Don't Miss "The Boy Friend"!

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If "All the world's a stage..." according to William Shakespeare, then a group of students at Oak Creek High School have been inhabiting a smaller world for the past 3 1/2 months! Members of the Oak Creek Production Company, under the guidance of director Elizabeth Fritz, have been working hard, both on stage and behind the scenes,to bring Sandy Wilson's musical, "The Boy Friend" to the Little Theater at Oak Creek High School. "The Boy Friend" tells the story of Polly, a wealthy young woman who is sent to a French ladies' finishing school in 1926. (This role was played on Broadway in 1954 by Julie Andrews, who was 19 at the time.) Polly desparately wants a boyfriend and passes herself off as a secretary when she meets Tony, a messenger boy with a few surprises of his own. Intertwined with the story of Polly and Tony are other situations involving Polly's father, Percy, Madame DuBonnet, the head mistress of the school, and an unusual couple, Lord and Lady Brockhurst who have a secret reason for being in France.

The ever-changing, lavish, and colorful sets designed by Anthony Lauer help to bring the audience along from a sitting room at the ladies' school, to an afternoon at the beach, and finishes up at a masquarade ball. Construction of the sets was done by students, technical director Chris Warner, and former Oak Creek High School parent, Steven Prawdzik. Area choreographer, Thomas Weissgerber, has, once again, worked with the cast this year and the dance numbers are extremely polished and professional.

New to the Oak Creek Production Company this year is Samantha Lemieux, costume designer and owner of TS Vintage. Samantha learned historical garment reproduction from UWM's Costume Production Bachelor of Fine Arts program. For this production of "The Boy Friend", she designed, patterned, and producted the majority of the costumes seen on stage from actual 1923-1926 French haute couture designs. Most of the colorful, vintage costumes were constructed by Samantha with help from four student members of the Costume Crew. In addition, several ball gowns are from the UWM Theater department.

This is a very enjoyable show that is fast moving and keeps the audience entertained from beginning to end. Tickets for the final weekend of performances can be reserved by calling (414) 768-6210, Ext. 3831. The dates and times are: March 5th at 7:00 p.m., March 6th at 7:00 p.m. and March 7th at 2:00 p.m. All performances take place in the Little Theater at Oak Creek High School, 340 East Puetz Road. Don't miss this fine production!!

(Students pictured from left to right: Becky Sprague, Tyler Samolinski, Katie Schmitt)