Interactive play will be, like, totally awesome

By DONNA FRAKE

Posted: April 25, 2011

Bad hairstyles and even worse fashion choices may have marked the 1980s, but the decade did produce some memorable tunes. So break out your jellies, girls, and tell your guy to grab his Vans and moonwalk yourselves into a trip back in time, courtesy of the Oconomowoc High School Players.
The OHS drama department is presenting the "The Awesome '80s Prom" an interactive play that invites the audience to the party, beginning April 28.
OHS director Tom Klubertanz, a self-described child of the '80s, said he graduated from a small high school in Verona, in 1987, and his fond memories of the decade have defined his formative years.
"Everything, from my taste in music - U2 and REM are still personal faves - to my unyielding love of all things flannel, can in some way be traced back to those totally radical 1980s," he said.
After spending hours playing Pitfall on his Atari 2600 and singing "Conjunction Junction, what's your function?" every Saturday morning while watching Schoolhouse Rock cartoons, he said it should come as no surprise that he "jumped at the chance" to acquire the rights to Ken Davenport's love letter to the 1980s: "The Awesome '80s Prom."
The play was the winner of the 2006 Improv Theatre Award for Best Interactive Show, and is in the interactive style of "Tony 'n Tina's Wedding."
According to the director, the play is set at Wanaget High School's senior prom in 1989.
"The audience enters the OAC and instantly recognizes that this will not be an ordinary theater-going experience. Walking through a balloon-arch tunnel until you reach the stage and finding more high school gymnasium dance floor than typical high school auditorium, guests are immediately thrust into the world of 1989," he promised.
"With retro costumes, cake, fruit punch, a station for you and your friends to take cheesy prom pictures - which you will be able to purchase at the end of the night for only $5.00, and lots and lots of dancing - the audience actually has a part to play in this interactive production. I couldn't resist a show that actually dares the audience to talk back to the actors," he said.
Characters in the play will recreate all the typical high school notables.
"From the captain of the football team to the Asian exchange student, from the nerd and the school rebel to the head cheerleader and spazoid, and they're all competing for prom king and queen. Think 'Breakfast Club meets Sixteen Candles.' If you loved the 1980, you need to see this show! We are even inviting audience members to dress up when they come to the show," Klubertanz said.
OHS sophomore Logan Milway is playing the high school principal, modeled after all the protagonist school administrators from the old John Hughes movies.
"The most enjoyable part for me is the freedom to say whatever comes to your mind right way and be comical in that fashion," he explained.
Milway sees some similarities between current tastes and the favorites of the 1980s.
"A lot of then has been carried over to now. Some of the phrases, dance moves and a lot of the musicians are still very popular," he noted.
He is excited for the community to see the production.
"It's a great cast, a wonderful director, and we're working pretty hard. It's going to be fantastic," Milway added.
Alex Dewyea, a junior at OHS, is playing a breakdancer in the play.
While dancing comes naturally to him, this genre required some practice.
"There are some intricate moves, but our choreographer is so good and really giving great direction," he said.
"I'll be wearing a track suit, which was very popular in the day," Dewyea added.
The OHS junior said he was pretty familiar with the decade before the play.
"My parents spoon-fed me the '80s as I was growing up, so I'm almost a child of the '80s," he said.
With a special twist to keep things lively, the audience gets to decide who wins, which changes the outcome of this play each night.
The 1980s music will be played by a band composed of OHS student musicians and a DJ.
Klubertanz said all the classics of the era will be represented.
"Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, Tommy Tutone, Hall and Oates will be played - and there is even a surprise visit from M.C. Hammer and an acoustic performance by Pat Benatar as the evening progresses," he promised.
Certainly the interactive nature of the show poses some challenges for the director and actors, alike.
"This has been a really difficult show to rehearse because, while there are scripted sections of the show, the bulk of the play is improvised based on each night's particular audience. Not knowing how each audience will respond makes things tricky for our actors," he explained.
"They have to be prepared for anything the audience throws at them, which makes their jobs, and mine, exponentially more difficult, but also more rewarding and fun too,' he said.
Students have been preparing by studying improv basics and playing a lot of improv games.
"We had the incredible opportunity to work with the founder of Milwaukee's highly respected Comedy Sportz - Dick Chudnow - who came out to work with the kids on helping to create better characters through improv. He also gave them a lot of tips for how to 'expect the unexpected,' " Klubertanz said.
"He told them to "always say yes" through their work, to listen to their scene partners very carefully while on stage and to commit to the work they do 100 percent. It was a real thrill working with Mr. Chudnow, and we are hoping it pays off when we have an audience in a few weeks!"

If you go

What: OHS spring production of "The Awesome '80s Prom"
When: Opens at 7:30 p.m. April 28, and also runs at 7:30 p.m. April 29, 30, May 5, 6 and 7
Where: All performances are in the OAC, but the interactive show will take place on the OAC stage, so seating is limited to 200 people per night.
Cost: Tickets are $7.50 for high school students, $9.50 for college students and seniors, $12.50 for adults. Service fees apply on all ticket sales
Info: Call the OAC Box Office (262) 560-3172 or visit www.theoac.net

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