DIRECTOR	Peter Rothstein
Music Director	Michael Erickson
Choreographer	Mathew Janczewski
LIGHTING DESIGNER	Benjamin Hain
SET DESIGNER	Erica Zaffarano
COSTUME DESIGNER	Jeannie Galioto
STAGE MANAGER	Clark A. Cruikshank*
Assistant STAGE MANAGER	Maria Cruikshank
Production assistant	Bryan Olson

 

 

Peter Rothstein, who directed the Hassler’s production of  The Fantasticks in the summer of 2001 and returns to take the reins of this summer musical, is the artistic director of Theatre Latté Da, which performs at Minneapolis’ Loring Playhouse, and an artistic associate with Illusion Theater, based in the Hennepin Center for the Arts in Minneapolis. A sought-after freelance director, Peter recently wrapped up an assignment directing Houston Grand Opera’s production of Turandot.

Rothstein has assembled a supremely talented team for And the World Goes ‘Round. Some faces will be familiar to Southeastern Minnesota audiences from previous Hassler productions: Bill Scharpen appeared last winter in My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra. Holly Schroeder and Nicole Stefonek traded wisecracks in Honk! The Ugly Duckling Musical in the summer of 2002. Michael Erickson, who entertained with his peripatetic piano style in My Way, will supply the musical direction.

Newcomers include Jody Briskey of the popular vocal group Three Hits and a Miss, who just closed a run of Legendary Ladies for Buffalo Gal Productions (with Holly Schroeder), and North Star Opera regular Joe LaForte, who sang the romantic lead in Guys and Dolls for Lake Pepin Players last summer. Mathew Janczewski of Arena Dances will provide choreography.

The songs of John Kander and Fred Ebb have been immortalized over the years by the likes of Liza Minelli, Barbra Streisand, Chita Rivera, Gwen Verdon, Lauren Bacall, Joel Grey, Alan Cumming, Jason Alexander, Jerry Orbach and Robert Goulet, among others.

The musical revue, created in the early ‘90s by Susan Stroman, Scott Ellis and David Thompson, contains many of Kander and Ebb’s greatest hits: “All That Jazz”, “Class” and “Mr. Cellophane” from Chicago, “Maybe This Time”, “Money Money” and the title song from Cabaret, “Colored Lights” from The Rink, “Coffee in a Cardboard Cup” from 70, Girls, 70, along with lesser known yet powerful songs from such Broadway shows as Woman of the Year, The Happy Time and Kiss of the Spider Woman and films like Funny Lady and New York, New York.