CONTRIBUTED

FORT WAYNE — For the 15th consecutive year, Doug King will be guest-directing a musical production at the Fort Wayne Civic Theatre. The show, which opens Sept. 9 and runs for two weekends, is “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.”

“I chose to direct this show over another full-blown musical production offered by Civic Executive Artistic Director Philip Colglazer, which I’ve done at the Civic for the past 14 years, because of the challenge of doing a small cabaret-style show with just six cast members. It will be a refreshing change,” he added.

“This will definitely be different because there’s no start-to-finish storyline. Instead, it’s a series of 20 separate vignettes (scenes) focusing on the overlying arc of the show, which is about relationships, people trying to connect,” King said. “We’ll start out dealing with early dating and then move on into the heat of relationships. Then it progresses into the problems that arise in relationships and, finally, the golden years. Costuming will reflect the progression of the seasons of love from spring and summer into fall and winter.”

The Indianapolis resident, who grew up in New Haven, said he had heard of the show but never actually seen it.

“Directing and choreographing, this will be totally different for me.

“Most of my work here at the Civic has been big, well-known shows with large dance sequences. ‘I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change’ will feature character movement and stylistic dancing within each scene. In addition the cast members will be constantly changing character, costumes and voices.

“It’s fast-moving and will be a little shorter than most musicals. The set will have a pop-art/comic book look that will reflect the mood of the show. I think audiences will find it a lot of fun! It has humor, good music and memorable songs. At times it will get a little risqué, but overall I rate it PG.”

“The cast,” King said, “is very talented and easy to work with. Five of the six have been in other productions I’ve directed here. They include A.J. Lorenzini, Aaron Mann, Ben Wedler, Leah Wedler, Stephanie Longbreak and Civic newcomer Melissa Terhune.”

Colglazer said, “it’s always a treat to have Doug guest-direct. We work well together, and cast members do as well. He brings a lot of creativity and humor to the show. In addition, the fast pace of this show suits his talents perfectly.”

Show times at Civic Theatre in the Arts United Center, 303 E. Main St., Fort Wayne are at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sept. 9 and at 2 p.m. Sept. 10. One show is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Sept. 15. Two shows will be at 2 and 7:30 p.m. the following day and it will conclude with a matinee at 2 p.m. Sept. 17.

King has been a member of the dance faculty at Anderson University for 21 years and has been performing, choreographing and directing shows at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis for more than 30 years. He also works with Indianapolis high school drama departments and swing choirs and judges swing choir competitions throughout Indiana.