Don't dream it, be it

COEUR d’ALENE — Think of those preconceived notions about who belongs in what role.

Now toss them out the window.

Anyone can be whoever they want to be in Aspire Community Theatre's "Dream Roles and Miscasts."

"While this type of revue isn't new to theater, it's an uncharted concept for our community," director and choreographer Trigger Weddle explains in her director's notes. "The content of the show wasn't easy to narrow down; when we mined the cast for ideas, submitting songs that were a dream role or a miscast — regardless of gender and age — we got a plethora of material to choose from."

The cast members of "Dream Roles and Miscasts" step into characters they may never before have had the opportunity to play. Rather than a stage full of dolled up gals singing "Big Spender" from the 1960s Broadway musical "Sweet Charity," the audience will be treated to a number where the gender roles are flipped.

Spectators will also enjoy cast members singing, dancing and acting their hearts out during performances from "Cry Baby," "Hairspray," "Chicago," "Little Women," "Phantom of the Opera" and more, with surprises aplenty along the way.

"I think they’ll enjoy the variety," Weddle said. "I also think they’ll enjoy the three ensemble numbers that are amazing, just to hear all the voices singing. Those are real standouts."

Marlee Andrews, who performs in numbers from "Pippin," "In the Heights" and company songs, said she's just grateful to be back on the live stage after everything being closed down because of COVID.

“For the theater community and for myself, I connect really well with people," she said. "This is where I thrive, this is my home, so having this opportunity — while it’s not a full (production) — it’s still something where we get to connect with the community, and I don’t know what else I’d be doing. I think the community is needing it too.”

Tré Keough, who performs in numbers from "Chicago," "Sweet Charity," "Hercules" and the ensembles, said it will be nice for community members to see familiar faces on the stage again after so many months.

"I was literally in my kitchen, dancing, because I couldn’t go to my dance classes," he said. "I’d cry, but in the end I would keep going back to the memories of my family, of all the theaters I’ve ever been with in this area, and all I could think was ‘family and home.’ They all just came together."

Jessica Peterson said just being on stage again brought tears to her eyes. She appears in "Worst Pies in London" from "Sweeney Todd" and the ensemble pieces.

"The feeling of the stage lights hitting you, it’s a familiar feeling, it’s like home," Peterson said. "We feel like we’re home right now."

"Dream Roles and Miscasts" will be on the Kroc Center Theater Stage at 2 p.m. Sunday.

Standard tickets are $19, premium tickets are $25 and preferred are $22.

Virtual tickets are also available for $12.

Info: www.aspirecda.com or www.kroccda.org