Category: 2008 Cheaper by the Dozen

  Union Street Players closed the curtain on "Cheaper by the Dozen" for the last time on Sunday afternoon. The successful production, helmed by first time director Ann McCullough Kelly, was well received by audiences.

Attendance figures for the four show run were:
Thu Dec 4: 144
Fri Dec 5: 241
Sat Dec 6: 191
Sun Dec 7: 161
Total: 737

Cast members and crew struck the set after the Sunday afternoon performance. The Director and Assistant Director, Cyndi Atkins, served goodies and gave gifts to the cast and crew. USP now has a hiatus for a few months and will begin production on the Tulip Time show, Letters from Pella in March.

Photo: Mark Moreland plays Frank Bunker Gilbreth in "Cheaper by the Dozen"

  It may have been a cold night, but a warm crowd of 144 filled the Joan Kuyper Farver Auditorium in the Pella Community Center with laughter for opening night of Union Street Player's "Cheaper by the Dozen." There are three performances left. Friday and Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. All tickets are $5.00 and may be purchased at the door.

  Mark Moreland (right) plays Frank B. Gilbreth and Jana DeZwarte (left) plays Mrs. Fitzgerald in USP's production of "Cheaper by the Dozen" December 4-7, 2008.

Union Street Players' production of "Cheaper by the Dozen" opens this Thursday, December 4 and will run through the weekend. The family friendly story of Frank and Lillian Gilbreth and their twelve children is sure to put a smile on your face and bring warmth to your heart this holiday season.

All performances will take place on the stage of the Joan Kuyper Farver Auditorium in the Pella Community Center (712 Union Street, Pella, IA). Shows will be at 7:00 p.m. Thursday through Saturday (Dec 4-6) with a matinee performance Sunday at 2:00 p.m. (Dec 7).

As a Christmas gift to the community, the Board and members of Union Street Players have reduced the price of tickets for this production. Tickets for all seats at all shows are only $5.00. Tickets are available at the Pella Community Services office in the Pella Community Center through Friday (7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). Tickets may also be purchased by phone (641-620-9107, ask for Tom or Wendy) through Wednesday using Visa/Mastercard/Discover. Remaining tickets may be purchased at the door of any performance.

Tickets for Union Street Players’ production of "Cheaper by the Dozen" are now on sale! The show will be presented December 4-6 at 7:00 p.m. with a 2:00 p.m.Sunday matinee on December 7th. The production coincides with the Pella Garden Club’s annual Tour of Homes.USP has, once again, lowered ticket prices for the family friendly holiday show as a gift to the community. All tickets are only $5.00.

"Cheaper by the Dozen," under the direction of Anne McCullough Kelly, is based on a true story. Frank and Lillian Gilbreath were pioneers in the field of motion study and helped shape modern industry (there is a permanent exhibit honoring the couple in the Smithsonian Institute). They had twelve children and used their home as a living laboratory for their studies and experiments on efficiency. The play tells the piognant story of their daughter’s coming of age and the strained relationship with her ailing father.

Tickets may be purchased in the Pella Community Center Office located at 712 Union Street in Pella. The office is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tickets may also be purchased over the phone using Visa, Mastercard or Discover by calling          641-620-9107        .

Top Photo:Union Street Players rehearse a scene from their upcoming production of “Cheaper by the Dozen”. (L-R) Liz Core, Caleb Blom, Jacob Cowman, Megan Atkins, Ridge McGinley, Jallisa Morgan, and Calvin VanDonselaar.

Middle Photo: Mark Moreland and Liz Core play Frank Gilbreath and his daughter, Anne.

Bottom Photo: (L-R) Liz Core, Madison Vander Well, Jallisa Morgan, Jacob Martin, Jacob Cowman, Megan Atkins, Caleb Blom, Calvin VanDonselaar, Ridge McGinley, and Mark Moreland.

Rehearsals began this past Monday for Union Street Players’ holiday production, Cheaper by the Dozen. Director Anne McCullough Kelly welcomed the cast and production staff to her home for the initial read-through and blocking began on Tuesday night.

Cheaper by the Dozen is based on the true story of Frank Gibreth who pioneered time motion study in the 1920s. Believing that everything could be done faster, more efficiently and more productively, Gilbreth tested his theories in his own home with his 12 children. The play was based on the memiors of his own children. It is a heartwarming story in which an ailing Gilbreth must come to terms with the coming-of-age of his own daughter.

Performances of Cheaper by the Dozen are scheduled for the first weekend of December in conjunction with Pella’s annual Tour of Homes. As a Christmas gift to the community, Union Street Player will reduce the price of all tickets to $5.00.

Please watch www.unionstreetplayers.com and local media outlets to find out when tickets will go on sale!

Union Street Players is pleased to announce the cast list for our holiday show, Cheaper by the Dozen. Anne McCullough Kelly, the shows director, spent all of last week making tough decisions after she had a wonderfully large turnout at auditions.

Thanks to everyone who auditioned! If you didn’t get a part, please consider helping back stage, with set construction, or with running lights!

CAST:
Mr. Gilbreth (Dad): Mark Moreland
Mrs. Gilbreth (Mother): Rebecca Claus
Anne: Liz Core
Ernestine: Madison Vander Well
Martha: Jalissa Morgan
Frank: Jacob Martin
Bill: Jacob Cowman
Lillian: Megan Atkins
Fred: Caleb Blom
Dan: Calvin VanDonselaar
Jackie: Ridge McGinley
Dr. Burton: Tom Vander Well
Ms. Brill: Lisa Morgan
Mrs. Fitzgerald: Jana De Zwarte
Larry: Dan Fynaardt
Joe Scales: Sam Palmer