Annie Sheehan, Kelly Sina, Gail Rastorfer in Suds. Photo: HSRT

The rocking '60s soap opera Suds to open June 26 at the Knickerbocker

HOLLAND – The Hope Summer Repertory Theatre will open the second show of its 38th season, Suds – The Rocking 60's Soap Opera Musical, created by Melinda Gilb, Steve Gunderson and Bryan Scott, on June 26 at 8 p.m. at Holland's downtown Knickerbocker Theatre.

This marks the third year that HSRT has extended its venues into the Knickerbocker Theatre, whose name means "best in life." The theater, which recently had its ceiling refurbished, was built in 1911, and ever since has been the home to various Hope College groups such as the Jack Ridl Visiting Writer's Series, the Great Performance Series and dance concerts, as well as a venue for outside arts projects and musicians.

Suds is a feel-good musical about Cindy, the attendant at the Wash-O-Rama, who meets three guardian angels who want to teach her lessons about life and love. Follow the advice of the angels through classic hits such as I Will Follow Him, It's My Party, Please Mr. Postman, Respect, Wishin' and Hopin' and Secret Agent Man. Find out what Cindy will do as she faces a birthday party without a boyfriend in sight, and what happens if Cindy actually does meet Mr. Right!

Gail Rastorfer, playing Marge, one of the guardian angels, is a member of the Actors' Equity Association and Screen Actor's Guild. She is based out of Chicago and returns to HSRT after 14 years, having first appeared on HSRT's stage as Gwendolyn in The Importance of Being Earnest and then as Lily in The Secret Garden. Since then, Rastorfer has had success on stage and on camera. Recent theater credits include Comedy of Errors with Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Lend Me A Tenor at Theatre At The Center and Shear Madness at The Chicago Theatre. Rastorfer also acts with The Shakespeare Project of Chicago performing staged readings of classical works free to the public at the Newberry Library.

Kelly Sina, playing Deedee, the youngest guardian angel, is a 2008 Hope College graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in musical theater. This marks her third season with HSRT, which includes the role of Meg in Little Women. Previous HSRT credits include in Godspell, The Til Midnight Cabaret, She Loves Me, Oliver!, Midsummer Night's Dream and several CPT performances. She was also recently seen in The Producers at The Skylight Opera Theatre in Milwaukee, WI.

The Man is played by another returning HSRT company member, Michael Haller. Haller is currently pursuing his BFA in musical theater at Ithaca College, and just returned from a semester abroad studying theater in London. Last summer he played Frankie in Forever Plaid, Gremio in Kiss Me, Kate and the Frog in Petite Rouge. This summer Haller will also appear as Laurie in Little Women.

Anne Sheehan is making her HSRT debut as Cindy, the Wash-O-Rama attendant, and can also been seen later this season as Daisy in Dog Park: the Musical. She is a recent graduate of Bradley University where she appeared in Urinetown, Pirates of Penzance, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, 42nd Street and Tommy.

Returning for his 16th season, Fred Tessler, resident music director, rejoins the HSRT family to serve as director, music director and pianist/conductor for Suds. Tessler has worked on over 40 productions for HSRT, including directing productions of Honk!, Dames At Sea and 10 cabaret shows (eight of which were original creations) and music directing Kiss Me Kate, Babes In Arms and Two Gents. He is on the faculty of Wagner College, where this past year he directed productions of tick, tick…BOOM! and Master Class, and has been an artist in residence at The Stratford Festival of Canada, where he will return in the fall.

Performances continue throughout the summer on June 27, July 1, 8, 27, 30, August 5, 8, 10, and 13.

Tickets are on sale through the DeVos Fieldhouse ticket office. Prices range from $8-$26.

The ticket office is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and beginning at noon on Saturdays. On performance dates, the DeWitt Ticket Office will be open through intermission. The ticket office is located in DeWitt Cultural Center at 12th Street and Columbia Avenue.

For tickets call the ticket office at 616-395-7890. For more information visit the HSRT website at www.hope.edu/hsrt.

The Knickerbocker Theatre is located in Holland's downtown on 8th St.

Performance Information

Show times