If you like your entertainment to include a surrey with the fringe on top, a multicolored coat or a pulsating musical beat, Woodminster Summer Musicals has you covered.
Located in Joaquin Miller Park’s picturesque Woodminster Amphitheater in the Oakland hills, this year’s lineup includes: “Oklahoma!” (July 6-15); “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” (Aug. 3-12); and “In The Heights” (Aug. 31-Sept. 9).
“We try to find something to please all of our patrons,” says Joel Schlader, who will direct all three shows in the company’s 52nd season. “About one-third of our patrons like the old classics with another one-third craving new works and the final one-third wanting something the kids will enjoy.”
Joel not only directs the shows, he is part of the wildly talented Schlader family. His mother and father, Harriet and Jim Schlader, took over the city-owned Woodminster Amphitheater in 1967, bringing new and continued life to the scenic venue.
“We were all active in the theater from an early age,” recalls Joel, the youngest of four. “If our parents needed a kid on stage, it would be one or all of us. Everyone, except my oldest brother, Tim, loves being involved with theater. Tim was really good but never liked it that much. He decided to become a policeman instead. He’s now retired.
“My sister Jody Jaron has her own ballet company back in New Jersey, where she lives with her family. But she usually manages to get out to choreograph our final show of each season, and Todd still loves being on stage. He’s been in over 100 shows at Woodminster and will be in the first two this season. Tim supports us by coming to each show.”
Joining Todd in “Oklahoma!” which features Harriet Schlader as choreographer, is Joel’s daughter, Madison, 13. “I’d love to get my 12-year-old son, Peyton, involved as well. When they’re on stage, you always know where they are,” Joel adds. Joel’s wife, Anne, adds to the family theater dynamics by running the concession stand at the theater.
Immersed in rehearsals for “Oklahoma!” Joel notes how organized you need to be to mount major musicals with only 15 rehearsals. “You really need to have all your ducks in a row before starting rehearsals because as soon as one show opens, you start rehearsals for the next one. Both you and the actors need to hit the ground running.”
One of those actors is Gina Velez. New to Woodminster, Velez found out about auditions from a former college classmate. “She had done several seasons at Woodminster and had wonderful things to say about her experience,” she says. “I was very fortunate to be cast in all three shows.”
In “Oklahoma!” Velez plays Ado Annie, a role she has always admired.
“She is so honest and comfortable with herself,” explains Velez, who previously played the part of Laurey in the show. “For a long time, I was always cast as the ingénue, and to be able to do Ado Annie is so refreshing. She’s so well-rounded, a really meaty character.”
Others in the cast include Nikita Burshteyn (Curly), Dwight Mahabir (Jud), Marie Shell (Aunt Eller) and Jennifer Mitchell (Laurey). While Joel plans on doing a traditional version of “Oklahoma!” he hopes to add more depth to the relationship between Jud and Curly. “Jud is often played as not being very bright and someone that Curly can easily manipulate. I want to change that and show that Jud knows what Curly is doing, change the dynamics and add more emotion. We’ll also pack the stage with some fine dancers. We have a cast of 47, the most we’ve ever had.”
Although Joel may adjust “Oklahoma!” here and there, he’s adamant about remaining true to Rodgers and Hammerstein’s vision. “Everything about this show matches perfectly — the lyrics, the dialogue, the dancing. It has so much positive energy. I don’t want to tinker with that.”
One new thing audience members can expect when attending Woodminster Amphitheater are the new box seats compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and a new bathroom on the lower level. The company has also been making adjustments to the sound system and will have a new sound designer and technical designer for the season.
Each show runs two weekends: Thursdays and Sundays at 7 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. at Woodminster Amphitheater, 3540 Sanborn Drive in Oakland’s Joaquin Miller Park. For tickets and directions, go to www.woodminster.com or call 510-531-9597.