Doo-Wop Musical “Life Could Be a Dream” Returns to Old Church Theatre
June 3rd, 2014 – Back this summer by popular demand, Life Could Be a Dream opens June 11 at Dakota Prairie Regional Center for the Arts (DPRCA)’s Old Church Theatre in New Rockford. The musical features pop and doo-wop hits from the 60s, with romance, comedy, and dynamic performances by some of the region’s top musical and theatrical talent.
The show centers on the Crooning Crabcakes, four boys preparing to enter the Big Whopper Radio contest to pursue their dreams of making it to the big time. But as described on the publisher’s website, “trouble comes in the form of Lois, who arrives to put some polish on the boys. Denny and Wally fall in love, Eugene falls apart, and along comes handsome heartthrob Skip to send the whole situation spinning.” The production’s soundtrack is filled with favorites from '60s radio doo-wop: "Fools Fall in Love," "Tears on My Pillow," "Runaround Sue," "Earth Angel," "Get a Job," "Unchained Melody," and "Duke of Earl," to name just a few.
The show is directed by Dakota Prairie Regional Center for the Arts’ Managing Director, Deb Belquist, with musical direction by Annette Hovey and choreography by Patrick Kasper. DPRCA’s live house band provides background music and instrumentation for the show’s 24 songs.
The returning cast consists of Jared Kolles, Technical Director and veteran performer at DPRCA, Elliott Schwab, DPRCA’s new Artistic Director and recent master’s program graduate in Music from NDSU, Tony Peterson, music teacher at West Fargo Sheyenne High School, Alex Hovey, a senior at NDSU in Music Education, and Jacee Engels, a recent graduate of New Rockford-Sheyenne School with state-level accomplishments in music, theatre, and the arts. All five played these same roles to packed houses during last summer’s run of Life, and all have performed onstage at DPRCA in previous shows.
Tickets to Life Could Be a Dream are $25, available now at www.dprca.com or through the box office at (701) 947-2174. The show opens June 11 and runs through July 6. Show dates and seat availability are listed online, with 7:30 p.m. performances for most shows and a few 2:30 p.m. matinees.
Next up for DPRCA will be a second summer musical, Rat Pack Lounge, set to open July 16 with most of the same cast and crew of Life Could Be a Dream. Tickets are available now for both shows.
Volunteers and ushers are always needed and welcome. To connect with DPRCA, visit our website or find us on Facebook at “Dakota Prairie Regional Center for the Arts” for the most up-to-date photos, video clips, and updates.