When Alpine Theatre Project launches their production of The Full Monty this week, it’s not just professional cast members who may be stripping. Several prominent Whitefish citizens, including the mayor and a state senator, have been drafted to make cameo appearances in the show. “Hopefully these cameos will get the community involved and ‘make it personal,’” said Nick Spear, marketing coordinator for the company.
The show, which runs July 15-27 in the Whitefish Performing Arts Center, contains a small speaking role. “There is one line, but they may embellish; we’re gonna play it by ear,” said Spear. When a few down-and-out steelworkers hold auditions for male dancers to join them in their strip-tease routine, guys show up to audition. Each performance night, one auditioner is played by a different local.
Audiences may get a different show each night, as the director has left it up to each actor for how much is bared. “The plot of The Full Monty hinges so much upon characters that are going to perform for people they know, that to actually get people from the community that the audience knows should really make it real for them,” added Spear.
Who can you see from Whitefish in the production?
July 16 Ross Strauser, owner of Whitefishradio.com
July 18 Sean Frampton, attorney from Morrison & Frampton Law Office
July 20 Mike Jenson, Mayor of Whitefish
July 22 Andy Blanton, chef/owner of Café Kandahar
July 23 Charlie Abell, CEO of the Whitefish Credit Union
July 25 State Senator Dan Weinberg of Whitefish
Other nights feature Kalispell notables:
July 15 John Zoltek, music director of the Glacier Symphony
July 17 Tom Donnelly, publisher of the Flathead Beacon
July 19 Mac Bledsoe, author of Parenting with Dignity
July 24 Bill Goodman, Proprietor of Red’s Wines and Blues
July 27 Paul Wacholz, Owner of Fun Beverage
The actor for the July 26 show will be announced later.
Shows run Tuesday through Saturday at 8 p.m., and Sunday at 3p.m. For tickets, go to www.alpinetheatreproject.org or call 406/862-SHOW (7469).