Rebecca Seymour
Special to the Enterprise
OCONOMOWOC — The Oconomowoc High School Players present the play "Bottoms Ups" at 7 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, Jan. 29-Feb. 1, and 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1, in the Oconomowoc Arts Center's Little Theater.
OHS seniors Charlotte Grider and Ella Rodewald follow in the footsteps of past directors, embarking on an adventure to select, cast, design, publicize, and ultimately direct their own theatrical production featuring a cast of nine actors and six crew members.
"Suitcase, suitcase, who's got the suitcase?" is the urgent question in this comedy written by Gregg Kreutz. Riotous storylines converge as mobsters, an exercise instructor, a filmmaker, a hotel owner, her sticky-fingered nephew, and guests all find themselves in the same resort. When a stash of cash goes missing, it's anyone's guess as to where it may be.
Set in a Caribbean resort in the late '80s, the comedy charts the confusion that occurs when June Sherwood, a naïve aerobics instructor, played by Jennifer Hogan, 16, unknowingly acquires the cash-filled suitcase of two money launderers from Cleveland.
"I get to wear a leotard and leg warmers because I come to the island to teach my own aerobics program called 'Bottoms Up.' My character's suitcase gets switched with a suitcase full of money, and then it kind of goes all over the place," she explained, laughing.
In the meantime, a low budget movie director mistakes June for the next star of his production "Tan All Over." After discovering the cash, he joins in on the convoluted efforts to get the suitcase. Wild chases, bizarre disguises, and the silliest looking aerobics dance ever spirals into classic, farcical hilarity.
"Charlotte and I picked out a bunch of plays this summer, but the moment I started reading 'Bottoms Up' I fell in love with it. It's so fun and chaotic. And because it takes place in the Little Theater, the audience will feel like they are right in the middle of all the action — it's perfect," said Ella.
As the cast gathers to rehearse after school, the codirectors are also meeting with crew members, including Megan Schaff, to design a three-level set including an elevator, and costume designers Allesandra Sardina and Anna Mitchell to help fabricate an authentic feeling of the '80s era.
"My favorite part has been collaborating with everyone. I'm discovering so much. I want to go into theater education after I graduate, so learning more about what goes into behind-the-scenes as a co-director is the best. I have been involved with theater since the 5th grade, and this was the perfect way to end my senior year," explained Charlotte.
Both students agree one of the most challenging aspects of taking on this project is learning how to manage all the responsibilities of producing a show.
"Trying to figure this all out and making sure we get it right has been challenging, but also a wonderful learning experience. It's so much fun to see it all come together and come to life on stage. It's so different than anything I've ever done before. It's really rewarding and we're so proud of what we've done," added Ella.
"I love working with Ella and Charlotte as directors because they're both bringing in different ideas, and their own vision. It's a smaller cast, so we're all really getting to know one another. This experience has been really fun and I'm learning so much," added Jennifer.
Tickets
General seating tickets for "Bottoms Up" are $15 for adults, $12 for high school students and younger and military personnel (with ID).
The OAC box office is open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays, noon to 5 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays and 4 to 7 p.m. Thursdays. In addition, the box office is open 90 minutes prior to events.
The OAC is located at 641 East Forest St. and is part of the Oconomowoc Area School District. For more information, call the OAC Box Office at 262-560-3172 or visit www.theoac.net.
The Oconomowoc High School Players present its annual student-directed play "Bottoms Up" Jan. 29 to Feb. 1, in the Oconomowoc Arts Center's Little Theater. The comedy is directed by OHS seniors Charlotte Grider and Ella Rodewald and features a cast of nine students. Pictured from left (on the floor): Jennifer Hogan and Christian Anderson; (middle row) Benny Grider, Mick Veum, Xavier Tremblay, Bram Peterson, and Stephanie Hogan; (back row) co-directors Ella Rodewald and Charlotte Grider, Vincent Cortese, and Madeline Davis.