Playhouse opens for 51st season
Though the official first day of summer isn't until June 21, summer will arrive in Bigfork on Friday, when the Bigfork Summer Playhouse opens its first production.
The playhouse's 51st season kicks off with "Forbidden Broadway," a long-running off-Broadway musical revue.
The small four-person cast began rehearsals in Missoula last week, as one of the cast members finished up school.
"It's been fast and furious," director David Cody said.
The show parodies famous Broadway tunes, characters and plots ranging from "Hello Dolly" to "Hairspray."
"The nice thing about doing it is that it has something for all ages of Broadway fans," Cody said.
The show also pokes fun at a number of Broadway icons like Ethel Merman and Liza Minnelli.
"It's complete silliness," Cody said. "My take is that every art form needs a pie in the face once in awhile. It's refreshing to do a show like this."
Cody, who is a veteran director with the playhouse and teaches voice at the University of Montana, said he's used to plays opening the season with a small cast, but not quite ones of this nature. Its comical and fast-paced qualities make it an ideal taste of theatre.
"It's like an appetizer before dinner," Cody said.
Choreographer Heather Adams of Missoula said the show is challenging, as actors have to switch styles quickly from a range of shows.
"It's been great working with the guys. They're all professionals," Adams said.
The show features actors Jessica Spencer, Randy Scholz, Nikki Spies and Andy Meyers. It will also be a lot different than the other show Adams is working on this season with the playhouse — "Fiddler on the Roof." With "Forbidden Broadway," she's gotten a taste of several shows she'd never choreographed before.
Even for those who don't know the shows, Adams said those who love music will still find it enjoyable. It's more songs than your average musical, she said.
"I think it's suitable for all ages," Cody said. "There's a saucy reference or two, but it's a clean show."
The show opens at 8 p.m. Friday, May 14, followed by a reception to meet the cast and crew. It runs through June 16.
For ticket information, call the box office at 837-4886 or visit www.bigforksummerplayhouse.com.
The rest of the playhouse cast arrives Sunday, May 16, to begin rehearsals for the other shows this season.
The next show to open will be "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels," based on the 1988 film about two conmen living in the French Riviera. That show opens June 5.
"I've been in town a couple days and the joint is jumping," Cody said Monday. "People are here. Let's do some theatre."
2010 season line up
The following shows will be on stage this summer in Bigfork:
-"Forbidden Broadway" opens May 14
-"Dirty Rotten Scoundrels' opens June 5
-"Fiddler on the Roof" opens June 8
-"Sugar Babies' opens June 22
-"All Shook Up" opens July 6
"Tom Foolery" opens Aug. 26