Skip to my Lou, Laguna

Stuart Fabel cringes as he watches actors clamber over wobbly stage-prop porch railings.

During the late rush to finish up the sets for Gallimaufry Performing Arts’ premiere of its summer musical, “Meet Me in St. Louis,” he’s finding the best salve for his anxiety is a steady stream of wisecracks.

“Velcro’s been working really well for me,” he said as he examines a decrepit banister finial.

The actors clumsily navigating the porch railings spur more gallows humor.

“It’s like when you see a car accident on the side of the road, and you don’t want to look, but you can’t turn away.”

The show, which premieres tonight at the Artists’ Theatre at 8 p.m., was faced with a whirlwind construction schedule. Its immense Victorian “turntable” set, which opens like a dollhouse, is believed to have been created for a major production of the musical.

“It is a huge, huge undertaking,” said Fabel, who serves as the show’s production manager and lighting director. He also worked on the national version of the musical.

Four 24-foot box trucks full of set pieces appeared Monday afternoon, leaving very little time for setup, and even less time for the cast to practice using the new surroundings.

The set was still being assembled during the first dress rehearsal on Tuesday, a cacophony of piano, drilling, flying scrim, clomping dance shoes, singing and snatches of conversation.

During the dress rehearsal, the cast tested out the play’s iconic trolley for the first time, and figured out how to move it across the stage.

“It’s like a Broadway set,” said director and Gallimaufry executive producer Steve Josephson. The set was rented from a large theater company that bought it from the original production company; the film was adapted for the Broadway stage in 1989.

“There would be no way we would ever be able to get anything this lush,” Josephson said. “It made us know we had to do the show; everything just fell into place.”

“It looks like at one time the whole set was motorized,” Fabel said. The current production is muscle-powered instead.

The story focuses on a family living in St. Louis just before the World’s Fair of 1904. The family is thrown into turmoil when their father is faced with a job promotion to New York.

A film based on the original novel came out in 1944, starring Judy Garland.

“It’s one of my favorite movies; I’ve actually been surprised at the number of people who have not seen the movie,” Josephson said.

A number of serendipities fell into place for the production, from sets to costumes to cast and crew.

“Bringing a musical together is like juggling eight balls,” Josephson said.

“He’s a really passionate director,” said performer Cassie Nordgren, as Josephson bounded across the stage to help move a set piece.

The play has been rooted in Josephson’s mind for some time.

“I had been wanting to do it for the last couple of years,” Josephson said. “We’re always looking for family shows.”

“I had always thought about it as a holiday show,” Josephson said, due to Garland’s famous “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” number, which is sung to “Tootie,” the youngest daughter. But the other company members talked him into holding it in the summer, he said.

“What I love about this production is that it is pared back down to be a little more like the movie,” Josephson said. “It’s such a touching, wonderful family story that transcends period, or your interest in theater.”

Sally Benson, who wrote the novel, based the story on her life. The musical, of course, has a happy ending, but in actuality, the family did move to New York and never saw the World’s Fair. Benson chose to write the story as she wished it to be.

The story is even dearer to Josephson’s heart because his daughter Kira, who plays Esther, will attend college in Missouri. She is looking forward to flying into her new “hometown,” St. Louis.

Josephson has also been able to work with past and present Laguna Beach High School and Gallimaufry actors and dancers, in particular former student Christian Marriner.

“Christian is maturing into this great actor and performer,” Josephson said.

“That was one thing that was so nice about this production. It’s great to watch the kids grow up; they still act like kids,” Josephson said, describing them running around and playing while they rehearsed.

“It’s a lot more fun than any of us ever imagined. It’s the first show I’ve been in where the actors get to do everything,” Nordgren said.

“This is the first time I’ve had a big role,” said Sarah Busic, who plays daughter Agnes. “It’s such a great play and era; the costumes are so much fun to do the show in. It kind of reminds me of ‘The Music Man.’”

“The costuming is very, very formal,” said choreographer Tod Kubo, director of the high school’s Laguna Dance Company.

Kubo was intimately involved in the production, making up flourishes and steps even into dress rehearsal.

“I liked working with Steve because he understands dance; it’s really a breath of fresh air,” Kubo said. “It’s great to work on my own style of choreography, and a lot of things I’ve never done before. It’s very high energy, and we have been doing the best we can to stay true to the style.”

“It’s much more exciting for a choreographer to tackle something new,” Josephson said. Kubo was able to hone his skills on early American folk dance, waltz and banjo pieces.

Kubo relished the opportunity to make his own mark on the famous numbers in the show.

“So many songs are very iconic in musical theater, like ‘Skip to My Lou’ -- you whistled it as a kid, but you never knew where it came from,” he said.

The show also stars a longtime fixture in Laguna theater, actor George Brooks.

“It’s been awhile since I’ve been in something like this,” said Brooks, who plays the doting grandfather. “You never see this sort of professional theater anymore.”

He said that most regional theaters look for productions with “only one set and five characters.”

Brooks was first “discovered” by Josephson while the latter was in high school, watching Brooks in a production of “Failure to Zigzag” at the Laguna Playhouse.

“He’s just one of those great kinds of theater personalities,” Josephson said. “When the show came up, he was the only person I thought should be playing that role. He brings this wealth of theater knowledge and history in such a relaxed manner.”

Brooks, likewise, was impressed by Josephson’s later production of “Sordid Lives.”

“I told him he could take that show into any regional theater,” Brooks said.

They got to know each other while performing in the Lagunatunes choir and in “Late Night Catechism: Sister’s Christmas Catechism.”

“I prefer theater -- most real actors do -- but it doesn’t pay very well,” Brooks said. He gave up a career at a local utility company to act full time, and “It’s been all beer and Skittles since then,” he joked.

The younger members of the production have all taken to calling Brooks “grandpa,” alluding to his character in the play. “All the cast members just see him as the patriarch,” Josephson said.

After dress rehearsal, Brooks, ever the grandfather figure, walked outside and peered down the dark sidewalk.

“Is Tootie still here?” he asks some of the younger actors. Josephson’s daughter Kira promises to look for her.

“Goodnight, grandpa!” the actors call. Brooks chuckled as he ambled to his car.

IF YOU GO

WHO: Gallimaufry Performing Arts

WHAT: “Meet Me in St. Louis”

WHEN: July 14, 15, 16, 20, 21 and 22. All shows are at 8 p.m., except the 2 p.m. matinee on July 16

WHERE: Artists’ Theatre at Laguna Beach High School, 625 Park Ave.

ADMISSION: Adults $19.50, $24.50; students and seniors $14.50 and $19.50

INFORMATION AND TICKETS: (949) 499-5060 or www.gallimaufry.infocpt.14-gallimaufry-CPhotoInfo3P1ST8UE20060714j2bn0bncCredit: MARK DUSTIN / COASTLINE PILOT Caption: (LA)Performers rehearse the opening dance scene of the Gallimaufry play “Meet Me in St. Louis” during Tuesday night’s dress rehearsal at the Artists’ Theatre.