PORT TOWNSEND — The Fantabulous Follies are poised to frolic.
Starting tonight, this troupe of singers, dancers and prancers will put on “Follies in the Park,” a benefit for Port Townsend High School’s financially strapped drama program.
From “Bye Bye Blackbird” and “Ain’t Misbehavin’” to “Honey Bun” and “Hey Big Spender,” the production will celebrate springtime, love and other silliness three times.
The Follies will take the stage of the Port Townsend High auditorium, 1500 Van Ness St., tonight at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Tickets are $12 for general admission and $6 for students and seniors.
The big show
And though the Port Townsend High School drama program budget has shrunk, the Follies’ show is big.
Twenty adult performers from the O’Meara Dance Studio will star, and 26 more will make guest appearances in the song-and-dance numbers.
The Follies range from Margie Abraham and Rosella Dario, both a spry 87 years old, to Logan McMichael, an 8-year-old tap dancer in “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.”
“Probably our biggest number is ‘Bye Bye Blackbird,’” said Jan Boutilier, one of the Fantabulous Follies.
“Margie Abraham is doing the main vocals, six of us ladies are the backup chorus, and the 20 advanced teen jazz dancers are doing their Fosse moves,” Boutilier added.
Joan O’Meara of the O’Meara Dance Studio of Port Townsend is director of “Follies in the Park,” which also has Port Townsend High School student Addi Richert singing “I Wanna Be a Rockette,” Margaret and Garth Gourley with “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm” and Boutilier, Peggy Tonan and Mary Crozier commanding “Stop! In the Name of Love.”
Auditorium, play
The Fantabulous Follies will send the proceeds from their shows straight to Port Townsend High for two purposes: upgrading the auditorium sound system and producing Molière’s “The Imaginary Invalid,” the school play to be staged May 3-18.
“I am grateful for this opportunity to join forces with the O’Meara Dance Studio” to raise money, said Jennifer Nielsen, who teaches English, runs the after-school drama program and directs the plays at Port Townsend High.
“There has been a big movement by parents in the past couple of years to raise money for school sports. The arts seem to get overlooked, but they are just as important,” added Boutilier.
“Programs and budgets for the arts at the high school have been cut, and it’s time for us to give them a much-needed boost.”
After all, she said, “Port Townsend is an arts town.”
Those who can’t come to one of this weekend’s Fantabulous Follies shows may contribute to the drama program by mailing a check, payable to Port Townsend School District No. 50, to PTHS Drama Program, 1500 Van Ness St., Port Townsend, WA 98368.
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Features Editor Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5062, or at diane.urbani@peninsuladailynews.com.
