THE STOPS
A Musical by Eric Lane Barnes and Drew Emery
Directed by Jason Paul Smith
Music Direction by Nick Sula
Choreography by Jesse Pierce
Stage Manager Annalee Johnson
Cast
Kevin Bishop (Ginny)
John B. Boss (Understudy)
Steve Kimbrough (Euglena)
Paul Motondo (Rose)
JUNE 5, 2010 at 8pm
JUNE
12, 2010 at 8pm
JUNE 19, 2010 at 8pm
JUNE 26, 2010
SKOKIE THEATRE MUSIC FOUNDATION
7924 N. Lincoln Avenue • Skokie, Illinois 60077
Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door.
Call 847-677-7761 or visit skokietheatre.com
Directed by Jason Paul Smith
Play Synopsis:
Ginny, Euglena, and Rose come to Skokie for “one night only” in order to give a benefit concert for their mentor Dale Meadows, a church music director and song-writer, who has recently been ousted from his position because of his sexuality.
These three ladies of NALOG (North American Lady Organists Guild) spread the gospel by singing a number of church songs, ranging the comedy gamut from “The Potluck,” “It’s Raining Amen,” “A Bossa Nova for Jehovah,” “Hallelujah Aloha,” and “The Fundamental.” Ultimately, the three ladies of different faiths find ways to come together despite their theological differences, united in the love of music and the gospel.
Drag has never been closer to God than in this hilarious new musical by Eric Lane Barnes and Drew Emery, which uses wickedly camp song-and-dance routines to explore religious homophobia. The plot follows the Stops--a trio of church-going, singing queens--as they come to the aid of their mentor, a music director fired for his sexual orientation. Composed of a Nazarene, a Southern Baptist, and a Jew, the Stops tend to disagree--but they ultimately come together in angelic three-part harmony to ponder everything from divine love to the age-old question, "If God drops acid, does he see people?" --Marissa Oberlander
Musical pulls out all ‘Stops’ for laughs
June 11, 2010 BY MISHA DAVENPORT Staff Reporter
Look out, Chicago, “The Stops” — a trio of tight-harmony singing ladies from the North American Lady Organists Guild (or NALOG) — are headed your way.
The show, from award-winning composer (and Lifeline Theatre alum) Eric Lane Barnes, was workshopped in Chicago in 1999 and finally makes its debut here after hugely popular engagements in Houston; Madison, Wis.; Columbus, Ohio; and Richmond, Va.
» Click to enlarge image
Rose (Paul Motondo, from left), Euglena (Steve Kimbrough) and Ginny (Kevin Bishop) bring their musical magic to the Skokie Theatre in “The Stops.”
The Stops’ Rose Rabinowitz Rigdale (played by Paul Motondo) sat down with us for a little coffee klatsch. Here’s what she had to say:
Question: How’d a nice Jewish girl from New York end up playing the organ and preaching the Gospel?
Rose Rabinowitz Rigdale: Though I was born a rabbi’s daughter, I married a Catholic, and when that didn’t work out, I became a Unitarian. The rest is history.
Q: Tell us about the two other members of your group.
RRR: Ginny is a Southern Baptist and a party girl at heart. She knows how to mix a cocktail and have a good time. Euglena — well, let’s just say she’s a Nazarene and leave it at that.
Q: And your ages?
RRR: Bubelah, never ask a lady her age. Let’s just say we’re all on the precipice of being card-carrying members of the AARP and leave it at that.
Q: How did you come to form the group the Stops?
RRR: We met through our mutual love of music. We all attended a NALOG convention, where they raffled off a private meeting with renowned church composer Dale Meadows, and each of us won. While we were waiting to meet him, we started singing one of his hymns. He came in, christened us “the Stops” and insisted we take on his music.
Q: We understand you’re like the Blues Brothers because you’re on a mission from God, right?
RRR: That’s correct. We are on a musical mission across these United States to protest the excommunication of our mentor Dale Meadows from the Quad Cities Faith Tabernacle.
Q: Why is Meadows being excommunicated?
RRR: Dale has been writing church music for a long time and more recently he decided to incorporate some of his life experiences into church music. And as catchy as “It’s Raining Amen” is, some people seem to have a problem with Dale’s sexuality.
Q: In the show, you have a song about all the food people bring to church socials. What’s your favorite recipe?
RRR: I’m not much of a cook. Though I did concoct this fabulous dish that pays homage to both my ex-husband’s Catholic faith and my own Jewish roots. I call it Mazeltoffey. It’s a combination of Manischewitz matzo meal, some macaroons and mayonnaise. And I’m talking real mayonnaise, dear. Not that crappy Miracle Whip.