‘She Loves Me’ opens tonight at Riverland; Creating the 1930s set was challenging, director says
Published 7:39 am Wednesday, November 15, 2017
- Jannel Howard, playing Amalia Balash, and Anders Nelson, as Georg Nowack, rehearse a scene from the Riverland production of “She Loves Me.” Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Riverland Theatre presents the musical “She Loves Me,” opening tonight at 7 p.m. at the Frank W. Bridges Theatre.
Set in a 1930s European perfumery, “She Loves Me” tells the story of shop clerks Georg Nowack and Amalia Balash who do not see eye-to-eye. After they both respond to a “lonely hearts” advertisement in the newspaper, they live for the love letters that they exchange without knowing the identity of their admirers.
The story is by Joe Masteroff. It features music by Jerry Bock with lyrics by Sheldon Harnick.
“It is truly a romantic comedy,” said Riverland Theatre instructor Lindsey Duoos Williams, who is directing the show. “It has a great score, and the music is funny and fun. It doesn’t get performed that much. It has never been performed at Riverland, and we haven’t done a show set in this era for quite some time.”
Williams said the era was a challenge when creating the set.
“The show has a fairly small cast, but requires a big set and a lot of props, especially perfume bottles,” she said. “We had to be specific about the era of the show and create the right atmosphere. Being able to focus on the details was fun for the cast because it allowed them to get immersed in the show.”
Williams was praiseworthy of the cast, calling them “fantastic” and saying they “embraced the challenges of the show.”
The cast includes Anders Nelson, the pastoral intern at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, as Georg Nowack and Southland High School graduate Jannel Howard, who has studied music and theater in Los Angeles and New York, as Amalia Balash.
Williams calls “She Loves Me” the “perfect holiday show. … It is heart-warming and funny. It is pure escapism.”
Performances for “She Loves Me” will be held at the Frank W. Bridges Theatre on the Riverland Community College campus Nov. 15-18 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 19 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $16. Riverland students receive two free tickets with a valid student identification.
To purchase tickets, go to www.riverland.edu/tickets or visit the Riverland Box Office from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday, located in room E107 in the East Building. Contact the box office at 507-433-0595 or emailing boxoffice@riverland.edu. Tickets may also be purchased one hour before the performance.
For more information, contact Lindsey Williams at Lindsey.Williams@riverland.edu or 507-434-7390.
![](https://www.austindailyherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2017/11/1115.RiverlandPlay-2.jpg)
The Riverland cast of “She Loves Me,” kicks off rehearsal Tuesday night at Frank W. Bridges Theatre.
Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Cast (in order of appearance):
Arpad Laszlo – Momen Salama
Ladislav Sipos – Austin Hodnefield
Ilona Ritter – Lindsey McAlister
Steven Kodaly – Vic Wylde
Georg Nowack – Anders Nelson
Mr. Maraczek – James Zschunke
Amalia Balash – Jannel Howard
Customers – Caohime Farrell, KariLynn Finley-Cook, Joseph Gerber, Sadie Mortenson, Maurene Olson, Mandie Siems
Mr. Keller – Joseph Gerber
Waiter – Maurene Olson
Busboy – KariLynn Finley-Cook
Diners– Caoimhe Farrell, Joseph Gerber, Sadie Mortenson, Mandie Siems
Nurse – Caoimhe Farrell
Production Staff:
Director – Lindsey Duoos Williams
Choreographer – Marny Rohr
Vocal Director – Kaye Perry
Technical Director – John Deyo
Stage Manager – Carrie Braaten
Rehearsal Accompanist – Jan Matson, Dori Schou
Scenic & Lighting Design – John Deyo
Costume Design – Madlain Vander
Light Board Operator – Max Deyo
Sound Board Operator – Ian Gearhart
Backstage Crew – Maria Cristina Aranda, Emily McAlister