The true spirit of community theater can be found in Platteville Community Theatre’s upcoming production of “Bingo, The Winning Musical” because community theater cannot happen without community support.
“Bingo, The Winning Musical” will be performed at the Platteville Municipal Building Auditorium, 75 N. Bonson St., Friday and Saturday, April 22–23 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 24 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 and available in advance at Driftless Market, Heiser Hardware, and Cheryl’s Costume Closet in Platteville or at the door the night of the performance. Will Call tickets are available by calling 348-4882 or emailing costumegoddess@centurytel.net. Will Call tickets will be released 20 minutes prior to the performance time if not picked up by that time.
The cast of “Bingo, The Winning Musical” comes from many different parts of the Platteville community but share one thing in common — a connection to the community.
The cast includes UW–Platteville faculty and staff members Dr. Laura Bayless, Dr. Jennifer DeCoste, and Tyler Tollefson (as Vern, Patsy and Sam). Connie Steinhoff, who plays Bernice Boodalay in the show, is the recently retired Platteville Senior Center director. Summer Padley, who works at Driftless Market on Main Street in Platteville, is Alison Boodalay. JoAnne Schlicher as Honey and Cindy Voigts as Minnie (both active community theater members and long time Platteville residents) round out the cast. Directors Cheryl Schmieder and Celeste Moore (also active community theater members and long time Platteville residents) manage this diverse cast.
Support from local organizations and businesses is vital to the success of community theater. The Platteville Main Street Program has been instrumental in helping to get this project off the ground and initiated a unique program with its “Main Street Bingo” promotion. They also solicited prizes for the show (audience members can win prizes) and donations to help offset the costs of the musical. Area businesses have been supportive through their donations; most notably Tom Sigwarth, owner of Platteville’s Country Kitchen and Dairy Queen. The Sunday performance of “Bingo, The Winning Musical” will be Dilly Bar Sunday, with audience members enjoying a Dilly Bar treat after the performance.
Schmieder describes “Bingo, The Winning Musical” as “a splashy, zippy, fun new musical comedy. It centers around a group of die-hard bingo players who stop at nothing to miss their weekly game. In between the number calling, strange rituals and fierce competitions, love blossoms and long lost friends reunite. These lovable characters spring to life with a smart, funny script and bouncy, hummable score.”
Best friends and bingo pals Vern, Honey and Patsy brave a terrible storm to attend the yearly celebration of the birth of Bingo and tribute to its founder, Edwin S. Lowe. As the storm knocks out power at the Bingo Hall, Patsy and Honey remind each other of the ominous night 15 years ago that began in the same way. In flashback, Honey tells us about the night Vern and her best friend, Bernice, had their falling-out. Bernice’s daughter Alison enters the Bingo hall in disguise. Bernice’s health is failing, and Alison is determined, with the help of Bingo, to reunite her mother with her long-lost best friend.
“Bingo, The Winning Musical!” is rated PG-13.
