By By JAMES COLLINS / Niles Daily Star
NILES -- On Sunday, the newly-reformed Four Flags Players undertook its biggest production yet with a performance called Broadway Review at the Riverfront Park amphitheater.
The show was made up of 10 local performers and with songs from Les Miserables, Jesus Christ Superstar, Annie and Grease, the performance covered a wide array of hit Broadway musicals.
Despite threats of rain, the sun was shining brightly by the show's 6 p.m. start time and more than 100 spectators stopped by the park to check out some local theater.
This marked the third performance from the Four Flags Players since reforming in February. The first two productions took place at the Riverfront Cafe with a reader's theater performance of "Love Letters" and a dinner theater mystery.
Todd Wakevainen, producer of Sunday's performance, said the Broadway Review was their most involved project to date with more time and effort put into the preparations.
With performers ranging in age from teenagers to 50s, Wakevainen was pleased to break the mold of the original Four Flags Players, which was strictly a youth performance group.
He was also pleased to the see the wide range of ages in the audience on Sunday.
Wakevainen thinks the show was a great experience for the Four Flags Players.
He expects their productions will continue to grow with an increased interest in theater in our community and the addition of more props and costumes.
The Four Flags Players' next performance will be on July 18 with The Music and Magic of Disney. Wakevainen noticed a large increase in the amount of interest at last week's auditions for the show.
Wakevainen said there were a number of community members who played a big part in making this show a success.
David Van Dyke, of the Van Dyke Review, was responsible for setting up and maintaining the sound system for Sunday's performance.
Cindy Antos, the show's musical director, provided the accompanying music for the performance.
David and Janet Markle, of Residential Services of Southwestern Michigan, have allowed the Four Flags Players to use the stage area of the old Elk's Lodge for rehearsals and storage.