“Let’s start the new year off right” – Fort Dodge Messenger

“Holiday Inn has some recognizable music in it and it’s just a sweet and happy plot where everyone is happy in the end,” said Alyssa Sparks, the show’s director. “Sometimes we have to tell a happy story!”

Audience members will recognize Irving Berlin’s famous songs “White Christmas”, “Blue Sky”, Cheek to Cheek and even “Heat Wave” in the show.

Sparks directs the production alongside the creative team of Dan Cassady as musical director and conductor, Shelley Bottorff as rehearsal accompanist and Emily Eastwood as show choreographer.

According to Sparks, the Comedy board has chosen Holiday Inn like this year’s show because they wanted to introduce something that everyone could enjoy.

-Messenger photo by Brit Kudla

From left, Comedia Musica members Nathan Schele, Allison Swanson and Jacob Shelton will be featured in Irving Berlin’s “Holiday Inn” Nov. 7-9 at Historic Phillips Auditorium.

“Holiday Inn is a really light-hearted show and the entire cast and crew are very talented,” Sparks said. “I’ve heard in the community that people enjoy coming to the Comedia shows because they put on such a great performance for the community. Still, there are some people who still don’t even know we exist, so we try to do a different style of show every time in the hope that more people will find out about us and keep coming to see us perform year after year. year.”

The talent on stage for Holiday Inn features veteran performers as well as new actors.

“We have amazing talent on the show this year, just like every year,” Sparks said. “We have Brittany Thomas-Arthur as Linda and she just has a very sweet and beautiful voice. We have Nathan Scheele as Ted and a new skill for him this year is tap dancing. Watching Alison Swanson as Lila was fun. She’s such a sweet and genuine person and it was interesting to see her play a role that was maybe a little more materialistic. Holly Campbell is “fix it manLouise. People would recognize her as Dr. Seuss from last year’s show.”

Sparks said that rounding out the Holiday Inn cast is Jacob Shelton, who will play the role of Jim.

“I believe this is his first show with Comedia and he does an amazing job directing the cast both on stage and backstage helping out on set.” Sparks said.

-Messenger photo by Brit Kudla

AvaMarie Kirby, right, and Brittany Thomas-Arthur are part of the cast for Comedia Musica’s upcoming performance of Irving Berlin’s “Holiday Inn.”

The Comedia Musica Players will present four shows at “Holiday Inn,” including November 7 at 7 p.m., November 8 at 7 p.m. and November 9 at 2 and 7 p.m.

Tickets to Holiday Inn are available at Hy-Vee Customer Service and at the door prior to each performance.

Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn

When:

November 7: show at 7 p.m

November 8: show at 7 p.m

November 9: 14:00 matinee, 19:00 show

where:

Historic Phillips Auditorium, 1015 Fifth Ave. N.

Tickets:

$15 for adults, $10 for children/students up to college age.

Tickets are available at Hy-Vee Customer Service or at the door prior to each performance.

Doors open at 6pm for ticket sales.

LIST OF CARDS:

Jim Hardy: Jacob Shelton

Ted Hanover: Nathan Schele

Linda Mason: Brittany Thomas-Arthur

Lila Dixon: Alison Swanson

Louise: Holly Campbell

Danny: Jordan Martin

Charlie Winslow: AvaMarie Kirby

Night Dancers:

Stanley: Parker Gaines

Daphne: Jenna Hendrix

Stella: Esther Laupp

Rose: Abby Adams

Janney: Olivia Ferris

Susie: Mary Jo Laupp

Brenda: Jennifer McAtee

Byron: Zach Dodge

Danny’s Mother: Jodi Ekstrom

Speaker: Buzz Powers

Hollywood Production Team:

Director: Sean O’Connor

First AD: Alana Kirby

Sound Man: Dawn O’Connor

PA: Iris McAtee

Chorus:

Matt Carrott, Rachel Castor,

Jodi Ekstrom, Alanna Kirby,

Alicia Marsh, Iris McAtee,

Dawn O’Connor, Sean O’Connor,

Briley Singer, AJ Smith