Genny JonesGenny has been involved with Fendig Summer Theatre since the beginning. She attended the first production, The Pied Piper, as a kindergartner. In 2017, she served as Music Director, playing the piano and leading the pit orchestra for Hello, Dolly! According to God’s perfect timing, this was the 30th anniversary of our first production of Hello, Dolly! In 1987, she also led the pit band while accompanying the show.
The Hobbit (1977) was the first play Genny acted in. Appearing as a spider on stage in the RCHS Large Lecture Hall, searching for an invisible Bilbo Baggins who was actually right there in plain sight, was a big thrill. Genny first played piano in the RCHS Auditorium two years later, in The Music Man. Portraying Amaryllis, the little girl who always seems to play a wrong note or two, she performed “Goodnight, My Someone,” wishing on a star for her true love. Talking on the telephone with her friends in “Telephone Hour” was the highlight of Bye, Bye Birdie (1980). Singing nuns dominated The Sound of Music (1091), and Genny was one of them. Since then, Genny has earned a college degree in music and performed in eight states of the US. She very much looks forward to working on the 43rd Fendig production, Newsies, and hopes to be part of another magical show!
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Harrison HeinigHarrison is very excited to be working with Fendig this summer! Harrison’s experience with Fendig began in 2009 when he performed in Thoroughly Modern Millie. He continued to perform with Fendig in many productions including Seussical and Singin’ in the Rain. Harrison has also volunteered for our productions of Willy Wonka, The Wizard of Oz, and Hello, Dolly!
Fendig helped to develop Harrison’s interest in the art of storytelling. Currently, Harrison is pursuing degrees in International Theatre Production and Computer Science at Ohio Northern University. While working at The Freed Center for the Performing Arts he has been involved in many productions such as Carrie the Musical and Sweet Charity. “Theatre is one of very few art forms in which an entire world is built from the ground up. I am very excited to share my passion for storytelling and create a new world with the community of Rensselaer.” Blake RushingBlake is very excited to be working on his first Fendig production as the director. He has worked with Fendig previously as choreographer for Fendigs 2015 production of Mary Poppins and helped out with the some dances for the Ommpa Loompa’s in the 2014 production of Willy Wonka.
Blake is originally from Carrollton, Texas but currently lives in New York City. He attended The American Musical and Dramatic Academy for Musical Theater and works as a Junior Faculty Staff Member for the Broadway Theatre Project which is Musical Theater Intensive in Tampa, Florida. Blake’s favorite roles onstage include Pinocchio in Shrek, The Baker in Into the Woods, Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast, and Billy in The Cripple of Inishmaan. Blake is ready to get to work and is excited to meet the young actors at auditions. ![]() This summer's production is going to be Disney’s Newsies and I couldn’t be more excited. The story of Newsies is what Fendig is all about: a group of young people working together to achieve a goal. Gender Roles: The movie and the Broadway production had the majority of the roles played by boys. Historically, many Newsies were girls. For our production we will be taking liberties with some of the characters in terms of casting. Girls will play specific roles, as girls, that were originally played by boys. So there will be plenty of roles for girls and plenty of roles for boys. Cast: Newsies is an ensemble piece, meaning that the entire story is told with everyone’s help and contribution. There are very few moments in the show that only have one or two people onstage. Most of the show calls for a lot of actors to be present and working together to tell this story.
Stage Opportunities: The show gives the cast great opportunities for acting, singing, dancing. As well as a chance to learn stage combat and speech dialects. (Newsies are from New York, they have certain way of ‘talkin” and “speakin”, but I’ll help you guys out with that). |
About Fendig:Fendig Summer Theater is a non-profit organization 501 (c)(3) for the advancement of theatre development in children. Archives:
December 2021
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