That's why the Pohls are presenting Lewis's "G.I. Jukebox: The '40s Stage Door Canteen" this month at the Crowne Plaza Cabaret Dinner Theatre in Bethel Park. And the occasion is a special one. Ten years ago, the Pohls staged the world premiere of this revue-style valentine to songs, vocalists and musicians from one of the two decades that the Big Band sound flourished in American culture.
Original cast members Rebecca Smykal and Corey Nile Wingard return along with a pair of "G.I. Jukebox" newcomers, Greta Englert and Tony Glantz.
This time, Wingard also sits in the director's chair, and he loves the show for its "great harmonies and funny stuff," he said. Jude and Shirley invited him to handle the choreography, which he did by "adding my own touches based on watching (footage of) groups from that era."
Among the songs remembered in this jitterbug down memory lane are "Moonlight Serenade," "I'll Be Seeing You" and Wingard's personal favorites, "Serenade in Blue" and "Long Ago and Far Away."
"G.I. Jukebox" opens Friday night and continues through June 5 at Crowne Plaza. For reservations to dinner and the show, call 724-746-1178.
Boy wonder
The cast of Pittsburgh CLO's upcoming "Oliver!" recently grew to include Washington's Nicholas Staso, only nine years old but already a few steps out of the neophyte phase. He's in his second year as a student at the CLO Academy, and last summer, he had a role in CLO's production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."
Nick has acted on stages in this area, too, beginning with his debut four years ago as part of the Kids Theater Works group at Washington Mall. Later, he acted in "Sarah, Plain and Tall" at Little Lake Theatre and "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" for the Old Schoolhouse Players.
The young trouper doesn't know yet what character he'll play in "Oliver!" - a workhouse orphan or one of Fagan's scruffy pickpockets.
Whichever role he has, Nick will find himself in good company from the first rehearsal to the final performance. Last week, CLO sent out a press release announcing that the leads are Patrick Page as Fagan, Christian Whelen as Bill Sykes, Kate Shindle as Nancy, John Treacy Egan as Mr. Bumble and "Ugly Betty" actor Mark Indelicato as the Artful Dodger.
"Oliver!" opens June 1 at Benedum Center.
Killer instincts
Relationships can be murder, as the characters in "Deathtrap" might testify should good fortune allow them to survive the minefield of lies that follows a trail of deception. And what about those actual stabs in the back?
Ira Levin's twist-and-turn thriller, an Americanized "Diabolique" with shades of the British hit "Sleuth," opens tomorrow night in Carnegie and stars Howard Elson as a prolific mystery writer depressed over a lingering case of writer's block, Lynne Franks as his wealthy wife, and Jeff Way as a protégé who is either secretly cunning or oblivious to a fault. Ellen Ulmer and Robert O'Toole also appear.
Shane Valenzi directs "Deathtrap," currently at number 35 on the list of Broadway's longest-running shows, for Stage 62. It opens Friday night at the group's longtime home, the Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall on Beechwood Avenue.
For reservations, call 412-429-6262.
Playing in style
The people at Off the Wall Theater have their landlord, attorney Charles Kurowski, to thank for the beautiful piano Amy Doria plays in the company's latest production, "The Club." It was, for years, stored in the basement of what is now Off the Wall and once even managed to rise from the ashes of a fire that destroyed other items in the building.
"We had to break down the piano into 12 pieces, remove the insides, move the individual pieces upstairs and assemble the piano around an electronic keyboard," recalled Hans Gruenert, Off the Wall's managing director. But it was worth the effort, he said, adding "You see the results."
Doug Shanaberger covers theater for the Observer-Reporter. He can be reached at ds7f@andrew.cmu.edu