PLAYS/MUSICALS SEEN BY FAMILY MEMBERS IN NYC
LUMINOUS BADGE OF HNR/AUTHRTY
END-OF-DAY-SKY ON BIG, WIDE RD
PROCESSED MEAT PRDCT@GRT FREQ
FAULTLESSLY EXECUTED LAW BRKNG
In May of 2016, Jan, John, Nancy, and Norma made a quick trip to NYC to see BRIGHT STAR (LUMINOUS BADGE OF HNR/AUTHRTY), a musical by Steve Martin and Edie Brickel. I really loved everything about this show. The music was great, the set was simple but manipulated in a creative and engaging manner (fancy way of saying “it turned and choreography was synchronized with the motion”). I’ve been disappointed in years since that this show never toured. The only negative I recall of the performance we saw was that the rows of seating in the theater were really close – and I’m short!
No pictures for the next two in the grouping, but while in high school (I think), Michaela went on a school trip to NYC and saw SUNSET BOULEVARD (END-OF-DAY-SKY ON BIG, WIDE RD). Jan, John and Mike went to see SPAMALOT (PROCESSED MEAT PRDCT@GRT FREQ) in the Big Apple as well. One of them may correct me on this. I know that seeing Spamalot was the plan but I also seem to remember Mike being really tired (was home on leave for just a few days?) and maybe they didn’t end up going to the show?
The last show in this grouping is THE PERFECT CRIME (FAULTLESSLY EXECUTED LAW BRKNG). This outing/this production were memorable for those of us that went in February 2023. The play has been running FOREVER in NYC, so long that they’ve had to update the script/set to accommodate technology changes (cell phones and the like) but overall, the production was just kind of weird. I don’t know that I can succinctly wrap up this production, perhaps the others in attendance (Jan, John, Norma, Karen, Bill, Mary) will weigh in. Below is a photo of the set.
EL/MIDDLE SCHOOL/COMMUNITY PLAYS WE’VE BEEN IN
SORCERER FROM EMERALD CITY
SO LONG MY WINGED-FRIEND
COUSINS XMAS PARTY THEME 2018
TRADITIONAL SONG 4 DEC HOLIDAY
OK, confession time. I sort of messed up this grouping and had to scramble this morning to fix things. I had planned to include Rick’s involvement in James and the Giant Peach (June 1991?) but couldn’t find my notes on it so I’m not sure if it was a school play or a Fantasy Works production and now I’m questioning the other production I have here for Rick. I swapped in a production Sarah was involved in but then realized it was probably high school so I scrambled some more and finally (maybe) got my act together with this grouping…I think.
Catherine appeared as the Tin Man in a summer camp (CCRI) production of THE WIZARD OF OZ (SORCERER FROM EMERALD CITY). I honestly don’t even know where I got that photo from – I wasn’t there, I didn’t take it, I don’t remember anyone giving it to me. Maybe I found it online somewhere when I started putting stuff together for this project. Rick appeared in what I think was a Forest Park School production of BYE BYE BIRDIE (SO LONG MY WINGED-FRIEND). Ellie appeared in a January 2025 production of NEWSIES (COUSINS XMAS PARTY THEME 2018), and Michaela was creepy in St. Rose of Lima School’s production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL (TRADITIONAL SONG 4 DEC HOLIDAY).
FANTASY WORKS PRODUCTIONS COUSINS WERE INVOLVED IN
FOURTH
PETE STOVE-TOP COOKING VESSEL
STATE W AN EXCLAMATION POINT
THE TUNE GUY
Over the years a few of the siblings’ offspring participated in theatrical performances produced by Fantasy Works (actually, now that I think about it, just Norma’s and mine maybe)…and yeah, I’ve lost track of which ones were Fantasy Works and which ones were school things so I opted to use the wildcard FOURTH here in hopes of just getting this puzzle published today.
I think Rick was involved in Fantasy Work’s THE MUSIC MAN (THE TUNE GUY) production. Michaela was a lost boy in PETER PAN (PETE STOVE-TOP COOKING VESSEL). Rick and Michaela were both involved in Fantasy Work’s OKLAHOMA! (STATE W AN EXCLAMATION POINT) production, Rick as a stage manager, Michaela as one of ‘dem townfolk.
NKHS PLAYS FAMILY MEMBERS INVOLVED IN
XCEPTNL HAPPNNG@JOHNS INTRSCTN
NOCTURNAL REVERIE ON/ABOUT 8/6
DESSERT APPLE
THE WRETCHEDLY UNHAPPY 1S
Sarah appeared in THE REMARKABLE INCIDENT AT CARSON CORNER (XCEPTNL HAPPNNG@JOHNS INTRSCTN) in November 1991. Oh, in case you didn’t get this… JOHNS INTRSCTN… John(ny) CARSON.
I only found the image below this morning. I think that’s Sarah in the front. Previously I had a clipping from the Standard-Times…but I seem to have misplaced it. Mike appeared in MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (NOCTURNAL REVERIE ON/ABOUT 8/6) (April?) 1997. Shout out and thanks to Esme Sammons for that photo. Catherine did tech for PIPPIN (DESSERT APPLE) in March of 2010 and I’m not 100% sure on this, but I believe Haven was involved in the NKHS production of LES MISERABLES (THE WRETCHEDLY UNHAPPY 1S) in March of 2019.
14 responses to “April 26, 2025 – Puzzle Discussion”
So, I just want to mention that when I first met Jim, he was the technical director of CCRIs theater…and I did’t include ANY of his theater involvement in this week’s puzzle. I was just trying to remember now what productions I remember him being involved with and I can come up with “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” and “I Remember Mama.”
He was just talking about “Forum” the other day. I had forgotten this, but at the time he held that job, the theater (in the front of the ship/round part of the Warwick campus building) was also used for classrooms. This meant that during production runs and for part of rehearsals, the crew would have to strike the set every night. As set designer, Jim learned to take that into consideration but it seems that the rest of the department didn’t really care about any of that and a lot of demands were made that were difficult to accomplish. I think “Forum” was one such show. It was “before my time” – so I can’t speak to it first-hand.
I remember that I was very tangentially involved with “I Remember Mama.” I think I sold tickets and handed out programs. I remember Jim’s parents coming to that show – it was the first time I met them.
I’m really surprised I can’t remember more about the shows that were done while I was there. I took the stagecraft class the college offered but it was after Jim had left. I made rocks for some production. I think it was “Anyone Can Whistle” but I’m not 100% convinced that was it.
Well I got nothing, didn’t even have any guesses LOL Came straight here for answers.
Love all this dramatic history in the family and the old pics! I can’t believe you came up with that Carsons Corner pic!
I did Annie with Fantasy Works one summer in high school!
Forest Park also put on pretty elaborate plays while M&M were there.
See, this is why I love this discussion page – I didn’t know you did Annie/Fantasy Works!
As far as the Carson Corner pic…went looking for some verification of date of production this morning and landed on it.
I seem to remember Forest Park in the M&M era doing elaborate stuff.
Who else has family theater stuff to share?
FTR, I just corrected the title in the Midsummer Night’s Dream image.
I’m trying to remember the FP plays when M&M where there. I think Alice in Wonderland, Wizard of Oz, Little Mermaid, Aladdin and Peter Pan.
They could participate in 3rd, 4th, 5th grade and it was quite a to do.
I also did Alice in Wonderland and Fame in high school.
I knew about Alice in Wonderland- that’s one I tried to swap in but then realized you had to be in high school, not middle school. I did not know about Fame. I have a great pic from Alice of you with cousins. I’ll share it later, headed out now.
James and the Giant Peach was the Forest Park play when Rick and I were in 4th grade.
I have a picture of Rick from that play. I planned to use it but agggghhhh….I gotta get my act together on this stuff.
I even had my “puzzle in a puzzle” clue — Jim and the exceptionally large fruit
I think I wanted to use “fuzzy” in there but it was too many characters!
I’m with you Sarah! I went straight for the explanation! Rick did Bye Bye Birdie but with Fantasy Works. Dave did one with Fantasy works but can’t remember which one
So it seems my original thinking was right
Rick – Bye Bye Birdie with Fantasy Works
Rick – James and the Giant Peach with Forest Park School
I got all discombobulated this morning when I was putting the puzzle together.
I gave up. Probably figured out about 80% of the musicals titles but couldn’t make the connections. Figured NK high school, NY and Fantasy works, but couldn’t remember who was involved in what.
I seemed to have the same problem
The photo you may have is Rick when he was in James and the Giant Peach. I have it – but don’t know what “special-safe place” folder I put it in.