Memories of Melody Top: Remembering Milwaukee’s Summer Stock Theatre

The priceless pictures on this page from the 1984 summer season at Melody Top were provided by Merwin Foard, who was recently represented in New York City as the standy for the characters of Gomez Addams and Mal Beinecke in THE ADDAMS FAMILY at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. His Broadway credits go back to 1983 in the revival of SHOW BOAT with Donald O'Connor. Merwin, a member of the Equity ensemble, was cast by producer Guy S. Little, Jr. in the role of Conrad Birdie near the end of the season. Damien Jaques, in the August 15, 1984 edition of The Milwaukee Journal wrote, "Merwin Foard is a young star who has emerged from the Top's resident company this year to provide some of the season's most delightful moments." In the August 1, 1984 edition of the same newspaper, the insightful critic wrote, "The high spot of the production revolved around a young singer-actor named Merwin Foard, whose beautiful and powerful voice and tender manner makes 'On the Street Where You Live' soar with excitement. Foard appears to be a major musical talent." Please join the webmaster in thanking Merwin for his big contribution to this website!

My Fair Lady Studio Picture 1

Merwin Foard as Freddy Eynsford-Hill, Mary Best as Mrs. Higgins and Christine Ebersole as Eliza Doolittle in MY FAIR LADY (1984). Of her performance, Damien Jaques offered, "Ebersole, who has considerable Broadway experience as well as a recurring role on the soap opera 'One Life to Live,' is a deliciously snotty guttersnipe. Her rise to a lady of proper speech and etiquette is more of a triumph of inherent intelligence than an astonishing transformation." Photo by Roob Creative Photographers.

My Fair Lady Studio Picture 2

Ebersole with her leading men: Noel Harrison (left) and Merwin Foard (right). The talented son (Noel) of the man (Rex) who created the musical role of Henry Higgins on Broadway was praised in the Milwaukee press. Jay Joslyn in The Milwaukee Sentinel said, "Noel Harrison, as her antagonistic benefactor, had a wonderfully off-handed manner and the proper touch at sing-speaking his familiar songs." Damien Jaques published a more detailed account of Noel's performance in The Milwaukee Journal: "Harrison displays a winning stage manner that mixes an off-handed kind of charm with a cold-blooded chauvinism. He managed to bulldoze over our sensitivity and Eliza's without ever appearing to be a cad." Photos by Roob Creative Photographers.

My Fair Lady Studio Picture 3

Two of Mathew John Hoffman III's costumes, clearly inspired by those created for the 1964 film of the musical. Pictured at left is the first outfit worn by Christine Ebersole in the Covent Garden scene. At right is her elaborate costume for the first-act scene taking place at Ascot Racecourse. Holding Ebersole's hand in the photo is William Leach, who portrayed Colonel Pickering. Again quoting from Damien Jaques' positive review of the show, he stated in print: "Leach's Pickering is natural and fun. Serving as Higgins' conscience, this Pickering rises in righteous indignation while maintaining his sense of rich bachelor idleness. Photos by Roob Creative Photographers.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

The talented men of JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT on stage at Melody Top Theatre. Top row, left to right: Philip Mollet (Judah), Christopher Durham (Joseph), Scott Taylor (Benjamin) and Mark Vitale (Simeon). Bottom rows combined, left to right: Terry James (Asher), Marc Agnes (Reuben), David Loring (Zebulon), Brad Scott (Gad), Gregg Willis (Issachar), Jeff Mattsey (Naphtali), Vincent Rideout (Dan) and Merwin Foard (Levi). Photo by Roob Creative Photographers.

Christopher shared his memory of performing at Melody Top: I received my Equity card starring in JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT in the summer of 1984. It still remains one of my favorite theatre experiences. The production team, cast and crew welcomed me with open arms. The show was a big success. Honestly, my favorite memory is of the time between shows when we would all go sit out in the big field by the theatre, share a meal and talk about all of our hopes and dreams — we were all so young! Somehow, life seemed a bit more innocent back then.

The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas

The Aggie Football Team, all dressed up and ready for a night of fun at THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS. Top row, left to right: Merwin Foard, Jeff Mattsey, Gregg Willis and David Loring. Bottom row, left to right: Philip Mollet, Richard Reuter-Smith, Scott Taylor and Terry James. Photo by Roob Creative Photographers.

Finally, reprinted from the last five playbills in 1984, is a very sad announcement:

Melody Top Theatre Lost its Best Friend...

Mr. William Luff (May 5, 1904 – July 9, 1984)

Milwaukee's Mr. Melody Top, who was responsible for bringing outstanding musical entertainment to southeastern Wisconsin since 1963, departed Good Hope Road. Bill Luff passed away July 9, 1984, and his family, audiences, stars, staff and the entire Melody Top Theatre organization lost a very special man.

Bill was born May 5, 1904 in London, England and came to the United States at the age of two, where he was placed in an orphanage for a number of years before his widowed father remarried and moved his large family to the Milwaukee area. Bill was the All-American success story — a totally self-made man. A born salesman, Bill began selling newspapers, sewing machine oil and odds and ends at the ripe age of eleven. During the 1930s and 1940s, he was involved in the appliance and tire business, and by the late 1940s and well into the 1950s he entered the construction and real estate business. A group of Chicago businessmen obtained permission to build a tent theatre on Bill Luff's Good Hope Road property in 1963 and, when the original investors went bankrupt in 1965, he later bought the theatre. Together with a group of local businessmen, the 1966 season opened with Gisele MacKenzie in THE KING AND I. Beginning in 1966, Bill was the executive vice president and became president of the Top in 1975. He continued to guide the Top with great dedication, talent and hard work. Bill was also instrumental in building the Milwaukee-Hayes-Garfield Temple and was very active in the Milwaukee Harmony Lodge.

Bill Luff was a great man, a great leader, a great friend who gave his heart and soul, his dedication, his knowledge, his talent and his love to the Top for nineteen years.

Thank you, Bill, for all the entertainment you gave Melody Top audiences and for all the love you gave your Melody Top family. Bill leaves his wife, one brother and three sisters, a daughter, a daughter-in-law, six grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and many loyal patrons and friends. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you Bill Luff, the Top of the Top. God bless you always.

©2012 D.G.P., Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Please visit the contact information page to address the webmaster.