(Photo by Steve Niemann)
SANTA CRUZ — Bari Lee knows show business.
She grew up in Hollywood with her father and her stepmother. Not only that, but her father, Robert Morgan, was a stuntman for a variety of actors, including John Wayne, and her stepmother, Yvonne De Carlo, was perhaps best known for her role as Lily Munster in the classic sitcom “The Munsters.”
So when Lee agreed to take the helm as director of the Santa Cruz Follies for the eighth time, the group was in good hands.
The Follies will return with their annual show, this year named “Best of Broadway: Then and Now,” Wednesday through Saturday at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium.
Lee said she wanted the show to be relatable for not only a “baby boomer” audience, but for the cast of 35 as well, all of whom are over 50 years old, the oldest being 87.
As such, the show will feature Broadway hits including “Into the Woods,” “Show Boat,” “42nd Street” and many others.
Praising the “really talented” cast of locals, Lee said her experience as director has taught her how to cast people to their strengths, and how to make sure they are confident in themselves.
“Everybody has their style,” she said. “As a director, you have to let go. [The cast] has to make it their own.”
Beyond the singing and dancing that is a staple of Follies’ shows, the cast is like one big family, including having potlucks every Saturday, Lee said.
“We spend a lot of time together,” she said. “It’s a really nice group of people.”
Janet Mastropietro of Aptos is in her fifth show with the Follies. After retiring from UC Santa Cruz in 2010 as a librarian, Mastropietro happened to find an announcement in the newspaper about the Follies’ monthly breakfast.
Always enjoying dancing and singing throughout her life, Mastropietro attended the breakfast and said it “opened up a whole new world.”
“I met this group of like-minded people,” she said.
Although she admitted she was “really nervous” in the beginning, Mastropietro has never looked back.
“I always knew when I retired I would have a good time,” she said. “I just didn’t know how much fun I would have.”
Dee Sargent of Watsonville is part of a growing contingent of South County residents who are joining the Follies. There are now five Watsonville residents who are part of the group.
Now in her ninth show, Sargent said she is more excited this year than nervous. She will once again have a solo performance, something that was new to her last year.
But she said she just has to nail down one thing that is required of her role this year.
“I just have to learn how to flirt,” Sargent said.
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The Santa Cruz Follies will perform at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, 307 Church St., on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 1 p.m., with an additional 7:30 p.m. performance on Friday. Admission is $20 for adults and $5 for children under 10. Tickets can be purchased at the door or by calling 423-6640.
For information, visit santacruzfollies.net.
