NewsPHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Day in the Life of Marriott Theatre's My One and Only, Starring Felicia P. FieldsCompany member Stephen Schellhardt takes readers behind the scenes at the Chicago-area Marriott Theatre's acclaimed holiday production of My One and Only, starring Tony Award nominee Felicia P. Fields.
By
Matthew Blank
December 07, 2012
He offers snapshots of a busy two-show day and introduces the hard working guys and gals who make the show happen.
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PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Day in the Life of Marriott Theatre's My One and Only, Starring Felicia P. Fields
PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Day in the Life of Marriott Theatre's My One and Only, Starring Felicia P. Fields
Company member Stephen Schellhardt takes readers behind the scenes at the Chicago-area Marriott Theatre's acclaimed holiday production of My One and Only, starring Tony Award nominee Felicia P. Fields. Read the Playbill.com story.
82 PHOTOS
The start of a beautiful two show day at The Marriott Theatre
Stephen Schellhardt
Come in and check out the show that critics are RAVING about!!
Stephen Schellhardt
The Marriott Theatre has one of the largest subscription bases in the country. Check out the upcoming 2013 season and you will see why
Stephen Schellhardt
The incredible set for the show, designed by The Marriott Theatre resident scenic designer Thomas M. Ryan. And yes, that is a pool in the middle of the stage.
Stephen Schellhardt
Pre-show ritual with Sam- filling the pool with water before it gets danced in.
Don't forget to sign in on the callboard. And yay for Thanksgiving!
Stephen Schellhardt
The incomparable Andy Lupp, our leading man, warming up before the show
Stephen Schellhardt
Our fantastic sound designer Bob, checking all our microphones before the show
Stephen Schellhardt
Our sound engineer James, testing out the levels.
Stephen Schellhardt
The view from the Marriott Theatre sound booth
Stephen Schellhardt
The Marriott Theatre orchestra, led by the wonderful Patti Garwood. They always sound fantastic!!
Stephen Schellhardt
Half-hour in the men's dressing room. Time for show 1 of the day!
Stephen Schellhardt
The ladies’ costumes are all set and ready for the day! Our costume designer Nancy Missimi has done a spectacular job once again!
Stephen Schellhardt
Wigs anyone?
Stephen Schellhardt
Our rain slickers for the opening number
Stephen Schellhardt
Props check
Stephen Schellhardt
Our prop camel. I call him George.
Stephen Schellhardt
Our incredible Stage Manager, Michael Hendricks. Has he called places yet?
Stephen Schellhardt
PLACES for the Top of Act One
Stephen Schellhardt
Here we go!! Opening Number I CAN'T BE BOTHERED NOW.
Stephen Schellhardt
The female ensemble Tiffany, Jaclyn, Melissa, Dina and Amanda. Rockstars!!
Stephen Schellhardt
Me and Summer Naomi Smart, picking out jewelry before Act II. Very important part of the process.
Stephen Schellhardt
The dynamic duo Felicia P. Fields and Paula Scrofano
Stephen Schellhardt
Cast members Roger Mueller and Zachary Gray get into character
Stephen Schellhardt
Andy Lupp and yours truly
Stephen Schellhardt
A little snooze before it stars all over again... Perhaps I need another Starbucks.
Stephen Schellhardt
Mmmmm. My version of water.
Stephen Schellhardt
Don't forget to pick up your Thanksgiving Turkeys. Thank you Marriott!
Stephen Schellhardt
Singing Happy Birthday to cast member Matt Raftery, before the second show!!
Stephen Schellhardt
Our kick-butt wardrobe supervisor Sam, making sure all our costumes are preset and ready to go!
Stephen Schellhardt
Jameson Cooper and Zachary Gray get ready to perform the tap-infused dance number HIGH HAT
Stephen Schellhardt
Female ensemble backstage with Roger Mueller. What a lucky guy!
Stephen Schellhardt
The New Rhythm Boys- Clinton Roane, Quinn Bass and Jarran Muse
Stephen Schellhardt
A little pick-me-up before the second show. Namaste.
Stephen Schellhardt
Jamie taking a little break before show 2
Stephen Schellhardt
PLACES for top of show 2
Stephen Schellhardt
Tap master extraordinaire Ted Louis Levy and cast member Jamie
Stephen Schellhardt
The ladies of the ensemble strike a glamorous pose
Stephen Schellhardt
Male ensemble members Stephen, Jamie, Steven, Zach and Alex get ready for their Legionnaire number
Stephen Schellhardt
Felicia, Jarran and Clinton playing around with George the camel
Stephen Schellhardt
Our spectacular romantic leads, Summer Naomi Smart and Andy Lupp. What a pair!!!
Stephen Schellhardt
Our fearless leader, the Jeff Award-winning director and choreographer Tammy Mader, showing off her new Lululemon outfit from the cast
Stephen Schellhardt
The entire cast of Marriott Theatre's My One and Only
Stephen Schellhardt
The start of a beautiful two show day at The Marriott Theatre
Stephen Schellhardt
The Marriott Theatre has one of the largest subscription bases in the country. Check out the upcoming 2013 season and you will see why
Stephen Schellhardt
The incredible set for the show, designed by The Marriott Theatre resident scenic designer Thomas M. Ryan. And yes, that is a pool in the middle of the stage.
Stephen Schellhardt
Pre-show ritual with Sam- filling the pool with water before it gets danced in.
Stephen Schellhardt
Don't forget to sign in on the callboard. And yay for Thanksgiving!
Stephen Schellhardt
Our fantastic sound designer Bob, checking all our microphones before the show
Stephen Schellhardt
Our sound engineer James, testing out the levels.
Stephen Schellhardt
The view from the Marriott Theatre sound booth
Stephen Schellhardt
The Marriott Theatre orchestra, led by the wonderful Patti Garwood. They always sound fantastic!!
Stephen Schellhardt
Half-hour in the men's dressing room. Time for show 1 of the day!
Stephen Schellhardt
The ladies’ costumes are all set and ready for the day! Our costume designer Nancy Missimi has done a spectacular job once again!
Stephen Schellhardt
Wigs anyone?
Stephen Schellhardt
Our rain slickers for the opening number
Stephen Schellhardt
Props check
Stephen Schellhardt
Our prop camel. I call him George.
Stephen Schellhardt
Our incredible Stage Manager, Michael Hendricks. Has he called places yet?
Stephen Schellhardt
PLACES for the Top of Act One
Stephen Schellhardt
Here we go!! Opening Number I CAN'T BE BOTHERED NOW.
Stephen Schellhardt
The female ensemble Tiffany, Jaclyn, Melissa, Dina and Amanda. Rockstars!!
Stephen Schellhardt
Me and Summer Naomi Smart, picking out jewelry before Act II. Very important part of the process.
Stephen Schellhardt
The dynamic duo Felicia P. Fields and Paula Scrofano
Stephen Schellhardt
Cast members Roger Mueller and Zachary Gray get into character
Stephen Schellhardt
Andy Lupp and yours truly
Stephen Schellhardt
A little snooze before it stars all over again... Perhaps I need another Starbucks.
Stephen Schellhardt
Don't forget to pick up your Thanksgiving Turkeys. Thank you Marriott!
Stephen Schellhardt
Singing Happy Birthday to cast member Matt Raftery, before the second show!!
Stephen Schellhardt
Our kick-butt wardrobe supervisor Sam, making sure all our costumes are preset and ready to go!
Stephen Schellhardt
Female ensemble backstage with Roger Mueller. What a lucky guy!
Stephen Schellhardt
The New Rhythm Boys- Clinton Roane, Quinn Bass and Jarran Muse
Stephen Schellhardt
A little pick-me-up before the second show. Namaste.
Stephen Schellhardt
Jamie taking a little break before show 2
Stephen Schellhardt
PLACES for top of show 2
Stephen Schellhardt
Tap master extraordinaire Ted Louis Levy and cast member Jamie
Stephen Schellhardt
The ladies of the ensemble strike a glamorous pose
Stephen Schellhardt
Male ensemble members Stephen, Jamie, Steven, Zach and Alex get ready for their Legionnaire number
Stephen Schellhardt
Felicia, Jarran and Clinton playing around with George the camel
Stephen Schellhardt
Our spectacular romantic leads, Summer Naomi Smart and Andy Lupp. What a pair!!!
Stephen Schellhardt
Our fearless leader, the Jeff Award-winning director and choreographer Tammy Mader, showing off her new Lululemon outfit from the cast
Stephen Schellhardt
The entire cast of Marriott Theatre's My One and Only
Marriott Theatre's revival of My One and Only, the 1983 Broadway musical comedy about an aviator and a lady endurance swimmer, features The Color Purple Tony Award nominee Felicia P. Fields as the Rev. Montgomery, a role created by Roscoe Lee Browne, with Emmy Award winner and Tony nominee Ted L. Levy (Jelly's Last Jam) as Mr. Magix.
Performances began Nov. 7 at Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire, IL. The run continues to Dec. 31.
My One and Only, which won Tommy Tune 1983 Tony Awards in the categories of Best Actor and Best Choreography (shared with Thommie Walsh), is directed and choreographed at the Marriott by Jeff Award winner Tammy Mader. The show — which also earned tapper Charles "Honi" Coles a 1983 Tony as Best Featured Actor, for playing Mr. Magix — borrowed hits from the catalog of Ira Gershwin and George Gershwin, folding them into a new libretto by Peter Stone and Timothy S. Mayer. Here's how Marriott bills the confection: "My One and Only is the Jazz Age story of Captain Billy Buck Chandler, a barnstorming aviator, and Edythe Herbert, an ex-English Channel swimmer and the star of Prince Nicolai's International Aquacade. Through a series of adventures and misadventures, their romantic pursuit is thrown off course, but together they are able to navigate their way to a happy ending."
The "tap spectacular" includes the classic songs "'S Wonderful," "Funny Face," "Strike Up the Band," "He Loves and She Loves" and "Kickin' The Clouds Away."
The company also includes Jeff Award winners Andrew Lupp as Billy and Summer Naomi Smart as Edythe, plus Jeff Award winners Roger Mueller as Nikki and Paula Scrofano as Mickey and ensemble members Quinn M. Bass, Jaclyn Burch, Jameson Cooper, Dina DiCostanzo, Zachary L. Gray, Amanda Kroiss, Alex McCrary, Jarran Muse, Matt Raftery, Clinton Roane, Stephen Schellhardt, Steven Spanopoulos, Tiffany Topol and Melissa Zaremba.
The production team includes music director Michael Mahler, lighting designer Jesse Klug, scenic designer Thomas M. Ryan, costume designer Nancy Missimi, sound designer Robert E. Gilmartin and properties designer Sally Weiss. Patti Garwood conducts the Marriott Theatre Orchestra.
