“That’s Entertainment”
September 16-17-18-19 at 1 pm and Friday Sept.18 at 7:30pm
at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium
Santa Cruz Follies Presents:
“That’s Entertainment”
Directed & Choreographed by
Jo Luttringer
Producer, Tony Mendivil
Music Director, Kris Wheeler
Photographs provided by: Bari Miller Photography
Music /Rehearsal Engineer: Jim Idleman
Dance Captain, Pat Dodson
Property Managers: Ivan & Pat Dodson
The Santa Cruz Follies is a two hour variety presentation of the talents and theatrical skills of members of this prestigious organization. The planning and production of this show demands the teamwork of over 100 people. We work hand in hand with local businesses to provide you a memorable visit to our fair city. An in-house team works at designing and mailing advance advertising to Tour Bus Operators all over the states of California and Nevada. A reservation team stands ready to respond to any and all requests for information on this extravaganza.
Each year, just about the time school starts, Santa Cruz Follies rolls into the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium in Santa Cruz, CA. It’s no easy task to load and unload sets and props and get everything set up for presentation of yet another annual review of some of the most fantastic acts ever presented on stage or in movies.
The cast members also serve as stage hands during the move in and while striking the set, so buy their share of the show in more ways than one. The show is conceived of and designed and produced by folk who have resigned from all walks of life and want to keep active doing all the things they wanted to do when they were working 9-5 jobs.
Dancers are trained, rehearsed until they’re ready to drop, then placed on stage to give you one of the leggiest shows around. The staccato of taps blending in precision to the music gives you a sample of ear candy that can’t be beat.
…….”We provide an affinity group in Santa Cruz for people 50 and over interested in learning to participate in the performing arts. Professional performers teach new-comers the rudiments of dance, singing, and live theater production through classes and periodic musical variety shows. Auditions and rehearsals take place during the 5 months leading up to the September “Santa Cruz Follies” show performed at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium. The show is the culmination of a year of training and planning to demonstrate the abilities, talents and dedication of their performance and production skills.”
The Show’s Artistic Staff Biographies
Jo Luttringer, Director of the Santa Cruz Follies 2009
Jo was born in Arizona before the desert sprouted subdivisions. Her mother taught dancing and allowed Jo to join advanced classes at an early age. She attended Arizona State University as a speech and drama major. She also had the opportunity to do summer stock in Colorado along with performing in many community theaters productions throughout the years.
She is married, the mother of two children, and worked in the electronics industry since it’s infancy.
Jo found her niche when she joined the Market Street Theater about seven years ago. She has performed and directed many of their monthly shows including “Just For Fun” earlier this year. She was the director of the successful 2006 Follies “Let Yourself Go” and has been selected to direct the 2009 Follies called “That’s Entertainment”. She’s a lifetime member of the Market Street Theater and serves on the executive board as past president. She plans on continuing working and performing in any of their venues for years to come.
Kris Wheeler, Musical Director of the Follies for 2009
From a very early age Kris was taught by her family the love of music. She is well known and has been involved in the musical scene in Santa Cruz for many years performing in barbershop, community and church venues.
Besides performing in the Follies as an extremely talented singer and dancer, Kris has been it’s music director for the past 10 years, selecting, teaching and conducting in all musical rehearsals.
Along with the task of musical director, she has also undertaken the very difficult job of costuming the entire Follies cast. Her talents at finding costumes at a reasonable price are truly out of the ordinary!
Kris works in the center’s office, organizing and scheduling the many events that occur there. She is everyone’s “go to” person. With her organizational and multitasking skills she enables the center and it’s myriad of activities to run efficiently, smoothly and professionally.
