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Ready to go: Members of the Hot ‘N' Cole cast are (from left) Charlie Jourdan, Elizabeth Reeves, Christopher Fidler, Shannon Wallace Bill Moore and Valerie Saunders. Dee Dee Wood (below) directs the production..
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Courtesy photos

Celebrate the music of Cole Porter

by Jim Crawford

DESERT FOOTHILLS – The timeless music of Cole Porter comes to life once more when the Desert Foothills Theater presents "Hot ‘N Cole: A Cole Porter Celebration" musical revue.

Porter, a celebrated songwriter who began his career in the early 20th century, left a legacy of songs from his many musicals that are still familiar and popular with audiences today.

During the 1930s, Porter had a string of hit musical productions and songs that left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry.

Emmy award winner Dee Dee Wood, who has an impressive resume of her own, is directing the production and called Porter "a tricky guy."

"The music is very familiar, but the arrangements are very different," Wood says. "They're hard to digest in a short time. It takes us a little longer to get them under our belt."

Us is the cast of six talented volunteers who make up the ensemble and perform the songs.

The six are musical director Bill Moore, who plays keyboards and sings; jazz singer Shannon Wallace, who is making her theater debut; Valerie Saunders, who does a one‑woman show of her own; along with Lizz Reeves, Chris Fidler and Charlie Jourdan.

"All of the cast members have regular jobs and come from all sorts of backgrounds," Wood says. "Their level of talent is awesome. They get up on stage and just let themselves go. Sometimes they scare me."

The DFT production will feature such classics as "Too Darn Hot," "In the Still of the Night," "Let's Do It," "Can Can," "Night and Day" and others.

Directed by Wood with musical direction by Bill Moore, the show has a wealth of material to choose from.

"There are almost 50 songs," Wood explains. "Some of them are just snippets and lead into other songs and medleys. We'd be there all night if we sang all 50 songs.

"Even though I was in one of his (Porter's) shows on Broadway when I first started out, I never really knew about him until I started working on this production. I had no idea his work was so full. There are so many songs and they're so witty."

Wood gives her cast a lot of credit for their devotion to the theater.

"You know they have to be dedicated," she says. "They all have jobs and work all day and then we meet at seven and rehearse for three or four hours. Then we rehearse on Saturday and Sunday. They learn the music on their own. They're just awesome."

Moore became involved with the production because of Wood.

"I didn't know her and had never met her before I auditioned for this show," he says. "She's a hoot. You never know what's going to happen next.

"The show is great. Some of the songs I'm familiar with and some I'd never heard before. Some of the really pretty songs I'd never heard. I think people will really enjoy it. (Porter) was really ahead of his time."

Wallace is performing in her first‑ever stage production. A public information officer for the city of Scottsdale by day, and a jazz singer on the side, Wallace is excited to try a new venture.

"I love it," she says. "I've got the bug now. Since this is a revue, there is very little speaking. The songs are very familiar. Being a jazz singer, I was familiar with (Porter's) work.

"I don't care what generation you're from, if you've got one shred of musical appreciation, Cole Porter is where it's at. This show is going to be a hoot and a hit."

The cast has spent about two and a half months preparing for its debut, Wallace says.

"We put in about 20 hours a week rehearsing. It's really a part time job for all of us. You have to be in a position from a vocational standpoint to arrange your schedule to do something like this."

Wood says the cast becomes a family when it does a show.

"It's always fun. We cry when a show closes."

"Hot ‘N Cole" opens Jan. 11 with performances Jan. 12, 13, 19‑21, 24 and 26‑28. All evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday performances are at 2 p.m. at Cactus Shadows Fine Arts Center, 33606 N. 60th St. in Scottsdale. Single ticket prices for Jan. 11 preview night are $14 for adults and $7 for students. Saturday and Sunday tickets cost $22 for adults and $12 for students. Sunday matinee tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students. Call the DFT box office at (480) 488‑1981 for information or to order tickets, or visit desertfoothillstheater.com.

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