Theater steals show in tough economy
Audiences turned out in large numbers to support live shows at their local playhouses.
By BARBARA L. FREDRICKSEN, Arts & Entertainment
Published December 28, 2007
Despite gloomy economic times in some sectors of the local scene, the year 2007 was one of the best ever at local live theaters, with audiences attending in record numbers.
The Show Palace Dinner Theatre scored a couple of successful "firsts" this year, most notably the first show with "real" artificially-created rain on the stage and the first two-person show.
The rain happened during the musical comedy Singin' in the Rain, after set designer Tom Hansen installed a series of pipes, pumps, valves and drains that released a semisheet of rain along the front of the stage as singer-dancer Chris Warren Murry sang and splashed his way through the title song as he swung a big, black umbrella.
That spectacle, combined with a stellar cast and story, helped to push ticket sales to a near all-time high, as Singin' in the Rain edged close to the attendance record set in 2004 by another musical, Chicago.
The first two-person show at the Show Palace, Greater Tuna, was scheduled for a short run of four weekends, but it pulled in so many patrons the Show Palace had to add a performance to accommodate the demand.
The script and concept of Greater Tuna has drawn crowds across the country for decades, but Show Palace patrons indicated it was as much their love of stars Matthew McGee and Candler Budd as it was interest in the show that prompted them to purchase tickets.
The year 2008 will see still another "first" at the Show Palace, specifically, total nudity on stage, when the male members of the musical comedy The Full Monty will take it all off at the climax of the show.
The Show Palace also added a full-time costume designer and creator when Angela Hoerner came on board, thus completing the all in-house production staff.
Richey Suncoast Theatre makeover
Meanwhile, down the road in New Port Richey, the Richey Suncoast Theatre launched a $260,000 remodeling of the interior of the building in mid-summer.
The exterior has undergone a total redo during the past few years, including covering the roof dome in gold, painting the outside walls and installing stylish art deco signs across the front of the building and neon signs above the box office and concession stand counters.
The current project includes refurbished seats and a new fire-suppressing sprinkler system, recessed ceiling lights and high-fashion chandeliers, ceiling tiles, air conditioning, wall sconces and aisle lighting and carpeting. Three-tiered fabric wall coverings with indirect lights will be installed in early 2008.
The art deco makeover also includes sheets of polymer that look like waves of undulating aluminum and silver along the lower walls and on the fronts of the two new sub-balconies that hold light and sound controls.
In addition to the decorating update, the theater expanded its program to include regular concerts by Parsons' Big Band and by the group Cover to Cover, led by singer Susan Falcone.
Also in theremodeling mood
The Pasco Arts Council continued to remodel and upgrade its arts center in Holiday, helped with funds raised during its first ever Attic Sale in June.
The council's executive director, Ann Larsen, and a crew of volunteers cleaned out closets and storage areas at the art center and added donated art supplies and art work to put in the sale.
Scores of buyers lined up long before the sale opened for the chance to get art bargains, which raised several thousand dollars for art center programs and supplies.
A second, expanded sale of frames, mats, canvases, paper, brushes, easels, art supply cases, craft items, baskets, holiday decorations and other arts items will be held 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 26.
A sad note in the arts scene was the sudden closing of the Center Stage for Theatre and Performing Arts Academy in late November because of increased costs.