grisettes - Kathleen Alvania, Christine Massimei, Allison Meyer (Valencienne cover), Jackie Rogers, Sarah Seider, Amy Winter

Ensemble - David Bradley, Suzanne Carter (Hannah Cover), Laura Hubbard, Rand Huntzinger, Emma Jensen, Ralph Johnson, Carlton Maryott, Jane Maryott, Deb Peetz, Kathi Rabil, Dave Robinson, Maureen Roult, Rusty Suter, Ed Vilade

Don't miss these fabulous performers bring The Merry Widow to life Feb 23rd through March 4th! Tickets are on sale now online HERE and through the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theater box office by calling 240-314-8690.