‘Dr. Dolittle JR’ takes to the stage in four weekend shows starting Thursday
Rogers City Community Theatre’s 2024 summer youth production, “Doctor Dolittle Junior “will hit the stage for Thursday for the first of four performances. The play, presented at the Rogers Theater, runs Thursday through Sunday, Aug. 15-18. The fun begins at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings with a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m.
“I am so lucky to be leading this year’s troupe,” related the director, Jackie Noffze Supina. “This group is older and smaller, but they lack nothing. Their voices are beautiful and bigger than ever. The energy these kids bring to practice has been so fun. It’s a real family affair, too. We are grateful to parents for helping with props and set moving. Through the additional assistance of fellow RCCT board members, I believe we created a “movie quality” production that will be a real crowd-pleaser. I am so grateful to be here with my children and this group of talented performers, and I can’t wait to see them perform for you.”
Brooke Crawford portrays Dr. John Dolittle with Adelyn Taylor playing Madeline Mugg and Walter Janowiec as Tommy Stubbins. Other cast members include Hannah Meharg, Maggie Ryan, Bella Whitford, Ashlynn Coburn, Madison McFray, Audrey Coburn, Samantha Coburn, Lexy Kennedy, Paisley Brandt, Daisy McFray, Brooke Johnson, Helana Burns, Avonlee Johnson, Ivy Janowiec, Jordan Janowiec, Penelope Supina, Caroline Supina, Hudson Paterson and Lilly Janowiec.
Antelopes will lope, ostriches will fan, kangaroos will do what kangaroos can, polar bears will wear top hats, leopards with spots will wear spats and hyenas will laugh as long as a long giraffe when area youth present “Doctor Dolittle JR.” The whimsical musical follows the adventures of a small-town doctor in Victorian England who uses his special gift of being able to talk with animals to learn more about the world. “Doctor Dolittle JR.” is part of the Music Theatre International (MTI) Broadway Junior Collection®, MTI’s special collection of musicals for younger performers that includes “JR.” titles, 60-minute musicals for performance by middle school children; and “kids” titles, 30-minute musicals for performance by elementary school children.
“In this musical, Doctor Dolittle becomes the world’s greatest animal doctor by learning how to speak the thousands of different dialects of creatures. This ability to connect and communicate sets him off on a fantastic life adventure. Similarly, through the common ‘language’ of this musical theater production, students with a wide-range of interests and backgrounds are working as a team to create something together. We hope their audience outnumbers all the animals in the animal kingdom.” said Freddie Gershon, CEO of MTI.
Featuring a book, music and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse, “Doctor Dolittle JR.” is based on the Doctor Dolittle stories by Hugh Lofting and also on the Twentieth Century Fox film staring Rex Harrison, which won Academy Awards for “Best Original Song” and “Best Visual Effects” and earned an Academy Award nomination for “Best Picture.”
Set in the year 1837, the musical follows Dr. John Dolittle, who is loved by everyone in his Western England fishing village community, Puddle-By-The-Sea. After a particularly unsuccessful appointment with a not-so-friendly General Bellowes, Dr. Dolittle realizes his calling and vows to become an animal doctor. With the help of a wise parrot named Polynesia, Dr. Dolittle begins to learn how to speak to animals.
Five years later, Dr. Dolittle has learned almost 500 animal languages, has a thriving practice and is planning a grand adventure to seek out the oldest and wisest creature ever to inhabit the Earth: the great pink sea snail. However, through the course of fundraising, Dr. Dolittle makes good on a promise to help a seal escape the circus and reuni
This act of friendship lands Dr. Dolittle in court and eventually in an asylum. Dr. Dolittle must find a way to free himself so that he may find the great pink sea snail and gain a greater understanding of the world and its inhabitants.
Crew members include assistant directors Jeff Janowiec and April Coburn, choreographers Jackie Supina, Caroline Supina and Anna Nadolsky, stage managers April Colburn and Baylee Lijewski and the tech crew of Dan Janowiec, Alex Carnecki and Gabbi May.
“Doctor Dolittle JR.” is presented through a special arrangement with MTO (MTI). Tickets are $14 for adults and $6 for students. The box office opens one hour before each showtime.
