Wagon Wheel Theatre’s production of Disney’s “Tarzan” is the regional premiere of the musical. It’s not been done anywhere else since the Broadway show closed in 2007. Disney representatives will be taking in the show to see what works and what doesn’t so it can be done at other theaters, according to Brian Martin, who plays the lead title role. Martin said presenting the regional premiere is not more pressure, but an opportunity. Alex Finke, who plays Jane, said changes have been made to the show as rehearsals have progressed. When Artistic Director Scott Michaels cast the show, she said there was one less character than there is now. “A new character was written in that Scott hadn’t planned to cast,” Finke said. This is Finke’s first year on the Wagon Wheel stage. From Dayton, Ohio, she started acting in high school. She will be a senior this fall at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor, studying musical theater. She will be here through “Lend Me a Tenor” before going back to school. From Grand Rapids, Mich., Martin will be a senior this fall at Western Michigan, also studying musical theater. However, this will be his second season at the Wagon Wheel. He will be here this summer through “State Fair”. After that, he will be studying Shakespeare in London. “Tarzan has been around hundreds of years,” Martin said. For this show, he limited his research to the 1999 Disney film “Tarzan is a strong, athletic, charming guy, but he’s confused because he was raised by apes,” Martin said. When he meets Jane Porter, who has traveled to Africa with her father, Tarzan’s interest is peaked because Jane is someone like him, a human. “Obviously,” Martin said, “a love interest happens.” Finke also limited her research for her role to the Disney film. She said Jane is not the typical English girl of the time period. Besides being well educated, Jane is completely enthralled with all the animal species she never heard of before. When she meets Tarzan, it’s a scientific find, but Tarzan manages to teach Jane what it is to love. “She’s definitely a little bit more nerdy than most Disney princesses,” said Finke. In the old Tarzan films, Martin said, Tarzan and Jane were portrayed as being more real. In the Disney animated movie and in this musical, Finke added, they’re “ramped up” a bit more. Martin said the show is a pop musical because Phil Collins wrote the music. Martin said it’s been a different kind of experience rehearsing the show because they have to bring the animated movie to life but stay true to the comedy. In the Disney film, Finke said, the characters don’t sing, but Collins’ music plays in the background. For the Wagon Wheel production, the actors sing and have to bring the songs to life. Asked about the challenges of doing “Tarzan” in the round, Finke said this show is her first time in doing theater in the round. When she started rehearsals, she had to get her head out of doing a show in the proscenium theater. Now that she’s been rehearsing “Tarzan” in the round, she said theater in the round makes the show seem more three dimensional. Martin said the challenge is making sure all the audience sees the actors and the moments that the actors want the audience to see. Every time they run rehearsals, Finke said, something different happens so she doesn’t have a favorite moment in the musical. “I enjoy really going out there and listening to what is happening and experiencing it every night,” Finke said. There’s a lot of detailed work that has gone into the show, she said, from the wigs to the costumes.“There’s a new favorite moment every time I run it,” Finke said. “By closing night, it’s a whole different show,” said Martin. Initially, Tarzan doesn’t speak English. Martin said he enjoys being able to interact with the other “humans” on the stage and tries something different each time. He loves the reprise of “You’ll Be In My Heart” in the show because it’s so beautiful. “It’s a very professional environmental,” Martin said of working at the Wagon Wheel. “It’s nice to work in a space where you’re treated as an actor, not a student, and with all the creativity.” Finke said she’s learned so much working at the theater. “It’s a show for the whole family,” Martin said. Everyone can find something to connect to the show, he said. For more about the show or to purchase tickets, visit the website at www.wagonwheeltheatre.com
