Opera company departs from classics for high-flying fun

By Diana Nollen

The Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre is returning to its home at Theatre Cedar Rapids with a theatrical flight of fancy - not an opera.

The company is staging “Flight of the Lawnchair Man,” by writer and composer Robert Lindsey-Nassif of Cedar Rapids. Playwright Peter Ullian, formerly of Cedar Rapids, collaborated on the script, dreamed up about 10 years ago.

It's the story of Jerry Gorman, who collects shopping carts in a mega-store parking lot. His worst day comes when he's promoted and moved inside to manage the snack bar. When he can no longer see the sky, he becomes utterly depressed.

His new girlfriend encourages him to find his “Jerriosity” and realize his dreams to fly. So he ties 400 helium balloons to a lawnchair and floats higher and higher toward his goal, meeting several ghostly visitors along the way who further encourage him.

“It's silly, silly, silly, then full of meaning and resonance,” Lindsey-Nassif says. “We all want to fly. Gravity is the great metaphor of our experience here on earth and we spend our entire life defying it.”

It's not based on any one person who has attempted such a feat. Instead, it's born of a dream Lindsey-Nassif had as a boy.

“I wondered how many balloons it would take for me to fly over my house and wave at my dog,” he says.

Now, he's directing his dream onstage, with a who's who cast of local musical theater performers and members of the opera theater's Young Artist Program. The cast of 19 includes T.J. Besler of Manchester and Janelle Lauer of Cedar Rapids in the lead roles, along with Scott Schulte, Nina Swanson, Kate Knutson, Megan Turner Ginsberg, Leslie Charipar, Jane Pini and other singers and actors familiar to area audiences.  

“I have such a respect for Rob Nassif, a real love of his work,” says Daniel Kleinknecht of Coralville, the opera theater's executive director and conductor. “I've been looking for the right time to do something of his. Since this is our first time back at Theatre Cedar Rapids, it's a good welcoming home piece for us. ...

“It's really appropriate to us to come back to our home-base with a piece that has incredibly strong local ties.”

The show has played in Philadelphia, New York and Los Angeles and Lindsey-Nassif says it's “thrilling” to bring it home for its Midwest premiere.

“It's extremely gratifying to be able to show people what I've spent the last number of years doing,” Lindsey-Nassif says. “And of course, I hope they enjoy it.”

FAST TAKEInformation: www.cr-opera.org

What: Midwest premiere: “Flight of the Lawnchair Man,” by Robert Lindsey-Nassif

When: 8 p.m. June 11 and 12, 2010; 2 p.m. June 13, 2010

Presented by: Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre

Where: Theatre Cedar Rapids, 102 Third St. SE, Cedar Rapids

Tickets: $35 Friday; $25 and $30 Saturday and Sunday; at (319) 366-8591 or www.theatrecr.org Opening Night price includes post-performance cast party

Extra: Free preshow curtain talk by Lindsey-Nassif, one hour before each performance in the TCR Lounge