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Totem Pole Playhouse presents the third show for its 63rd season, the award winning and critically-acclaimed Dames at Sea. A spoof of the elaborate musicals of the 1930s, the show features plenty of comedy as well as great singing and tap dance routines. Featuring area native and Broadway veteran Katrina Yaukey and produced by Totem Pole favorite Carl Schurr, Dames at Sea runs through July 7 at The Playhouse located just off U.S. 30 between Gettysburg and Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.
It's a hilarious spoof of the feel-good Busby Berkley musical spectaculars of the 1930s, a tremendous display of high-energy tap dancing talent and a homecoming for a couple of local favorites to boot. Dames at Sea, the third show in Totem Pole Playhouse's powerhouse 63rd season, running June 25 through July 7, is a delightfully-funny, light-hearted comedy offering all of that and more.
In its original Off-Broadway run in New York, the show staring a young Bernadette Peters won four awards, including Best Off-Broadway Musical, as well as the acclaim of New York Times and Time Magazine theatre critics. It later was made into a television movie starring Ann Margaret and for over four decades has been thrilling audiences with its hysterical comedy, fun music and energetic tap dancing scenes.
Set in New York City during the early 1930s, Dames at Sea is the story of a young woman named Ruby who arrives in town from Utah with "nothing but tap shoes in her suitcase and a prayer in her heart." Determined to make it on Broadway, in the course of one day, Ruby gets a part in a show, falls in love, saves the show, becomes the star and gets married. Of course the whole whirlwind of events is full of song and dance as well as laughs and humorous takes on the musical genre itself.
For its production of Dames at Sea, Totem Pole has once again assembled an all-star cast of seasoned Broadway professionals including a local favorite who did exactly what Ruby aspired to do; make it on Broadway. Mont Alto, Pennsylvania native Katrina Yaukey returns to the Totem Pole Stage in the role of Joan, a wise-cracking chorus girl. She is a graduate of Waynesboro High School. Yaukey has been a cast member in the Broadway productions of War Horse, Billy Elliot, Company and Cabaret as well a numerous national and international tours of popular Broadway shows. Also returning as director is Totem Pole's very own Carl Schurr. Besides numerous credits in Totem Pole productions, Schurr played the character of Wolfard in John Putch's locally-shot film Route 30 and has also had a role in the popular Netflix Original Series House of Cards. "We are so proud to have two professional entertainers from the area, who got their start right here on our stage and have made it on Broadway and in Hollywood," said Executive Director Nathan Rotz. "It's just another example of how Totem Pole's long history of bringing the best and brightest of stage and screen together with aspiring talent has made an impact on the community and the industry."
Rounding out the cast are Broadway veterans Jane Labanz and Tim Falter, who most recently starred in the Totem Pole production of Noises Off and Kent Lewis, Natalie Wisdom and David Jennings. "What's great about Dames is that it's not only a tongue-in-cheek take on those great old over-the-top musicals that is extremely funny, it's also full of genuinely terrific music and dancing and it's all family friendly," said Ray Ficca, Artistic Director of The Playhouse.
Dames at Sea runs through July 7. Tickets start at $29.50 and as always fifty percent student and twenty-five percent group discounts are available. Tuesday through Saturday evening shows begin at 7:30 pm and Wednesday, Saturday and Sundaymatinees begin at 2:30 pm. Tickets and information for this and all upcoming shows are available by calling the box office at 888-805-7056 or visiting online at TotemPolePlayhouse.org.
