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Broadway Star Returns to Toledo for Musical Battle for T-Town |
| By
Deanna Lytle |
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Sep 18, 2003 |
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Every November, Toledoans fight over who will win the big football game — Ohio State or the University of Michigan. But there was actually a time when the governments of both states were fighting over Toledo.
“The War for Toledo,” a musical comedy that will run at The University of Toledo’s Doermann Theater, explores the Michigan-Ohio dispute over the city. The musical is presented by the Theatric Organization of Toledo with help from the Lucas County Bicentennial Committee. Originally, the musical was supposed to be performed during the Tall Ships event, according to producer Kevin Fifer.
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| Tim Shew |
The origin of the Toledo war was in conflicting land surveys. The southern tip of Lake Michigan was originally thought to be farther north than it actually was, which under the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 designated Toledo as belonging to Ohio. It was only in 1818 when another survey was conducted that Michigan officials realized Toledo should really belong to them. The situation came to a head in 1835 when the territorial governor of Michigan sent militia south to claim Toledo. Fortunately, the Ohio and Michigan armies got lost for a week in the swamps of Perrysburg and never found each other.
While “The War for Toledo” is based on these events, most of the characters and incidents are imaginary. The musical opens with two men discussing the history of Ohio before taking the audience on a journey back to 1835 Toledo. Will Goodson, Henry Marsh and other residents of Toledo are introduced, with each playing a role in the controversy. Some of the musical numbers include “The Winds O’Controversy,” “In the Heart of it All” and “Michigan-Scmishigan!”
Broadway veteran Tim Shew returns to Toledo to play the role of Goodson. He has appeared in “Les Misérables,” “The Scarlet Pimpernel” and “Guys and Dolls.” Shew also has produced “Broadway Sings on Park Avenue,” a concert to benefit children dealing with HIV and AIDS. In June 2002, he appeared at UT to sing at a benefit for the Shew Music Education Scholarship and the Susie Shew Counseling Scholarship. Susie Shew is a 1980 graduate of the UT College of Education and Tim’s mother.
Proceeds from the musical will benefit the Theatric Organization of Toledo, a nonprofit group dedicated to developing more opportunities for professional performers in the Toledo area.
“I think people will be surprised by it,” Fifer said of the musical. “Tim said he thinks it’s great, and coming from a Broadway veteran, I think that says a lot.”
“The War for Toledo” will be performed at Doermann Theater on Sept. 19, 20, 25, 26 and 27 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $30 for adults, $25 for students and seniors, and $15 for children 10 and younger.
Tickets are available by calling 419.878.0977 or online here.
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