Cheaper by the Dozen

FAMILY MATTERS: STC Brings "Cheaper by the Dozen" to Owens

by MARYELLE HUNTER: SPECIAL TO THE PILOT {excerpted]

"Cheaper by the Dozen," Owens Auditorium at Sandhills Community College.

Performances are on Friday and Saturday, June 8 and 9, at 8 p.m., with a matinee on Sunday, June 10, at 2:30 p.m., and again on Friday and Saturday, June 15 and 16, at 8 p.m., with a Sunday matinee at 2:30 p.m. on June 17. Tickets may be purchased at the door, or reservations may be made by calling 910-281-0661.

The play is based on the 1946 novel telling story of time and motion study and efficiency experts Frank Gilbreth and Lillian Moller Gilbreth, and their 12 offspring. The book went on to become a 1950 film. The name, "Cheaper by the Dozen," was 'borrowed' a few years ago for two Steve Martin movies that had no similarity to the original Gilbreth family, except in number of children.

Sandra Epperson, artistic director of Sandhills Theatre Company, points out that Frank and Lillian Gilbreth were one of the great husband-and-wife teams of science and engineering in the 20th century.

Kimberly Jones plays the role of wife and mother, Lillian Gilbreth. A newcomer to Sandhills Theatre productions, she has a degree in theater but had gotten away from participating in acting while raising two young daughters and pursuing a teaching career.

Others in the cast are Leslie Deane as the adult Ernestine, Tony Capehart as the adult Frank Jr., Diane Nigh, Kimberly Lonergan, Marty Rasmus, Josh Wolonick, Nathaniel Torrey and veteran Sandhills Theatre actor Don Hopkins, who plays the role of the family doctor.

According to Sandra Epperson, more than 25 young people turned out for auditions for the nine speaking parts of the family members.

Working behind the scenes are John Guin as stage manager, with Johanna McDaniel, Zac Landolt, and Jessica Vest, as his assistants. Costumes were coordinated by Karen Steelman, with Carol Damone and Gabriel Roy in charge of set coordination, and properties being handled by Amy Damone. The sound board operator is Robert Albrecht.

Special effects for the production were created by Doreen Cangemi of Hair Cuttery who turned the blondes, brunettes and black-haired youngsters into redheads, and Darrell Parker, whose Everlong Films generated the video production that accompanied the narration of Ernestine and Frank Gilbreth Jr.

The sponsors are Sandhills Community College and Joseph F. Skladany, DDS.