
DATE: Friday, October 31, 1997              TAG: 9710290118
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER      PAGE: 04   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER 
                                            LENGTH:   96 lines

FOR LOCAL ACTRESS, MUSICAL SWITCH IS PLAYING HER SONG

WESTERN BRANCH resident Heather Renken is exactly one-half of the cast of the Little Theatre of Norfolk's new musical ``They're Playing Our Song,'' which premiers tonight.

In fact, this triple-threat musical - with book by Neil Simon, music by Marvin Hamlisch and lyrics by Carole Bayer-Sager - wasn't even the LTN's first choice for its second production of the 1997-98 season.

It originally scheduled a comedy/ musical about stand-up comics, ``Three Guys Naked from the Waist Down.'' But upon further examination, the play contained lyrics and dialogue not suitable for the LTN's cross-section audience. Director David Burton did some fancy footwork and decided on ``They're Playing Our Song.''

``When we finally read over the script, we had some problems with the content,'' said Phyllis Guinazzo, a local actor and Western Branch resident who heads up the LTN's play-selection committee. ``We realized it wouldn't work. Then, in looking at `They're Playing Our Song' we knew we found the right one. I mean it features the work of Neil Simon, Marvin Hamlisch and Carole Bayer-Sager. You can't beat a combination like that. And with David (Burton) as director and Leslie (Draper) as musical director with Heather and Michael (Skoraszewski) in the cast, we feel we have a winning combination.''

Renken agreed, saying the same local team worked well together in last year's production of ``I Do, I Do.''

For this new musical, Renken plays Sonia Walsk, the free-spirit, lyricist half of a professionally and romantically linked songwriting team.

The other half of the cast is played by Skoraszewski (pronounced score-a-zess-ki), a Norfolk resident who works as a clinical psychologist for the Virginia Beach based Comprehensive Mental Health Services. He plays the character of Vernon Gersh, the musical half of the song-writing team that actually apes the real-life professional and romantic relationship of Hamlisch and Bayer-Sager.

Because a new script had to be found, rehearsals were two weeks late and, more often than not, had to take place late at night due to Skoraszewski's evening schedule.

``Many times rehearsals didn't start until about eight or even nine in the evening and went past midnight,'' Renken said.

In rehearsing for the production, Renken said she, Skoraszewski, Burton and Draper first worked with the music and songs, then learned the book or script, then worked out the stage movements/ positions or blocking and finally set about polishing each scene.

Besides learning about 10 new songs, Renken also had to hone her skills as a quick-change artist.

``There's about 10 costume changes, I think that takes care of about half the show,'' Renken joked. ``Seriously, she wears different outfits the character claims is cheap, second-hand clothing that expresses her personality. Many are outfits she claims are linked to various plays and movies. For example, there are her `Of Human Bondage' and Chekov's `Cherry Orchard' outfits and many others. And others are rather far out to reflect that part of her personality, like the disco dress with the high heels.''

Renken, originally from Chicago, has already distinguished herself in the local theater scene with her work in ``I Do, I Do'' and in her role as Gillian, the love-sick witch in last year's LTN's production of ``Bell, Book and Candle.''

Renken has used her singing experience to become a certified kinder music teacher, able to teach children, ages 4 1/2 to 7, how to read and create music. She received her certification last summer at a four-day workshop held in Indianapolis. Now she teaches at The Music Staff music academy in Western Branch.

She said her musical and acting experience coupled with working with a talented co-star and two talented directors, will make ``They're Playing Our Song'' a compelling production.

``Most musicals these days are these big spectacles, relying more on sets and special effects,'' she said. ``But this one is a type of theater that's not done much. This is centered more on songs and the performance than anything else. And everyone here is pulling together. We support each other. No one is hung up on the star thing, and that makes for a very nice theater experience for the audience.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo

Western Branch resident Heather Renken and Norfolk's Michael

Skoraszewski make up the entire cast of ``They're Playing Our

Song,'' a musical comedy based on the real-life professional and

romantic relationship of Marvin Hamlisch and Carole Bayer-Sager.

Graphic

WANT TO GO?

What: ``They're Playing Our Song,'' a musical with book by Neil

Simon, lyrics by Carol Bayer-Sager and music by Marvin Hamlisch.

David L. Burton is the director; Leslie Draper is the musical

director and musical accompanist.

Who: Presented by the Little Theatre of Norfolk.

When: Play opens tonight and will take place each weekend through