TCR Announces Cast List for its Grand Reopening with “The Producers”

CEDAR RAPIDS (Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009) – Theatre Cedar Rapids has announced its cast for “The Producers,” the Tony-winning musical comedy by Mel Brooks that will re-open the renovated Iowa Theater Building in February.

“The Producers” will feature the return of Cedar Rapids radio personality Scott Schulte (Z102.9’s “Schulte & Swann”) as corrupt Broadway producer Max Bialystock, joined by longtime TCR veteran Trevor Debth of Cedar Rapids as fellow producer Leo Bloom.

In “The Producers,” Bialystock and Bloom hatch a scheme to stage the worst Broadway musical they can find, so that they can get rich from investors and then pocket the money when the show flops. After finding the script “Springtime for Hitler” by crazed Nazi playwright Franz Liebkind (Jason Alberty of Cedar Rapids), they bring on board Roger DeBris (Tim Boyle of Cedar Rapids), Carmen Ghia (Nathan Cooper of Cedar Rapids) as well as their sexpot secretary, Ulla (Katie Knutson). Their scheme falls apart, however, when “Springtime for Hitler” becomes a smash hit instead.

The ensemble cast features Heather Akers, Richie Akers, Jennifer Anderson, Jared Cameron Anson, Barney Conroy, Tina Conroy, Ryan Foizey, Bradley Fritz, Zach Johnson, Angela Meisterling, Emily Nelson, Nathan Nelson, Andie Paasch, Zach Parker, Janda Pino, Sally Sandberg, Alex Schulte, Greg Smith, Amy Stoner and Jamie Toledo. Directed by Leslie Charipar with music direction by Janelle Lauer and choreography by Analia Alegre-Femenias, “The Producers” will be performed by Theatre Cedar Rapids Feb. 26-March 14.

The musical will be the first production to be staged in the reopened Iowa Theater Building downtown, which was heavily damaged by the Flood of 2008 but is currently in the final stages of a multimillion-dollar renovation.

A few notes of trivia about the cast of “The Producers” at TCR:

• This marks Scott Schulte’s first appearance in a Theatre Cedar Rapids production in 20 years, Tim Boyle’s first appearance in 10 years, and their first time appearing together since “Noises Off” in 1989. Both have taken part in various TCR fundraisers since then, but not an actual production.
• The cast features two married couples: Heather and Richie Akers and Barney and Tina Conroy. Coincidentally, Heather and Richie originally met in a TCR production of “Hello Dolly.”
• The cast also features a father and son appearing in a show together: Scott and Alex Schulte. Both are veterans of past TCR productions, but this is their first time appearing in the same one.
• Trevor Debth has been appearing on the TCR stage since his childhood (“Oliver,” TCR Youtheatre) but this marks his first time back since playing Huck Finn in 2004’s “Big River.”

“The Producers” will be featured as part of a formal Grand Reopening Gala at Theatre Cedar Rapids February 26. The event begins at 6 p.m. Audiences are encouraged to reserve tickets early for “The Producers,” considering that TCR’s current production of “Annie” is sold out and advance ticket sales for “The Producers” are very strong. Tickets and more information are available at www.theatrecr.org.