Show features Berlin tunes

2/23/2006

Fans of vintage Irving Berlin music can enjoy the tunes while they help out efforts to continue restoration of the Pemberville Opera House.

"An Evening of Irving Berlin" this weekend will feature classic songs such as "There's No Business Like Show Business," "White Christmas," and "God Bless America," along with numbers that are more rare, said Jody Madaras, the writer and director of the show.

"If you love music, if you love theater music and Irving Berlin - quality American songs - you will love it," he said.

"It's almost like a mini history lesson on Berlin, really. We introduce several of the songs; there's a little speech before some of the melodies. We want to educate the folks as well as entertain them."

Madaras, a 1989 Eastwood High School graduate who has been active in off-Broadway and major regional theaters, has written six shows to be performed at the opera house.

This weekend's production is a two-act revue on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon that will feature parties after each performance. All of the money raised from the event, which Madaras estimated to be between $3,000 and $4,000, will go toward fixing up the vintage opera house in the Wood County town.

Saturday's show will be at 7 p.m. and Sunday's will be at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 and $25, available at Beeker's General Store. Information: 419-287-3274.