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Cultural Scene and Heard: Entertainment Worth Saving – Super Summer Theatre
By Aly Wagonseller
It’s been a tough year for state legislators trying to balance a budget fraught with revenue losses from a declining tax base. So tough that they considered closing down several state parks, including Spring Mountain Ranch, the charming, country getaway that houses some of the best community theatre in the state. No wine? No cheese? No Super Summer Theatre under the stars? After 34 seasons, a crowd that’s gone from barely noticeable to more than 35,000 patrons per year, and substantial upgrades to this modest, yet capable facility, Super Summer Theatre almost fell victim to an economic empty pot; one, some say, has nary a rainbow in sight. Luckily, they’ve survived a near cultural catastrophe, returning with another season of fanciful productions, unparalleled talent, and what many consider a much needed respite from the glitz and fast paced pulse of daily Vegas living.
Jump starting this year’s agenda is P.S. Productions’ rendition of Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka. Talented local producer Philip Shelburne, who tackled last year’s Buddy Holly Story, is back with this timeless tale about the whacky, inner workings of eccentric candy tycoon Willy Wonka and a poor, yet kind hearted boy destined to be his successor, little Charlie Bucket. Adults will love the irony and quick wit of Dahl’s intelligent writing style, while kids will delight in the fast paced storyline and whimsical collection of characters, including the infamous Oompa Loompas. Opening night for the production is June 9th, with subsequent performances running each Wednesday-Saturday evening through June 26th.
Jazzing things up in the month of July, audiences are transported back to the 1920s and 30s Manhattan club scene in Stage Door Entertainment’s Ain”t Misbehavin”. Named after the award winning Fats Waller tune, the play serves as a tribute to the black musicians of the era who helped to spurn a cultural revolution of creativity and ethnic pride known as the Harlem Renaissance. Piano playin’, rowdy songs and exuberant performances that exude Waller’s playful attitude on life make for a finger snappin’, toe tappin’ jivefest. The production runs each Wednesday-Saturday night from July 7th through July 24th.
The season rounds out with Signature Productions’ adaptation of Damn Yankees, a modernized retelling of the Faust, “sell your soul to the devil” legend set on the baseball fields of the 1950s; a time when everyone was gunning to beat the Yankees! Famous tunes include the campy “Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets”, sung by the devil’s tempting seductress of the same name, and the inspirational “You Gotta Have Heart”. Performances start August 11th. The British National Theatre of America’s The Foreigner will also be held in September. Visit www.SuperSummerTheatre.com for ticket information and schedules.
