Jennifer Dow Has A Love Affair With Wagon Wheel Theatre
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
As it is, Dow doesn't audition for summer shows elsewhere so she can be available for the summer season at Wagon Wheel.
Dow made her first appearance on the Wagon Wheel stage in 1999. Since then, she's been a theater favorite for eight seasons, skipping only two.
"I haven't actually sat down and counted the number of shows I've done," she said.
She's appearing in all six of the shows this summer, including playing Miss Adelaide in "Guys & Dolls." The musical runs at the Wagon Wheel now through July 19.
When she's not singing, dancing and acting at the Wagon Wheel, Dow said, she's performing in regional theater.
She's had the opportunity to be a singer with the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, including performances in Nashville, Toronto and other cities. Each year, she said, she has to re-audition to be in the singing ensemble for the show. The show is all Christmas music, including classics like "Frosty the Snowman" to songs written specifically for the Radio City show.
It's an actor's life, she said, going from gig to gig. But she blocks off the summer for the Wagon Wheel.
Performing in Wagon Wheel's "Guys & Dolls" as Miss Adelaide gives Dow a couple of opportunities.
First, it will be the second role Dow has played that also was played by Faith Prince. Prince won a Tony Award for her performance of Miss Adelaide. Prince also appeared on the Wagon Wheel stage when she was just starting out, and sang at the Wagon Wheel's 50th anniversary party.
"I'd definitely say she's one of my muses," Dow said of Prince. She is, Dow said, pretty phenomenal.
But Dow isn't under any pressure to live up to Prince's award-winning performance. Each actress brings her own qualities to the role, she said.
"It's not pressure, but it's definitely given me more inspiration to work from," Dow said.[[In-content Ad]]One of Dow's favorite parts in playing Miss Adelaide is singing "Adelaide's Lament". Everyone who is a theater buff knows it, she said, and everyone has their own take on it, adding that comedian Carol Burnett did a really funny take on the number.
Another opportunity for Dow with "Guys & Dolls" is to do a show she's never worked on before. Actor Ben Dicke, who plays Nathan Detroit, has done "Guys & Dolls" three or four times, Dow said.
"Adelaide is a dream role," Dow said.
"I really try to make it my own. I try to find my 'ownness' to the character without making it look like a character."
Miss Adelaide is so out there, Dow said, she almost becomes cartoonish if not done right.
Nathan Detroit and Miss Adelaide have been engaged for 14 years. The long engagement is a sore spot for Miss Adelaide, to the point where it causes her to have a physical reaction when she gets worked up thinking about it.
Miss Adelaide also works at the Hot Box Club.
This will be the third show where she and Dicke get to play opposite each other in couple-like roles. They performed with each other as Max and Sydney in "Superman" and Bonnie and Moonie in "Anything Goes". Dow said she adores Dicke and enjoys working with him.
Like the other shows at the Wagon Wheel this season, "Guys & Dolls" is a tribute to Artistic Director Roy Hine, who died in 2007.
"Part of the reason I'm back here is because I feel Roy is still here," said Dow. "I've learned so much from him. I walk down the hall, and I still think I will see him."
Guys and Dolls is based on short stories written by Damon Runyon.
The musical was first produced on Broadway at the 46th Street Theatre, opening on November 24, 1950. It starred Robert Alda, Sam Levene, Isabel Bigley and Vivian Blaine. After winning numerous awards, the film version was released November 3, 1955. The movie, Dow said, starred Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra and Jean Simmons, with Vivian Blaine reprising her role.
Besides Miss Adelaide and Nathan Detroit, other well-known characters in the musical include Sky Masterson, Sarah Brown, Benny Southstreet, Nicely-Nicely Johnson and Rusty Charlie.
Songs include "Fugue for Tinhorns," "I'll Know," "A Bushel and a Peck," "Adelaide's Lament," "Guys and Dolls" and "The Crapshooter's Dance."
Dow said, "They'll recognize every song."
For tickets or information, call 574-267-8041, toll free 866-823-2618, or visit online at www.wagonwheeltheatre.com
As it is, Dow doesn't audition for summer shows elsewhere so she can be available for the summer season at Wagon Wheel.
Dow made her first appearance on the Wagon Wheel stage in 1999. Since then, she's been a theater favorite for eight seasons, skipping only two.
"I haven't actually sat down and counted the number of shows I've done," she said.
She's appearing in all six of the shows this summer, including playing Miss Adelaide in "Guys & Dolls." The musical runs at the Wagon Wheel now through July 19.
When she's not singing, dancing and acting at the Wagon Wheel, Dow said, she's performing in regional theater.
She's had the opportunity to be a singer with the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, including performances in Nashville, Toronto and other cities. Each year, she said, she has to re-audition to be in the singing ensemble for the show. The show is all Christmas music, including classics like "Frosty the Snowman" to songs written specifically for the Radio City show.
It's an actor's life, she said, going from gig to gig. But she blocks off the summer for the Wagon Wheel.
Performing in Wagon Wheel's "Guys & Dolls" as Miss Adelaide gives Dow a couple of opportunities.
First, it will be the second role Dow has played that also was played by Faith Prince. Prince won a Tony Award for her performance of Miss Adelaide. Prince also appeared on the Wagon Wheel stage when she was just starting out, and sang at the Wagon Wheel's 50th anniversary party.
"I'd definitely say she's one of my muses," Dow said of Prince. She is, Dow said, pretty phenomenal.
But Dow isn't under any pressure to live up to Prince's award-winning performance. Each actress brings her own qualities to the role, she said.
"It's not pressure, but it's definitely given me more inspiration to work from," Dow said.[[In-content Ad]]One of Dow's favorite parts in playing Miss Adelaide is singing "Adelaide's Lament". Everyone who is a theater buff knows it, she said, and everyone has their own take on it, adding that comedian Carol Burnett did a really funny take on the number.
Another opportunity for Dow with "Guys & Dolls" is to do a show she's never worked on before. Actor Ben Dicke, who plays Nathan Detroit, has done "Guys & Dolls" three or four times, Dow said.
"Adelaide is a dream role," Dow said.
"I really try to make it my own. I try to find my 'ownness' to the character without making it look like a character."
Miss Adelaide is so out there, Dow said, she almost becomes cartoonish if not done right.
Nathan Detroit and Miss Adelaide have been engaged for 14 years. The long engagement is a sore spot for Miss Adelaide, to the point where it causes her to have a physical reaction when she gets worked up thinking about it.
Miss Adelaide also works at the Hot Box Club.
This will be the third show where she and Dicke get to play opposite each other in couple-like roles. They performed with each other as Max and Sydney in "Superman" and Bonnie and Moonie in "Anything Goes". Dow said she adores Dicke and enjoys working with him.
Like the other shows at the Wagon Wheel this season, "Guys & Dolls" is a tribute to Artistic Director Roy Hine, who died in 2007.
"Part of the reason I'm back here is because I feel Roy is still here," said Dow. "I've learned so much from him. I walk down the hall, and I still think I will see him."
Guys and Dolls is based on short stories written by Damon Runyon.
The musical was first produced on Broadway at the 46th Street Theatre, opening on November 24, 1950. It starred Robert Alda, Sam Levene, Isabel Bigley and Vivian Blaine. After winning numerous awards, the film version was released November 3, 1955. The movie, Dow said, starred Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra and Jean Simmons, with Vivian Blaine reprising her role.
Besides Miss Adelaide and Nathan Detroit, other well-known characters in the musical include Sky Masterson, Sarah Brown, Benny Southstreet, Nicely-Nicely Johnson and Rusty Charlie.
Songs include "Fugue for Tinhorns," "I'll Know," "A Bushel and a Peck," "Adelaide's Lament," "Guys and Dolls" and "The Crapshooter's Dance."
Dow said, "They'll recognize every song."
For tickets or information, call 574-267-8041, toll free 866-823-2618, or visit online at www.wagonwheeltheatre.com
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