'Anything Goes' Opens at The Mtka Theatre

is taking to the high seas— putting on Anything Goes at the Arts Center on 7. This production marks the on-stage reunion of two Twin Cities musical theater favorites—Jody Briskey as Reno Sweeney, the evangelist-turned-nightclub singer, and Tod Petersen as Sir Evelyn Oakleigh, the wealthy and soon-to-be wed Englishman.

“I auditioned for Tod’s A Christmas Carole Petersen a few years ago and the friendship bond began,” said Briskey.

“We have done so many great shows together," Petersen followed-up. "I actually call Jody my theater wife!” 

The friends’ credits together include Midlife: The Crisis Musical at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres and Gypsy at Theater Latté Da, a production that earned Briskey a Star Tribune’s Outstanding Actress in a Musical award.

Joining Petersen and Briskey will be C. Ryan Shipley, previously seen on the Arts Cetner on 7 stage as Robert Martin in The Drowsy Chaperone last summer, and Brooke Kilgarriff, Boston Conservatory graduate and also Miss Minnesota 2009. 

In addition to the popular title track, Minnetonka Theatre’s interpretation of the 1962 revival of Anything Goes  will deliver songs “You’re the Top”, “I Get a Kick Out of You”, “Let’s Misbehave”, and “It’s DeLovely”.

Anything Goes made its debut in 1934 and has inspired two film versions and five revivals, including the 1988 Tony Award winner for Best Revival and the Roundabout Theatre Company’s production that has earned 9 Tony nominations since opening on Broadway in April. Music and lyrics are by Cole Porter.

The Minnetonka Theatre Anything Goes cast:

Reno Sweeney: Jody Briskey

Sir Evelyn Oakleigh: Tod Petersen

Billy Crocker: C. Ryan Shipley

Hope Harcourt: Brooke Kilgarriff

Moonface Martin: Rob Knutson

Bonnie: Katie Allen

Mrs. Harcourt: Maureen Kvam

Elisha J. Whitney: Conn McCartan

Luke: Steve Frankenfield

John: David Frankenfield

Matthew: Jake Frankenfield

Bishop Henry T. Dobson: Mike Dimond

Ship’s Captain: Greg Frankenfield

Ship’s Purser: Tom Langseth

Reno’s Angels:

Charity- Hailey Sowden

Purity- Kari Nelson

Chastity- Krysti Wiita

Virtue- Elly Stahlke

Sunshine- Ashley Slattery

Faith-  Jenny Crist

Honor-Christina Leines

Featured Tappers: Norris Anderson, Ryan Fargo, Joey Gonsowski, Michael J. Miller, Jeffrey Nelson, France A. Roberts

Girl 1: Oriana Lada

Girl 2: Elissa Teal

Girl 3: Clare Seeman

Cameraman: Eric Sargent

Reporter: Daniel Vinitsky

Chorus – Ship’s crew, passengers, reporters: Jill Alton, Max Avalos, Mark Battles, Terrell Beaudry, Katie Bleskacek, Diane Crooks Fernald, Mallory Dubois, Ginny Fogg, Norma Garfin, Jameson Kummer, Tipper Langseth, Krin McMillen, Kelsey Peterjohn, Chelsea Reller, Kelly Rohde, Becky Salita, Annalisa Schaffer, Molly Shields, Bridget Suiss, Ben Swenson-Klatt, Kyle Szarsynski, Brendan Veerman, Sam Vinistsky, Brooke Wahlstrom, Hannah Weinberg, Kitty West-McCallion

*** 

If you go:

Dates: July 21, 22, 23, 29, 30, and August 5, 6 at 7:30 pm, July 31 at 4:00 pm and August 4 at 2:00 pm

Tickets: $17 for adults, $15 for seniors, and $12 for youth

Produced by: Minnetonka Theatre

Directed by: Kent Knutson

Choreography: Michael Matthew Ferrell

Location: Arts Center on 7, Main Stage

Box Office: 952.401.5898 or online at www.minnetonkatheatre.com