For Senior Follies director, the show must go on

Stubbornness nearly cost Norma Conway her life.

But her commitment to the Carson City community and its affection for her have provided a new lease on life.

Conway, the 2008 director of the Senior Follies show, has agreed to return to direct this year's production. The show is a fundraiser for programs at the Carson City Senior Citizens Center.

"I had already thought about it," Conway said. "And when Janice McIntosh (senior center director) asked me, I said 'sure.'"

Conway admitted she had every single symptom for a pending heart attack " jaw pain, pain in her arm and shoulder, chest pain " but was in denial.

"I was foolish (not to get medical attention sooner)," she said. "I even made baked beans and deviled eggs for a Proscenium Players Inc. meeting that night, and didn't say a word. I was so stupid."

Conway had two stents placed after doctors found 100 percent occlusion in two arteries. She has since had good check-ups with her cardiologist and is doing cardiac rehab.

"That doggone heart attack just ticked me off," she said. "But I had to do this show. I just adore the seniors, they're very resilient people. And talented, too."

The theme of this year's show is "Puttin' on the Ritz." Conway said it will feature big dance scenes with a lot of black and white decor.

"It will have like a speakeasy, cabaret scene in the first act, and a Tavern on the Green outdoor feel in the second act. I'm actively seeking a couple for dance scenes like that of Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire. I also need a saxophone player, someone familiar with mime and dancers, lots of dancers, especially men."

Auditions for the Senior Follies will be conducted at 6 p.m. Jan. 28 and 29 at the Carson City Senior Citizens Center, 911 Beverly Drive. Shows are scheduled for 7 p.m. May 29-30, with a 2 p.m. matinee May 31 at the Carson City Community Center. Those auditioning must be 50 or older.

"We'll go into rehearsals sometime in February," Conway said. "We could also use black and white tuxedos, formal gowns and lots of bling for the show. We have several people from past shows returning, like the Golden Girls dancers, Joe and Sara Dietsch, Bobbi Dowell and Cliff Ott."

Assisting Conway with the production are Carla Wilson at direction, Dowell with chorus, Rich Arrigotti with sound, Jeffrey Scott with lighting, Liz Strekal as stage manager and Barbara Tonge producer.

"The community has really stepped up for me and my family," Conway said. "This is an opportunity for me to say 'thank you' to them."

Last year, Conway lost her granddaughter, Kyra, 11, on Feb. 12 to influenza B and pneumonia, and her daughter, Danielle, to cancer on Sept. 7. The community rallied around her with an outpouring of love, and fundraisers for Danielle's on-going care through calendar sales of "Carson Calendar Girls."

"Kyra's death brought me to my knees," Conway said. "The community has helped me tremendously with her loss."

For information, call the senior center at 883-0703.

Contact Rhonda Costa at rcosta@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1223.