By Annie Flanzraich
Bonanza News Editor

Click to Enlarge

5:00 - 6:00  You're The Devil In Disguise (in Mary Lou Kennedy's classroom)

3:30 - 4:45 IES students

4:45 - 6:00 IHS students

6:00 - 7:00 Sugar Baby Bounce

7:00 - 8:00 Bye Bye Blackbird

8:00 - 9:00 Rock 'n Roll Is Here To Stay

2:30 - 4:00 IMS Students

5:00 - 5:30 Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens

5:30 - 7:45 *** IES PE Dance Night ***

7:45 - 9:00 Big Blonde & Beautiful

2:30 - 4:00 IMS Students

3:30 - 4:45 IES Students

4:45 - 6:00 IHS Students

6:00 - 6:30 Let's Get More Men Into Nursing

6:30 - 7:30 Ladies' Choice

7:30 - 9:00 We Go Together

4:15 - 5:15 Hairspray

5:00 - 6:00  Macho Man

5:00 - 6:00 Bye Bye Blackbird

6:00 - 7:00 Rock 'n Roll Is Here To Stay

7:00 - 8:00 Cooties

8:00 - 9:00 We Go Together

3:30 - 4:45 IES Students

6:00 - 7:00 I'm A Woman

3:30 - 4:45 IES students

4:45 - 6:00 IHS students

6:00 - 7:00 Sugar Baby Bounce

7:00 - 8:00 Bye Bye Blackbird

8:00 - 9:00 Rock 'n Roll Is Here To Stay

2:30 - 4:00 IMS Students (Costume check)

5:00 - 5:30 Hairspray

6:00 - 6:30 Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens

6:30 - 7:30 No Bad News

1:15 - 3:30 IES Students  (Costume check)

4:15 - 6:00 IHS Students (Costume check)

6:00 - 6:30 Let's Get More Men Into Nursing

6:30 - 7:30 Ladies' Choice

7:30 - 9:00

2:30 - 4:00 IMS Students

5:00 - 6:00  Macho Man

6:00 - 7:00  Big Blonde & Beautiful

5:00 - 5:30 You're The Devil In Disguise

5:30 - 7:00 Bye Bye Blackbird

7:00 - 8:00 Cooties

8:00 - 9:00 We Go Together

The Weekly:

Steve Caswell claims he is definitely not a dancer and is actually quite shy. Despite these drawbacks, Caswell will take to the stage lip-synching and dancing along with many members of the Incline Village community in the ninth annual Incline Star Follies to raise money for the Incline public schools.

For anyone who has not experienced the Follies, it is so much more than a lip-synch show. Each year, the cast, under the tutelage of director Don Hertel, pulls out all the stops to create a visual, entertaining extravaganza, stepping out of their comfort zone to be outrageous for a good cause. In year’s past the show has featured Incline High School Principal John Clark dressed as Superman, Incline Elementary School librarian Monica Rice as Roxy Hart from “Chicago” and local Pastor Danny Bell doing the Time Warp. And every year the trademark drag number brings the house down as some of the more secure male cast members get in touch with their feminine side and the occasional feather boa. Caswell, much to his delight, was not pressed into service for this number.

Instead he will be part of a 50s rock male quintet in one number and a cootie shooing college student in another. Caswell, who usually finds himself in the background playing drums, admits he is having the time of his life.

“I’m having a great time working with the people in both my numbers,” he says.

Another plus is how it brings the community together.

“It’s a lotta fun doing it. Everyone wants to make their number look the best and they really give it their all. You meet people in the community and talk about your numbers and it’s kinda cool,” he says.

Caswell finds the process amazing. From the efficiency and detail oriented organization of vice president Kathie Goldberg to the no nonsense approach of Hertel, the Follies runs like a finely honed machine. Hertel, who flies up each year from San Diego to direct the show, lays down the basics for the individual numbers as well as choreographing the two all-cast numbers at the onset over a four-day period. The cast members then run with it, adding their own personalities to the mix.

“Everything (Hertel) does is for a reason and it makes perfect sense. It’s very impressive,” Caswell comments.

In addition to the adults from the community, the cast contains students from the elementary, middle and high schools. Fifth-graders, seventh-graders and high schoolers all work separately with the help of volunteers Karen Osborne, Mindy Wegener and Keli Maiocco. Their numbers are always filled with stellar choreography and the boundless energy that is the gift of youth. The Follies also is often a special bonding experience as parents join their kids as part of the production to share in the magic.

One of the greatest things about the Follies is the friendships and camaraderie that naturally form. It also sometimes makes strange bedfellows, as it allows the opportunity to interact positively with a variety of people. Over the course of only a month, cast members rehearse, bond and obsess over costumes and props frequenting local shop Dress The Part(Y) for ideas and inspiration.

“It’s not like playing drums. It’s kind of overwhelming at first but everyone s very supportive. But you work through it and it all comes together in the end,” Caswell says.

Still, he does admit some fear is involved.

“I have this horrible feeling that I’m going to forget everything. There’s a recurring nightmare that half the routine is going to out of my mind on the night. But I’ll wing it,” he says.

Seasoned cast members like Rice are more confident about Caswell’s talents.

“He’s one of the better ones. He puts his whole heart and soul in to it,” she says.

The Star Follies is all about fun and whether you are in the audience or the cast, the feeling is infectious.

As for Caswell, he’s hooked.

“I’ll definitely be doing it next year, because I’m having such a good time,” he says with a toothy grin.

The Incline Star Follies plays Cal Neva’s Frank Sinatra Showroom on Friday and Saturday, April 4 and 5, at 6 and 8:30 p.m. For more information, call (775) 831-7469 or visit www.inclinestarfollies.org.

Kyle Magin
Bonanza Staff Writer
March 28, 2008
 

Flappers, dragged-out nurses, church choirs and Macho men seem strange bedfellows. But, all those sorts of characters will be in one place next week at the annual Incline Village Star Follies.

The yearly lip sync and dance performance is scheduled for two shows next week and features a variety of numbers from a variety of acts.

Star Follies features a cast of adults and students from the Incline/Crystal Bay area and proceeds from the show's tickets go to support the Incline public schools and the Incline Schools Academic Excellence Foundation.

"It's one of my favorite community events," said Ron Stichter, who serves as a coordinator for the show and serves on the Follies Board.

Stichter has been active in Follies for its first eight years and is busy with preparations for this year's ninth installment.

He met his fiancee, JoDee Hub, in the show two years ago and said some of his favorite Follies moments center around the students from the Incline schools who perform in the show.

"I love watching the kids who haven't done it before," Stichter said. "They are a little nervous at first but you see as the shows go on they gain confidence, and they have a blast."

This year's Follies is entitled "Putting it Together," which is the name of one of the all-cast (more than 100 people all together) acts.

And putting it together is exactly what Kathie Goldberg, one of the show's coordinators, has been doing for the last few months. From e-mailing the show's cast to planing rehearsal times to making sure the cast is fed at the shows, she is involved in the show's details daily.

Goldberg is now in her eighth year with the show and said that while organizing can be difficult, it depends on the cast.

"Some of the organization parts are easier because I can use the same things I did in previous years. But it depends a lot on the cast, some years I'll get drama queens and it's a headache," Goldberg said.

The rewards from the show go beyond supporting the schools, though.

"A big reason why I enjoy it is that the people who are in it get so much out of it. I've talked to so many people who tell me they loved it because of all the new friends they make and the people they get to meet," Goldberg said.

To facilitate all of this fun, there is a lot of work involved.

Stichter, along with Goldberg and the show's choreographer, Don Hertel, begin planning the next year's Follies as soon as the production wraps up each spring.

"The three of us get together to critique the show and decide what works and what doesn't and how things can be better," Stichter said. "We've got to a point where things work well and we don't have to change much, there is still some last minute panic, but nothing crazy."

Stichter said his favorite glitch in the show came a few years ago when the sound system at the Cal-Neva Lodge went out during a number. Instead of pausing or waiting for the sound to re-adjust, the cast of that particular number sang through the rest of the song.

There are four shows scheduled for next week, two apiece at 6 and 8:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday at the Cal-Neva Lodge's Frank Sinatra Celebrity Room. Tickets are available at The Potlatch in the Raley's Shopping Center, $25 for general seating, $35 for seating at the wings of the theater and $50 for premier seating close to the stage.

3:30 - 4:45 IES Students

5:00 - 6:00 I Am Woman

North Lake Tahoe Bonanza Editorial-

Enjoying life pretty much boils down to two pursuits: Having fun and helping others. Whether that means helping your friends, neighbors and community or having fun with those groups of people, some of the most fulfilling times come from helping and having fun.

So, if you could get enjoyment while helping out, it should be a no-brainer for an enjoyable experience. That's why we're encouraging you to go to this week's ninth-annual Star Follies performances. First and foremost, proceeds from the Follies lip synch go to support Incline Village's schools with needed funding. For all of our divisions, we can agree our schools are the future and supporting them is directly tied to our community's success.

Don't discount the fun factor at Follies, though. The skits border on ridiculously hysterical, from cross-dressed Broadway singers to hip hop to a little of that old time rock and roll. It's a great place to see the entire community, both on the stage and in the audience. Incline's future will also be on display, as students from the schools are part of the performances and the fun. Don't miss a chance like this to be social, see an awesome community show and take in the best the Incline/Crystal Bay residents have to offer.

When you can pair that fun with giving a hand to the schools it translates to a supreme use of time. If you haven't gone to the Potlatch already for your tickets, do so, and ask your friends to do the same. The shows are 6 and 8:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Frank Sinatra Celebrity room in the Cal Neva Lodge.

Prepare to laugh and feel like you're getting away with something, because it's high-quality entertainment for a good cause.

3:30 IES Students

4:30 IHS Students

5:30 Hairspray

6:00 Sugar Baby Bounce

6:30 You're The Devil In Disguise

7:00 Cooties

7:30 Let's Get More Men Into Nursing

8:00

8:30

3:00 Macho Man (leads)

3:30 IMS Students

4:30 Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah

5:00 Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens

5:30 Ladies' Choice

6:00 I'm A Woman

6:30 Big Blonde & Beautiful

7:00 No Bad News

7:30 We Go Together

8:00 Rock 'n Roll Is Here To Stay

8:30 Bye Bye Blackbird

Pre-Dress Rehearsal

Dinner will be served at 4:30 (Burritos from T's and fruit/cookies from Village Market).  No costumes needed but please bring any props.

 ORDER of SONGS:

• a.     Putting It Together
• b.     Macho Man / God Bless The USA
• c.     What Time Is It?

Dinner will be served at 4:30pm (wraps from Rookie's and fruit/cookes from Village Market)

Please bring ALL costumes, props, etc.  We will run through the entire show TWICE!

Dinner will be served at 4:30pm (pizza from Tomaato's, salad from Sunshine Bakery, and dessert from Subway).  It is MANDATORY that you are backstage by 5:00pm.

The first show is at 6:00pm and the second show is at 8:30pm.

There will be an adults-only cast party at Hacienda following the shows - appetizers will be provided and a no-host bar.

North Lake Tahoe Bonanza, CJ Drago

Incline Star Follies again made a wonderful splash in cozy North Lake Tahoe.  Benefiting Incline Schools area parents, teachers, residents, students, community leaders and a Bonanza journalist stepped up to perform outstanding lip-sync version of songs and musicals. The video below features one of our own in the crowd pleasing "Let's Get More Men Into Nursing."

Can you guess who it is?

Enjoy...

Click to Enlarge

Dinner will be served at 4:30pm (pizza and salad from Bar Bar Bar, dessert from Grog 'n Grist).  It is MANDATORY that you are backstage by 5:00pm.

The first show is at 6:00pm and the second show is at 8:30pm.

Please plan to stay after the shows and help clean up the stage and dressing rooms. 

There will be a cast party (everyone welcome) in the showroom following the shows - appetizers will be provided and a no-host bar.

North Lake Tahoe Bonanza, Naomi Freidus

This year the Star Follies proved once again that our community sets its priorities clearly by showing its support for the Incline public schools with song, dance and humor, while raising funds to see that our students get the very best. Usually I write on behalf of the elementary school only, however, this time it is my pleasure to be able to acknowledge the efforts and talents of the parents, students and faculty from each of the Incline public schools, as well as the volunteers and professionals from outside of our little lake side village who moved mountains to entertain us for a good cause.

But this show could not go on without the business community support and then of course all of the folks who attended the show. I went to the first performance last Friday night and couldn't help but notice the energy of excitement in the air as the audience anxiously awaited the first curtain call. The diversity of patrons was also apparent. Young children, tweens, teens, parents and seniors bought up every last ticket to show this community that they care about supporting our schools, which in turn makes Incline a more connected place to commune with each of our neighbors.

The skits provided music for every generation to tap their toes to. There was doo wop, hip hop, dancing nuns and nurses. Let's not forget jungle animals, dancing chickens, macho macho men and men in drag. The Follies had it all including a moving rendition of God Bless America that brought the whole audience to its feet.

Where else but at the Star Follies can you look around and see the faces of almost all of the people we share our daily lives with. There were folks there that I met 11 years ago when I first moved here, and new friends I've made in an exercise class at the rec center. So many of the kids on stage who I knew as toddlers were working their dance moves to the beat with smiles from ear to ear, hardly recognizable from the days of Mommy and Me playgroup. School faculty and parents kicking up their feet side by side was a great sight to see, and made it all the more fun to try and guess who was who up there in their costumed glory.

I think that it's safe to say that the benefits of the Star Follies go well beyond the financial profits to the Incline public schools. What the Star Follies has created is an event that brings together all the different branches of this stellar community and in the spirit of doing good for the present and future of it's youngest members.

I have never lived in a small town before coming here, and while I was driving home from the Follies as my kids were singing one of the songs performed from "High School Musical" during the show, I felt this warm feeling inside me which I recognized as a simple and yet confirming sense of belonging.

Congratulations to all of those who brought the Star Follies to fruition this year! Your hard work and talent are to be appreciated and commended.

Naomi Freidus writes a column for the Incline Elementary School PTA.