Summer season humming along with 4 musicals

Cast members of the Huron Playhouse production of 'Beguiled Again: The Songs of Rodgers and Hart’ include, front: Dan Floren and Emily Casale; back from left: Geoff Stephenson, Steven Imgrund, Alex Ghattas, and John Glann. The show runs Tuesday through July 2 at McCormick School in Huron, Ohio.

Four musicals open in the region in the coming week, as the summer theater season begins to heat up.

Huron Playhouse starts its season Tuesday with Beguiled Again: The Songs of Rodgers and Hart.

Formerly a division of Bowling Green State University's Department of Theatre and Film, the Huron Playhouse became independent last December. But it continues to be run as an educational summer theater by artistic director Jann Graham-Glann.

The season comprises five shows, each running for a single week, from Tuesday-Saturday. While one show is being presented, the remaining shows are in various stages of being prepared.

Beguiled Again comprises nearly 50 songs, including "My Funny Valentine," "The Lady is a Tramp," "Johnny One Note," and "Blue Moon" from Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart's stage musicals and movie scores.

Headlining the 25-member cast are John Glann of New York City, Geoff Stephenson and Emily Casale of Huron, Benjamin Bercot of Fort Wayne, Thomas Daniels of Falls Church, Va., Daniel Floren of Eau Claire, Wis., Alex Ghattas of Flint, Mich., Rachel Hull of Goodrich, Mich., Sarah Laughland of Frederick, Md., Rachel Mulcahy of Syracuse, N.Y., and Hannah Timm of St. Marys, Pa.

Graham-Glann and Casale are co-directors, and Kerry Glann of Huron is the musical director and conductor.

The remainder of the Huron Playhouse season consists of Cheaper By the Dozen, July 5-9; A Little Night Music, July 12-16; Don't Dress for Dinner, July 19-23, and The King and I, July 26-30.

Huron Playhouse presents "Beguiled Again" at 8 p.m. Tuesday through July 2 in McCormick School, 325 Ohio St., Huron, Ohio, about 65 miles southeast of Toledo. Tickets are $16 for adults, $15 for seniors and students, and $12 for children 11 and younger. Season tickets are $70. Information: 419-433-4744.

New troupe

In Perrysburg, the new Perrysburg Musical Theatre is presenting Annie, the musical that is based on the comic strip Little Orphan Annie by Harold Gray.

The beloved story of the spunky Depression-era orphan who is given a home by the wealthy Oliver (Daddy) Warbucks features such songs as "Tomorrow" and "It's a Hard-Knock Life" and will be directed and choregraphed by PMT co-founders Jody Madaras and Carrie Sanderson.

Heading the large cast are Bethany Dieckhoner and Katie Sanderson, who share duties as Annie; Frank Weaver as Daddy Warbucks; Carrie Sanderson as Warbucks' assistant, Grace Farrell; Pam Williams Rumer as Miss Hannigan, the alcoholic orphanage administrator who hates children, and Terry Watson and Jennifer Lake as Rooster and Lily, who plot to profit off Annie's good fortune.

Musical accompaniment will be provided by members of the Perrysburg Symphony Orchestra.

With music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin, and book by Thomas Meehan, Annie opened on Broadway in 1977, winning seven Tony Awards and running for 2,377 performances.

"Annie" is scheduled at 7 p.m. Friday, 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday in the auditorium of Perrysburg High School, 13385 Roachton Rd., Perrysburg. Advance tickets, $15, are available from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday in the high school box office. At the door, tickets are $16. Information: 419-470-9016 or perrysburgmusicaltheatre@gmail.com.

Hello, 'Mame'

For its annual production, the Findlay Light Opera Company is presenting Mame this weekend.

Based on Patrick Dennis' novel Auntie Mame, the show was a sensation when it was brought to Broadway in 1966 by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, with music and lyrics by Jerry Herman. It won three Tony awards and ran for more than 1,500 performances.

Set in New York before the Great Depression, the tale is that of Patrick, a boy raised in a politically and emotionally conservative family. When he is orphaned, Patrick is sent to live with his liberal, eccentric aunt and must negotiate a clash of cultures.

Toledo actor and director James Norman directs the Findlay Light Opera production, with J.D. Smith as music director and Brian Rodabaugh as choreographer.

Featured in the large cast are Nickolas Burner as young Patrick, Deb Shaffer as Mame Dennis, Kimberly Bright as Agnes Gooch, Lydia Schafer as Vera Charles, Jerry Mathern as Lindsay Woolsey, Tyler Badertscher as Ito, Matthew Gordon as Beauregard, Set Carey as the older Patrick, and Emily Jamieson Pegeen Ryan.

The Findlay Light Opera Company presents "Mame" at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday in the auditorium of Van Buren High School, 217 South Main St., Van Buren, Ohio, about 40 miles south of Toledo. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students and seniors at the door or by calling the University of Findlay Box Office, 419-434-5335. Information: findlayopera.org.

Fun in Bryan

Williams County Community Theatre's Weekenders troupe presents A Night of Broadway - Part I & Part II at 8 p.m. Friday and 7 p.m. Saturday in Bryan.

Williams County Community Theatre veterans and newcomers, including Kathrine Acus, Crystal Rose Bowers, Ryan Girardot, Josh Hahn, MaryAnn Mead, James Gregory Mull, Tim Sanders, and Jodi Stoy, will present a revue of Broadway show tunes, with Kim Semer and Robin Hurst as emcees.

The performance in the Little Theatre off the Square, 208 West Butler St., Bryan, is free, but donations will be solicited.

Contact Nanciann Cherry at: ncherry@theblade.com or 419-724-6130.