Coming off a record breaking season, New West is excited to present another eclectic season this year.
This season really does have something for everyone,” said New West Theatre Artistic Director Kelly Reay.
The first official show of the season is a music comedy revue “ Totally ’80s,” which is a tribute to the music and styles of the ’80s.
“We’ve never fully explored the ’80s before in our music comedy revues. There are a lot of young families and professionals who will be really interested in that show,” Reay said.
The show runs Aug. 7-24.
But there are a couple New West Theatre adjacent shows happening before that.
Up first, get all shook up with A Tribute to Elvis,” starring Matt Cage.
“ He played Elvis during the Million Dollar Quartet. Tickets are selling really fast for that show. It was a nice opportunity to bring him back,” Reay said.
That show is happening for two nights only, June 22 and 23 at the Yates Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Each night.
Then, Hootenanny returns to Galt Gardens with a new original theatre for Young Audiences show “Scout and the Rarest Badge Ever,” written and directed by Hootenanny veteran Ahona Sanyal.
“ That’s a great story ,” Reay said, adding part of New West Theatre’s goals is developing up and coming young artists.
“Ahona has been involved with Hootenanny for about five years . She started out as an actor with Hootenanny and was assistant director for the last show and now she has written and is directing this show,” Reay enthused. “ Scout and the Rarest badge Ever,” runs July 2-26 Tuesday to Friday in the northwest corner of Galt Gardens at 10:30 a.m. Admission to this family friendly play is free.
New West Theatre is doing something new and a little scary for Halloween in October. They are putting on a performance of William Goldman’s play based on Stephen King’s novel “ Misery.”
“ We’ve never done anything like that before,” Reay said.
Reay is excited about the annual holiday show “ Rock The Halls,” a New West music comedy revue running Dec. 11-28 in the Yates Theatre.
“ Elf The Musical” was almost at 100 per cent capacity every night, so that showed us there is a demand for holiday specific programming. We may look at that again in two or three years,” Reay said, adding The local theatre company, which is entering its thirty-sixth season, is excited about last season’s record breaking attendance.
“ It means a lot that people want to support local theatre. It feels good performing for the city and families,” he said.
the season ends in February with a Closer Walk With Patsy Cline, running Feb. 13-23 in the Yates Theatre.
The show stars New West Theatre Veteran Erica Hunt who will lead the audience through the life and music of country star Patsy Cline , following her rise to fame starting out performing in small town Virginia to the Carnegie Hall.
“ Erica has performed Patsy Cline sets before Legends of Rock and Country last February and in some of the other shows. But this is a full show,” Reay said.
Casting still needs to be completed for the season.
There will be auditions in June and July.
Tickets and seasons passes for New West Theatre’s season are available though 403-329 7328 or www.newwesttheatre.com.
— by Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor
