Opera House Players are ‘Crazy For You’
The Elkader Opera House Players’ production of Crazy For You features cast and crew members from Elkader, Guttenberg and McGregor, among other northeast Iowa communities, as well as residents of southwest Wisconsin. The play opens on Oct. 3 at the Elkader Opera House. (Submitted photo)
By Steve Van Kooten | Times-Register
The Elkader Opera House Players (OHP) are Crazy For You, and you can find out why this weekend.
“There is so much about Crazy for You that is appealing: the set, the singing, the dancing, the costuming—all of it is truly amazing,” said Claire Brandt, of Guttenberg, who is taking the stage with OHP for the second time after 2023’s production of Peter Pan.
Crazy For You (1992) is a multi-award-winning musical comedy based loosely on the musical Girl Crazy (1930), with music from George and Ira Gershwin.
The story follows a wealthy, young New Yorker, who is supposed to shut down an old theater in Nevada; however, he instead romantically pursues the theater owner’s daughter and concocts a scheme to save the theater.
The cast and crew, who range from 14 years old to their early 70s, hail from all across northeast Iowa, including Guttenberg, Elkader, McGregor, Monona, Strawberry Point and Dyersville. Prairie du Chien, Wis., also has some representation in the production.
“That mix of communities, new faces and returning performers makes this show really special, and it’s a great opportunity to highlight how local theater connects so many people,” said director Cheri Moser.
The production presents a unique set of challenges for the Players, particularly the intricate music and dancing required for the show.
“Almost everyone in our cast came in saying, ‘I’m not a dancer.’ And then you watch them in these big Gershwin numbers. It’s amazing to see what they can do when they put the work in. The growth and energy on stage is just incredible, and I think audiences are going to be surprised at how much fun the dance brings to this show,” said Moser.
“I think the most appealing aspect of this musical is the dance,” said Mariah Moser. “There are two amazing leads, eight talented showgirls and eight comedic cowboys that bring the show to life.”
Crazy For You will be Mariah’s 32nd production and her 13th for the Opera House Players.
Abby Schellhorn, an Elkader resident who plays one of the showgirls, has played in theater productions since she was six years old, but Crazy For You’s dancing requirements managed to give her something new to try.
“This is one of the first musicals that I have performed [in] where I know nothing going into auditions, rehearsals and performances. During this show, the showgirls (the group of characters that I am a part of) have to tap. I have never tapped a day in my life, so learning was a difficult task,” she said.
While the dancing and music are sure to thrill audiences in early October, Cheri Moser said the show also has a raucous funny bone for the cast to chew on.
“Honestly, the best part is seeing our cast discover the comedy in the show and watching new faces step onto the stage alongside returning performers. That mix of energy and experience is what makes community theatre so special,” she said.
The show debuts on Friday, Oct. 3, at the Elkader Opera House for a two-week run. Performances will take place at 7 p.m. on Oct. 3, 4, 10 and 11; 2 p.m. on Oct. 5 and 12; and a special 2 p.m. performance on Thursday, Oct. 9, to coincide with Elkader’s Witches Night Out.
Tickets are available online at elkaderoperahouse.com, by phone at (563) 873-2378, in person at Elkader Floral or by email at operahouse@alpinecom.net or tickets@icsbbs.com.
