Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE - The ensemble cast of "Wake Me When I'm Dead," now playing at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Heartland Festival, won't complain about the hours or hectic schedule of preparing, rehearsing and performing a jam-packed repertory line-up this summer. In fact, they thrive on it. However, they do complain a bit about the missing cast member.

It turns out that this interactive Irish comedy murder mystery relies heavily on audience participation.

"When we rehearse without an audience, it's as though we're missing a cast member," said Jay Cullen, who plays Father Patrick O'Rourke and is making his Heartland Festival debut this year. Cullen leads the only musical number in the show, instructing the audience on how to handle their "shillelagh."

Marcy Russell, who is returning to Heartland for her sixth season, is also enjoying her interactive role. "So much of the interaction with the audience is spontaneous and what we do and say will depend on the individual we're interacting with. Each audience brings new life and it's so much more satisfying now that we've gotten past rehearsals and get to perform," she said. Russell performs the part of Bridget O'Donohue.

"When we actually got a few people in a few days before we opened, it really helped the script to come together," explained Ryan Bartscher, also joining the festival for the first time this summer. Bartscher plays Sean O'Brien, the brother of the man being mourned.

So, what is it like to perform in an interactive show?

"I love it! I chose this show over another one especially to get the opportunity to do interactive theater," said Brigid Kelley, performing in her first Heartland Festival show this year. Kelley plays the flirtatious Mary Margaret O'Malley.

For Michael Rangel, who plays the mysterious cousin Frankie, interactive theater is also new.

"In fact, I've always been in musicals prior to this, so this is my first experience with straight acting. It's been a lot of fun. You really have to stay on your toes to keep up with the audience," Rangel said.

The story revolves around the wake of the murdered Seamus O'Brien, performed by frequent Heartland Festival actor, Bill Haskins.

"I'm enjoying the role, though I've had livelier parts in the past," Haskins said.

O'Brien had recently come into quite a bit of money, now missing, before his unexpected death. In attendance are a number of people who are ostensibly there to mourn and honor him, though they seem more intent on finding the missing money. In addition to this show, many of the actors and stage crew are also involved in the three other shows in the line up: "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change," "A Year With Frog and Toad," and "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," an extravaganza that will be staged in the Richard and Helen Brodbeck Concert Hall in the UWP Center for the Arts.

Jason Slattery, another newcomer to the Heartland Festival, said at first he was somewhat overwhelmed by the demands of appearing in three shows at once, but quickly became accustomed to the pace.

"Working with Vivienne Elborne has been a wonderful experience for me. The two shows she's directing ("Wake Me" and "I Love You") are so different and yet she's so good at both. It's been very rewarding to be part of this theater experience," Slattery said. He plays the part of Timothy O' Liveri in "Wake Me" and says he studied "Waking Ned Devine" to research his Irish brogue.

The remaining performances of "Wake Me,'" all starting at 7:30 p.m., are scheduled for July 6, 19 and 27; and Aug. 2.

Ticket prices are $25 for adults or $17 for children under 18 and UWP students with I.D and include dinner.

Anyone interested in learning more about this or other Heartland Festival shows may call the University Box Office at (608) 342-1298 or visit the Heartland website at www.uwplatt.edu/arts/heartland. The University Box Office is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is located on the ground floor of the newly renovated Ullsvik Hall at the intersection of Hickory and Main streets. The CFA Box Office location opens one and a half hours before scheduled performances. Tickets are also available online 24/7 athttp://tickets.uwplatt.edu.

Contact: John Hassig, executive director of Performing and Visual Arts, Programs and Facilities, (608) 342-1298, hassigj@uwplatt.edu Formatted by: Evelyn Martens, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194,martense@uwplatt.edu