Published: July 15, 2016
Unlocking the music takes 88 keys
ndettmann@conleynet.com 262-306-5043
Dan Moldenhauer will get the opportunity most dream about: working with their idol.
Starting at 7:30 p.m. today at Concordia University’s Todd Wehr Auditorium, 12800 N. Lake Shore Drive, Mequon, Moldenhauer, a Hartford native, will be one of two pianists The Acacia Theatre in Milwaukee’s presentation of the Tony Award-winning musical, “I Do! I Do!”
After today’s performance, the production will continue at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. It will then resume July 2124.
He’s thrilled for the opportunity. But he’s more thrilled to play alongside someone he looks up to: Maggie Rebers.
As a student at Wisconsin Lutheran College, Moldenhauer, 23, was a music education major. Rebers accompanied him during recitals.
Rebers’ husband, Tim, will also be in “I Do! I Do!” as an actor.
“I felt very honored,” Moldenhauer said of being asked to perform in the show with Tim and Maggie Rebers. “I look up to both of them as performers. It’s cool to work with them and do something more professional.”
The musical is Moldenhauer’s first stage performance, at least of this magnitude. Otherwise, he’s accompanied people at several camps. He’s a choir teacher at Horicon High School.
“Not really,” Moldenhauer said when asked if he’s nervous for his professional debut. “More excited.”
For the show, Moldenhauer and Maggie will provide the music — the soundtrack — on piano. “The music carries the audience along with lovely and entertaining songs requiring two pianos,” said Janet Bouman Peterson, director of the production. “I’m particularly pleased in the very talented cast we have with Tim Rebers and Susan Wiedmeyer.
“But I’m also delighted to work with Dan Moldenhauer and Maggie Rebers, Tim Rebers’ wife, as the two piano accompanists.”
The Broadway production “I Do! I Do!” was originally released in 1966. It was nominated for seven Tony Awards in 1967 and won for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical. The winner was Robert Preston, who got an Oscar nomination in the 1982 film “Victor Victoria.”
“I Do! I Do!” follows the marriage of Michael and Agnes, from wedding night jitters to the thrills of parenthood, through the threat of infidelity, culminating in a rich relationship worth fighting for. It is based on a book and lyrics by Tom Jones, and the music by Harvey Schmidt.
“At heart, it is still a musical comedy,” Bouman Peterson said. “And I think if people come they will be entertained, hear lovely music, a good story and maybe leave with something to ponder while humming a memorable tune.”
A New York Post review said, “At once amusing, astonishingly touching and truly endearing.”
Moldenhauer was contacted, with the encouragement of Maggie, about four months ago and was asked to be in the show.
However, he hasn’t attended many of the rehearsals, which started about two months ago.
Up until about two weeks ago, the rehearsals were held at a small church in Milwaukee. There wasn’t enough room for two pianos there, so Maggie attended most of the rehearsals. Then she’d meet with Moldenhauer separately, and they’d go over the rehearsal and practice.
“The main thing for not being at rehearsal is not getting the cues,” Moldenhauer said. “That’s been the main issue for me, figuring out when I’m supposed to be playing.”
The notes he’s gotten from Maggie have been good.
“I was always up to date,” he said.
Moldenhauer began playing piano when he was in third grade after watching his siblings take lessons.
“It is a part of me,” he said about why he plays the piano. He also plays organ.
He added that with everything going on in the world, playing the piano and music “is something that’s beautiful; what’s going right in the world.”
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