A call to bring back the cast from the past was well received.
This weekend, a gone-but-not-forgotten cast of 13 talented actors and actresses will come together to reprise old roles and rekindle the fun that was part of the Auburn Avenue Dinner Theater era.
“When I heard about it, I was very excited,” said Robin Weakland, a professional singer for 30 years who has been involved in regional theater for 12 years, including stints at the historic Ave. “It is a wonderful place … a lot of old friends and a lot of good memories.
“It’s hard to keep in touch,” she said, “but it’s great to be back.”
Weakland will perform the lead score from the classic musical “Cabaret” and resume her role as Dolly Levi from another giant musical, “Hello, Dolly!” It is all part of the Auburn Follies: Holiday Edition, the musical theater revue troupe’s two-night performance.
Curtains will open at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
The fast-and-loose show – a tribute to classical comedy and musicals with a touch of holiday melodies – is a welcomed reunion for the diverse, multi-generational cast. It is an opportunity to revive the spirit of yesteryear when the theater served up dinner on tables scattered in front of the stage and spontaneous live entertainment filled the stage.
Jim Kleinbeck, the theater’s operations specialist, remembers that period well. He was part of a close fraternity of entertainers who brought musicals and comedies – which featured the Great and Powerful Oz, Big Daddy, Tevye and Maria – to life. The multi-act follies show marks the first return of a live dinner theater act since New Year’s Eve 2006.
The Auburn Dinner Theater has a rich history. Dennis Hart transformed the Ave, historically a motion picture and matinee venue in the 1950s and ’60s, into a live stage dinner theater around 1980.
Around 1990, Deanna and Wayne Robinson purchased the theater from Hart. Deanna had produced musical shows in Puyallup, and before that, in Nashville and her native Texas, giving her a creative flair for the Ave.
The Robinsons tried growing medley styles, including mystery theater, variety shows and eventually, book shows. They offered children’s programs on Saturdays and developed “open mic” opportunities for kids. Some of the youngsters they mentored, like Brandi Carlie and Lila McCann, attained considerable fame as recording artists.
Deanna’s son, J.B. Douglas, met his wife, Jillian. at the Ave. They were married there and became business partners with J.B.’s parents.
“It was a real social center for the city of Auburn,” Deanna said of the Ave.
The Robinsons, who still own the building, now own, live and operate the historical Thornewood Castle, a landmark bed and breakfast in Lakewood.
In 2006, the City of Auburn signed a lease with the Robinson/Douglas family and assumed management of the theater. It since has been refurbished and holds a variety of entertainment each year.
The latest production is a lively and somewhat zany revue, hopefully the first of several of its kind from a cast that simply wanted to play it again.
Fittingly, the cast includes Jillian Douglas, who first appeared on the Ave stage at age 16.
“We’ve had fun putting it all together,” said Kleinbeck, who as the cowardly but lovable Lion from the Land of Oz will deliver a rendition of The Big Bopper’s “Chantilly Lace.” Kleinbeck also will appear in other roles during the follies’ perpetual flow of familiar music, swift dance and amusing sketches. “It’s all over the board as far as things getting thrown into it. You never know what’s coming around the corner.”
In coordination with Kleinbeck, the idea of the follies reunion came from Joey Jewell, an Ave Dinner Theater alumnus and longtime regional entertainer. Jewell, who is perhaps best known for his tribute shows to Frank Sinatra, returns to play Capt. Von Trapp from “The Sound of Music.”
The follies also bring backs Matthew Vail, an actor and the script’s writer, who debuted at the Ave in 1995 as Will Parker in Oklahoma! He met his wife, Karrin, an actress at the theater.
“It’s kind of screwy,” Vail said of the follies. “We wanted to have a little more sass and fun, not something dry.”
The follies was entertaining in the making. Just ask its director, E.J. Harrid.
“It was a cool idea. When I heard about it, I wanted to help out,” said Harrid, an actor from West Seattle who was once the theater’s artistic director.
For one weekend in December, a host of memorable actors will have fun performing nostalgic and new musical numbers, as well as revisit favorite memories from classic shows.
“It’s easy for the (cast) to improvise and let it go,” Harrid said of the production. “When they’re in front of the audience they are scared enough to do it right. They’re in the moment.”
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Show time
• Live at the Ave presents:
• Venue: Auburn Avenue Theater, 10 Auburn Ave.
• Show times: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday
• Tickets: $17, $15 student-senior discount. Call Auburn Parks, Arts & Recreation at 253-931-3043, or online at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/88393
