The night before dress rehearsal, two nights before the opening performance, members of the Rotary Show chorus worked out the kinks — in the show and in their necks.
Dancing and singing, skits and stunts are on deck for the 64th Annual Rotary Show, scheduled for evening performances Wednesday through Saturday at the Lars Hockstad Auditorium.
The 55 members of the chorus gathered at the Central Grade auditorium for a run through that included props, lighting checks and coaching from show music directors Al Bonney and Dave Millross. After months of rehearsing and refining, it was do or die time Monday night.
"We're going to have to go faster than that, folks, we can't make this show any longer," said Millross, who also serves as director of music, worship and missions at the Faith Reformed Church.
The rollicking show has 29 musical numbers featuring soloists, duets and the ever-present chorus. A medley of Broadway songs, dance numbers and sing-alongs are the foundation of the high-energy show.
As they do every year, the skit writers meet Saturday mornings to skewer local news, events and people with a humorous twist on topics controversial and mundane.
"What's fun is that all of us closet performers get to come out and let our hair down and have a great time," said Ramona Pleva, who will be in her third show this year and choreographed movements for the chorus. "It gives us permission to be silly, to be fun; one thing feeds off of another as far as creativity and it's just amazing to see what comes of it every year."
Members of the three Traverse City Rotary Clubs plus some area residents not in Rotary began rehearsing the show six weeks ago. The tight production schedule may create unusual sightings around town, said Ken Osborne, the show's organizer.
"Of course, members get learning cds and there's probably a lot of people looking at us driving in our cars around town wondering why we're singing to ourselves," he noted.
The proceeds from the Rotary Show benefit the organization's Good Works fund, with an average annual take running between $40,000-60,000. This fund directly benefits a range of organizations in the community.
A committee of 10-12 members of Rotary reviews and approves the grants every year. In the grant cycle from July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2005 year, the organization divvied up $42,000 among 29 projects. These projects included senior party funds for both public high schools, Munson Hospice, the Grand Traverse Literacy Council, the City Opera House and TART Trails.
"We try to focus on the Grand Traverse County region and our primary focus for the funds is youth activities or poverty initiatives," said Osborne. "We've also funded a group of veterans going down to Washington, D.C., for the World War II memorial."
"The money goes back to the community, that's what it's all about," he added.
The 64th Annual Rotary Show will be held every evening beginning Wednesday, April 19, through Saturday, April 22. Doors open 7 p.m. with pre-show at 7:30 p.m. and the show beginning at 8 p.m. Tickets are $8 and are available at the door or in advance from Rotary members, the Rotary office and at these locations: Fawcett Dopke Agency, Terrace Shopper, Holiday Shopper, American Spoon Foods and Petertyls. For more information, call the Rotary Club office at 941-5421.