Media Coverage of The Broadway Bound Players

•   Hoping for sweet success
  Wednesday, August 08, 2007
  By Stephanie Brown
  sbrown@sjnewsco.com

FRANKLIN TWP. The click-clack of tap shoes and scattered melodies of musicians tuning their instruments echoed off the ceiling of the Delsea High School auditorium as members of a local youth theater group prepared for their upcoming musical production.

Broadway Bound Players, a group of Elk and Franklin township residents ages 13 to 21, are set to perform "Sugar," an adaptation of the 1959 classic "Some Like it Hot" starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon.

Opening night is Thursday at 7:30 p.m., followed by shows on Friday and Saturday.

The story line follows two struggling musicians, Joe and Jerry, who are on the run from a Chicago gang. They escape by dressing in drag and joining an all-girl band. Things get complicated when Joe falls for Sugar, the band's ukulele player, and a millionaire falls for Jerry's womanly counterpart, Daphne.

"I think the audience is going to be confused and entertained at the same time," said Dane Eissler, 15, who found inspiration for his role playing Jerry/Daphne from Monty Python and Mel Brooks movies.

The group has been rehearsing four nights a week for the past month in preparation of the big night.

"I have found this to be the most agreeable kids I've ever directed," said Jean Immler, who has been directing theater productions for 28 years. "They're very supportive of each other."

For some members of the group, the thought of opening night inching near produced a mixture of conflicting emotions.

"I'm nervous and excited," said Steven Clair, 14, who plays the millionaire, Osgood Fielding III. "Being my first big lead, I want to make sure I don't forget everything, but I'm excited because I'm positive this is going to be a good show."

For others, stage is where they call home and opening night couldn't come soon enough.

"It's natural to me when I'm on stage," said Megan Farely, 15, who plays Sugar. "I feel like that's where I belong."

Tickets can be purchased at the door for $10, general admission, and $5 for senior citizens. For more information on Broadway Bound Players, visit www.broadwayboundplayers.com.

The Sentinel August 9, 2007

"Sugar” On Delsea Stage

The Broadway Bound Players will present their 2007 show “Sugar” on Aug. 9, 10, 11 at 7:30 PM at Delsea High School Auditorium, Fries Mill Road, Franklinville

From the hilarious screen success "Some Like It Hot,"SUGAR” comes to the stage with the same memorable characters that made the screenplay so popular.

Dane Eissler as Daphne and Malcolm Homeyer as Josephine
Photos by Joe Decker – AJ Event Photo

Joe and Jerry, two musicians down on their luck while wandering through Chicago, by chance witness a gang rub-out in the Clark Street Garage.

The rub-out was ordered by Spats Palazzo, a notorious Chicago hood. Spats and his boys immediately chase after Joe and Jerry, determined to silence them as witnesses to the crime.

Desperate for a quick way out of town, Joe and Jerry hear about jobs available for a saxophone and a bass player, which are their specialties. And coincidently, the band is scheduled to leave at once for Florida.

There is only one problem; the band is all female. As Joe and Jerry they haven't got a chance, but with a bit of costuming, padding, makeup and slight voice adjustments, they become Josephine and Daphne.

They are hired by "Sweet Sue and her Society Syncopators." Joe (Josephine) and Jerry (Daphne) find themselves getting well acquainted with Sugar, the gorgeous blonde who is the featured singer with the band.

As difficult as it is for them not to reveal their secret to Sugar, they know that one slip could lead Spats Palazzo to them.

Moreover, if Mr. Bienstock the show's manager, discovers their true identities, they could be in an even worse spot. Mr. Bienstock had already warned the "girls" that he would not tolerate drinking or men on the train between shows.

Joe and Jerry are definitely in a jam, but it looks as though Sugar's company is going to make it an enjoyable, if risky, experience.

It turns out that Sugar has a drinking problem which she keeps secret from Mr. Bienstock. As she explains it, she drinks to forget about the countless saxophone players she has fallen in love with, and who have left her.

This is quite interesting to Josephine, whose interest in Sugar is becoming more than sisterly. Sugar confides to Josephine and Daphne that she plans to find a millionaire in Florida and get married.

She even tells them what he will look like. Hearing this, Joe develops a plan; he convinces Jerry that they need to look after Sugar, so they need to stay with the band in Florida until they find a suitable millionaire for her.

What Jerry does not know is that Joe has already chosen Sugar's match. By disguising himself as her "dream-man," Joe is confident that he can win her heart. After she falls in love with him, he plans to tell her the truth about himself.

While Joe is busy impressing Sugar with his newfound wealth, Jerry (alias Daphne) has attracted her own millionaire. Sir Osgood Fielding is determined to woo and win Daphne.

She is not quite certain how to break the bad news to him, especially since he showers her with lavish gifts. With the unwitting help of Sir Osgood, Joe makes a big impression on Sugar. Now Joe only needs to tell her the truth about his identity, since he thinks that if she really loves him it won't matter that he is not a millionaire, but another saxophone player.

Unfortunately, before he gets the opportunity to tell her, Spats Palazzo and his gang arrive in town and recognize Josephine and Daphne in the band. The chase is on. Eventually the villains get what they deserve, and the lovers are reunited.

The cast includes Megan Farley as Sugar; Dane Eissler as Jerry/Daphne; Malcolm Homeyer as Joe/Josephine; Sara Young as Sweet Sue; Rhiannon Priest as Spats Palazzo; Joseph Revello as Bienstock; and Steven Clair as Sir Osgood Fielding.

The Broadway Bound Players organization was established in 2002 in response to a need in the local community for a creative outlet for young people interested in theatre arts. The Broadway Bound Players provide young actors with the opportunity to learn or refine their theatre skills and add to their acting experience. Participants are provided with theatre and vocal coaching in a start-to-finish summer musical theatre production.