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With Roger Rocka’s & Good Company Players
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Roger Rocka’s Dinner Theater has been presenting musicals and com-
edies since 1978, and has earned a reputation for superb shows and
extraordinary dining. The theater company is the outstanding Good
Company Players, which began as a summer-stock company back in
1973.
In late June of 1978 Roger Rocka’s Dinner Theater opened with a
breathtaking production of Gypsy. Despite a year of intense work, the
kitchen and bar were still unfinished black holes, and food had to be
catered in. The bathroom plumbing was hooked up just hours before
the doors opened, there were only ribbons in place of some railings,
and the service staff - mostly young teachers on summer vacation -
had to make it up as they went along. It was a mess! It was exciting! It
was a smash hit!
There was also livestock in the back alley (Gypsy has plenty of kids and
animals) and a 12-piece orchestra crammed backstage. But from that
hang-on-for-dear-life beginning, Roger Rocka’s Dinner-Theater has
Top left to bottom left: Denise Graziani,
grown into a beloved institution, a regional theater with more than
Ginger Lewis-Reed, Laurie Pessano, Dan
Pessano, David Pierce, Brandi Martin
180 productions in its history, and a reputation for superb shows and
extraordinary dining.

The theater company at Roger Rocka’s Dinner Theater all costume changes. Sometimes they work on 3 shows at
is the Good Company Players, led since its inception in a time which leaves Ginger with a very exciting life. She
1973 by managing director Dan Pessano. After five years makes all the with the help of her staff, in contrast to other
of summer productions at downtown hotels, a col- theater companies that may rent costumes. They have a
laboration between Dan and Roger brought the Good sewing room, dress forms, mannequins and other tools
Company Players to their year-round, permanent home of the trade. Ginger feels “Costume design is a visual art
at Roger Rocka’s. form. It should be beautiful and the audience should be
Fresno Scene Magazine had an opportunity to sit with
able to identify who the characters are by their costume
a few founders and some key people to uncover what
alone, before they even speak a word or sing a note.” Gin-
goes on “behind the scenes”.
ger’s personal challenge is “to keep doing it better to make
a cultural contribution to our area”.
Interview with Ginger Lewis-Reed, Good Company
Players Costume Designer
Interview with David Pierce, Good Company Players
Set Designer/Scenic Artist
Ginger began started working with Good company Play-
ers part time in 1983 under Chris Mode. Her father was a
David started working with Good Company Players (part
fashion designer; so she comes from an artistic / creative
time) on January 2, 1986. He is responsible for everything
family. Ginger has no formal training in costume design
you see on stage that is not a person in a costume. This
but she’s oozing with talent. Her work schedule is very
includes all set furniture, backgrounds, walls, curtains,
hectic – as they open 1 new show every month and with
windows, doors, signs, props, architectural representations
Ginger in charge of all the costumes for all characters,
and anything else that will appear on, above, below or
around the stage.
12 December 2009 www.fresnoscene.com
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