The Cadi Corner: Quinceañera

¡Hola amigos! Oops! Pardon my Spanish, gringos, my mind is still south of the border after the amazing Quinceñera we celebrated in honor of our Production Manager. He wears many different hats and goes by a myriad of nicknames such as Domue, Dom, Domino, the Dominator, Domatron, Mikey, Mookie, Michael Lucinda, and Mikey Delight the Disco Night. His Christian name is Michael Domue and he has been working at Totem Pole Playhouse for fifteen years. He’s the mentsh behind Crabfest, Michaux Brewing Company (Good beer makes us happy), and our resident social director. I thought it only fitting to throw him a Quinceñera to commemorate this milestone. In case you haven’t googled it yet, a Quinceñera is basically a Bar Mitzvah only with less Hebrew and more guacamole.

Captain Kate and I spearheaded this event and played co-hosts of the fiesta. First on the to-do list was a little game we invented called

TOTEMPOLETRIVIA-DOUBLEDARE-MINUTETOWINIT-ELLIMINATION-CHALLENGE-GAME. It is a combination of our favorite board games and game shows: Trivial Pursuit, Double Dare, and my latest obsession, Minute to Win it. Cap’n Kate took over the daunting task of fact checking all of our trivia questions. Here are some of our favorites for you:

A.)How many shows has Wil Love been in at Totem Pole?

B.)How many shows has Carl Schurr directed at Totem Pole?

C.)How many shows has James Fouchard designed at Totem Pole?

D.)What was the first show Paul Mills Holmes saw at Totem Pole?

E.)What Olivia Newton John song did Ray Ficca dance to during I’ll Be Back Before Midnight?

I took care of assembling all of the physical challenges which came from the Minute to Win It website. If you haven’t seen this show, you must check it out. Most of the game pieces can be found in your garage or your pantry. For instance there is a game called “Hanky Panky” here is how you play it:

Using only one hand, a player must empty all the tissues in a tissue box.

Domue did it in 17 seconds. Yes, ladies, he is available.

I prepared over twenty games like that and the competition went like this: Kate would ask the trivia questions and I would jump in if at any time an incorrect answer was given or if a team opted for a physical challenge. It was my Mark Summers childhood fantasy come true. It was awesome. If only we had rigged slime to come down from the ceiling...we live in a rental c’est la vie.

The night was especially special because Carl Schurr, Wil Love, Paul Mills Holmes, and Sue McMurtray who have shared these past 15 years with Domue came out to join in on the fun. So mazel tov, Domue, a big congratulations on your Quinceañera!

In completely unrelated news, we have a new show on the boards! When I say new show I mean it. Totem Pole Playhouse is the very first theatre to produce The Coward and the Glory by Keith Bridges. It was tailor made for this area which is totally cool. It takes place the night before the burning of Chambursburg and it is one exciting ride. The Coward and the Glory has re-enactors! Time travel! Swords! Guns! Love! And betrayal! It is also a comedy and who doesn't need a good laugh now a days? So come on down to the playhouse and laugh your gun holsters off, cheers!

Answers to the Totem Pole Trivia Questions:

A.) 142

B.) 93

C.) 107

D.) There's a Girl in My Soup, 1969

E.) Let's Get Physical

The Cadi Corner: 5 6 7 8!

There are several skills you acquire in high school that you'll never use again. For example, when was the last time you needed to solve an algebraic equation or spell Misisssippi? Well, when I was in high school I was a member of our show choir, Encore!. I know...you're impressed. While in show choir I procured such useless life skills as how to execute a perfect jazz square and how to get deodorant out of sequins. I never thought I'd use my jazz hands post graduation but our current show, The Complete History of America (Abridged), has proven me wrong.

I hope I'm not giving anything away here, but there are a few teeny weeny musical numbers in this play that required some light choreography. Many people are unaware that our Production Stage Manager, Paul Mills Holmes (celebrating his 35th year at Totem Pole Playhouse), occasionally serves as choreographer du jour working under the alias PABLO! You may have seen his eight counts in Roanoke, Father of the Bride, or 43 Plays for 43 Presidents. PABLO! foolishly invited Captain Kate Murphy and me to assist him on these dances. Big mistake.

The thing about inspiration is you never know when it will hit. Any artistic genius will tell you that. Inspiration happened to slap Kate and me across the face backstage during 45 Seconds from Broadway. We decided it was best to let the dance flow through us immediately, rather than wait till the show was over and find a large space with a mirror or two. NO. That's the other thing about inspiration, it is fickle. It can flit out of your brain as facilely as it flitted in- I think Fosse said that. When the dance calls we must answer. So, there we were head cocking and hip popping right in between the rows of prop tables filled with cups of tea, tuna salad, and flatware. Sure it was dangerous but that's what made it fun. The only downside was that actors kept getting in our way.

"Excuse me", they would say, "I have to make an entrance now".

Give me a break. "Can't you see magic is happening?" We thought to ourselves. We let them pass and we pressed on.

The result you can see for yourself because our brilliant steps are featured in The Complete History of America (Abridged). If the dances alone do not bring you to your feet shouting "Encore!" the guys surely will. It's funny, fast, and educational...err sort of. Most importantly, it is patriotic! So come on out to the playhouse during this month of our country's birth, I guarantee you'll have a blast!