Thursday, July 01, 1999
Fairfield's 'Carousel' a city hit
BY RANDY McNUTT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FAIRFIELD — The city is playing a good role these days — the host of Fairfield Summer Theater.
About 200 cast and crew members are preparing to present the musical Carousel this month.
“Our goal is to involve as many people in the community as possible,” said Pat Davis, a retired Fairfield High School teacher who helped start the theater last year. “We purposely pick shows that need large casts.”
Carousel's cast is about 100 people.
For years, she said, residents talked about establishing a local theater group. The new program reminded longtime residents of the late 1970s, when a Fairfield theater program operated briefly out of Parish Auditorium at the campus of Miami University Hamilton. When the auditorium was soon booked for other shows, Fairfield's theater went out of business.
“Last year, we approached the (Fairfield) school district about using the new high school's performing arts center,” Mrs. Davis said. “City council and the school agreed to help us get started. Everyone recognizes the need to provide an outlet for local creativity. And it puts to use a facility that goes unused in summer.”
Mrs. Davis, who taught at the high school last year, and her husband, Jim, who still teaches there, have been involved with high school productions for years.
That means it's reunion time when the Summer Theater cast and crew practice. The Davises see many of their former students.
“Whole families are involved,” said producer Mindy Tischler.
Last year, Ms. Tischler choreographed the group's presentation of Oliver. This year, she took over the producer's role after her friend and colleague, Kathy Sullivan, was killed in a car crash.
“I'm getting a totally different side to the musical,” Ms. Tischler said. “It's demanding, but fun.”
Diane Robinson, an English teacher who is often involved with school performances, has a singing role.
“After giving so much advice, it's difficult being on the other side of the stage,” she said. “But it's fun working with students and a whole lot of people in the community who I didn't even know.”
Fairfield Summer Theater will perform Carousel at 7:30 p.m. July 22-24 and at 2:30 p.m. July 25. Tickets cost $7 per person. For details, call the school at 942-2999.
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