Dancers ready to perform

     By Damon Hodge
     View staff writer
      It's not every day that Mr. Whipple stops by rehearsal.
      That's unless you're the Las Vegas Dance Theater and you've invited him as a special guest to your August vaudeville musical.
      "They look good," said Dick Wilson, who played the affable store clerk who admonished generations, "don't squeeze the Charmin."
      Wilson was speaking of the entire cast of the Leland Murray project, but more specifically the Sun City residents.
      Anita Caselli, Celia Ellis, Barbara Grant, Lori Sanchez and Lynn Weber figure prominently in "Put on a Hat, Too!" which will be presented Aug. 7 at Sun City's Starbright Theater, Aug. 20 at Henderson's Civic Center Amphitheater and Aug. 27-28 in the Nicholas Horn Theater at the Cheyenne Campus of the Community College of Southern Nevada.
      With mostly a new cast from last year's "Put on a Hat!" producer Kim Russell has relied on the Sun City contingent.
      Each brings a different talent. Between them, they have acted, danced on Broadway, sang opera, taught music, won beauty pageants, owned small theaters, choreographed musicals, appeared in commercials and television shows, produced plays and participated in triathalons.
      A former elementary school teacher in California, Ellis didn't have the time to pursue the arts and still compete in triathalons.
      "I've always enjoyed dancing and acting. When I moved here I got involved with the Sun City Dance Company and found a tremendous carryover in the movements of athletics and dance," said Ellis, who joined the Nevada Opera Theater and pursued dancing outlets. "I found that I loved the stage."
      Caselli took the stage early, singing as a kindergartner in Long Island, and continuing throughout careers as a tap dancer with the State Troupers, a dental hygienist, stock broker, boutique owner and model. She returned to modeling-talent pageants in 1992 and capped a successful decade with the 1996-97 Ms. National Senior Citizen title.
      "The stage has always been a happy place for me, whether it's singing, dancing, acting or modeling," said Caselli, who has performed "Circle of Serpents," directed the Community Theater and once appeared on the Sally Jessie Raphael Show. Musicals appealed to the performer in her, and she scored parts in the "Best of Burlesque," "Burlesque at its Best," and last year's "Put on a Hat!"
      Grant moved from Minnesota where she worked as a collegiate vocal coach, choreographer, costumer and assistant director. She branched out from music, joining the Screen Actors Guild Nevada Conservatory, which is putting on the musical, and has performed for the Jewish War Vets, the Elite's, and at the National Convention for Mensa.
      "Music's always been my main focus, but musicals give me a chance to explore," she said. She is currently studying with David London, the singing coach to Marilyn Monroe, Eddie Fisher, Pia Zadora and others.
      Sanchez began acting at age 7, reading poems and short stories to tighten her elocution. After graduating from DePaul University's drama department, she toured smaller theaters known as the "strawberry circuit." She later opened several small theaters with her former husband.
      The 1991 Ms. Senior America started off in community center presentations and in bit parts in musicals. Admittedly new to singing and dancing, she welcomed the acting opportunity "Put on a Hat, Too!" provides.
      "It just seemed like a fun thing to do," she said.
      Weber's first love is dancing, having studied it since childhood and performing professionally in numerous musical productions and with the Hal Sands Rockettes. She teaches twice-weekly jazz dance classes in Sun City.
      "This is a fun challenge for me, since all I've known is dancing. I started at age 3 and professionally I mainly danced in chorus lines," she said. "Learning how to sing and act has been the best part. I didn't think I could do either."
      Russell said choreographer Rene de Haven operates on a Murray principle: "If you can walk, you can dance; if you can hum you can sing."
      Ellis said working with the new talent has been fun.
      Meanwhile, Mr. Whipple said the finished product will be something to see: "They'll be great."
      Those interested in tickets can call Tom Andrew at 871-1550.