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Midwinter Night’s Dream cabaret featured local singers performing
Broadway favorites about all kinds of love from friendship to
romance to break-ups. Patrons braved wintery weather to enjoy the
live performances as well as delectable desserts and locally roasted
coffee.
Friday night and Saturday’s matinee were nearly sold out and
Saturday night was also very well-attended.
St. John United Church of Christ’s fellowship hall
was transformed into an elegant performance space with curtains,
candlelight, and tastefully appointed tables. Patrons were treated
to a delicious dessert menu of mini-cupcakes donated by Missy’s
Sweet Shoppe, dipped pretzels donated by Lincoln Christian Church
pre-school, and lemon meltaways and apple tarts created by We Three
Sweets accompanied by coffee donated by Guest House Coffee and
Pastries.
The entertainment began with an impressive piano duet by Kay Dobson
and Dinelle Frankland of the song “And I Love Her” by the Beatles.
Dobson and Frankland also served as accompanists throughout the
evening.
The piano duet was followed by a lovely solo from
Diane Dietz of Springfield singing “Love is Here to Stay” from
1937’s The Goldwyn Follies.
Next a quartet of Brian Bolton, Austin Garriott, Jeff
Prince, and Curtis Schleich sang an a capella version of “Grow Old
with Me” from The Wedding Singer with beautifully blended harmonies.
A special preview performance of “Stepsisters Lament”
from Lincoln Community High School’s upcoming musical Cinderella
followed featuring Emma Adams joined by Presley Coale, Charlie
McFadden, Grace Tolliver, Mackenzie Plummer, Cynthia Flener, and
Sophia Wilkerson.
More young LCT actors graced the stage next as Marin
Crombie and Paige Zemsky sang and danced to “Friendship” from the
1962 version of Anything Goes. Curtis Schleich and Cari Wilmert then
brought to life the beloved characters Tevye and Golde from Fiddler
on the Roof as they sang “Do You Love Me?”
Director Tim Searby followed with a heart-wrenching
solo performance of “Who Can I Turn To?” from the 1965 musical The
Roar of the Greasepaint, the Smell of the Crowd.
The mood lightened considerably with the subsequent
number performed by the LCT Broadway Ensemble. “Corn Puddin,” from
the American comedy television series Schmigadoon is described by
writers Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio as “silly, stupid, and
inconsequential to the plot, but… a riotous good time.”
LCT board member Paul Crombie offered an update about
LCT and how the proceeds from A Midwinter Night’s Dream fundraiser
will support LCT’s summer season and continued renovations on the
recently purchased property that serves as a warehouse and workshop
aptly located on Broadway Street near downtown Lincoln. The LCT
board has been excited not just about the location, but the
opportunity to have its own storage space for costumes, props, and
sets, as well as a workshop space to construct sets and scenery.
Crombie explained that the property was purchased as a fixer-upper,
but LCT has completed the first phase of the most desperately needed
renovations with help from a matching grant from the city of
Lincoln. Plans for phase two of renovations will be completed as
funds allow. The LCT board hopes that Lincoln will continue to value
and support the performing arts in our community.
Following the LCT update, Marin Crombie brought her
own adorable flair to a solo performance of “Taylor the Latte Boy”
first made famous by Kristen Chenoweth.
The quartet of Brian Bolton, Austin Garriott, Jeff
Prince, and Curtis Schleich returned, joined by Diane Dietz and Tim
Searby for a medley of songs from The Music Man.
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Favorite musicals Wicked and Hamilton were
represented next as Sheralyn Bolton and Julie King performed the
heartfelt duet “For Good” as Elphaba and Galinda, and Jeff Prince
delivered a crowd-pleasing performance as King George III with his
rendition of the royal break-up song “You’ll Be Back.”
Charlie McFadden followed by singing the moving song
“Flowers” from the 2019 musical Hadestown, and then Sheralyn and
Brian Bolton brought the bombast with their duet of “The Song that
Goes Like This” from the 2005 Monty Python musical Spamalot.
A gorgeous rendition of Manhattan Transfer’s a
capella arrangement of “A Nightingale Sang in Barkley Square” was
brought to life by a mixed quartet featuring Presley Coale, Kim
Peterson-Quinn, Austin Garriott, and Curtis Schleich.
The LCT Broadway ensemble then took the stage once
again performing the powerful song “Seasons of Love” from the 1996
musical Rent featuring a joyous solo performance from Sam Bolton.
The finale of A Midwinter Night’s Dream was an entertaining medley
of songs from the musical Grease also performed by the LCT Broadway
Ensemble.
Melissa Cremeens began the medley with a graceful
solo performance as Sandy singing “Hopelessly Devoted.”
Joshua Schleich, Paige Zemsky, and Zack Chapman also
took solo turns as the medley continued with “Summer Nights,”
“You’re the One that I Want,” and “We’ll Always Be Together.”
LCT Board President Sheralyn Bolton concluded the
evening with heartfelt thanks to patrons for their support of the
performing arts in Lincoln.
Artistic Directors of A Midwinter Night’s Dream were Tim Searby and
Sheralyn Bolton, with Devin Vannoy serving as Technical Director.
LCT would like to extend special gratitude to St. John United Church
of Christ for wonderful space to both practice and perform, Lincoln
Christian Church-- Good News Student Choir and Lincoln Community
High School for use of their equipment, Lincoln Daily News, Paul
Crombie, David Helm, Guest House Coffee and Pastries, Missy’s Sweet
Shoppe, and We Three Sweets.
LCT is looking forward to its 2025 summer season,
which will feature two delightful musicals. Musicville, a youth
musical directed by Cari Wilmert, will be performed June 27-29. The
classic musical Guys and Dolls, directed by Derry Dalby, will be
performed July 24-27. Open auditions for Musicville for youth
exiting 2nd grade to those graduating from 8th grade will be held on
March 21 and 22 at St. John United Church of Christ. Open auditions
for Guys and Dolls for teens completing 9th grade up through adults
will be April 4 and 5, also at St. John United Church of Christ.
Video auditions will also be accepted for those unable to attend
in-person auditions. For more information, visit
https://www.lincoln
communitytheatre.org/.
[Stephanie Hall]
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