The Tri-State will experience a couple of starry nights this week.This article makes some interesting points about community theatre in Huntington. It's true, for example, that community theatre in Charleston is more active than what you'll find in Huntington (although it tends to fluctuate here - some years have seen as many as seven community theatre groups putting on shows, while other years there have been as few as three).
A Starry, Starry Night cabaret fundraiser will take place Friday and Saturday, April 17-18, at the Renaissance Center, 900 8th St., Huntington. Proceeds from the event will benefit the local organization Arts Resources for the Tri-State.
Dinner will begin each night at 6:30 p.m. with the show following at 7 p.m. Tickets are $30 for dinner and show and $15 for the show only.
For reservations, call 304-733-2787.
The cabaret show was in part organized by WSAZ meteorologist Marina Jurica, who is a veteran performer and a proponent of performing arts in the community.
“We just wanted to raise money for ARTS,” Jurica said. “I think any musical theatre is important. The problem with H.O.T. (Huntington Outdoor Theatre) is that it’s only in the summer. And the problem with 5th Avenue Theatre Company is that they only do one or two shows a year. ARTS is trying to do four or five musical productions a year. Huntington doesn’t seem to have a lot of arts like Lexington, even Ashland or Charleston. I’m playing the lead in South Pacific for the Charleston Light Opera Guild now, and it’s incredible how much money and interest they have. It’s just a good thing for the community to build up the arts.”
Jurica said the funds from this particular show will go towards helping ARTS fund a fall musical.
This cabaret show will feature a dozen performers, including Jurica, Melanie Shafer, Dave Benton and Ryan Hardiman along with some of Jurica’s friends from Lexington, Ky., and the University of Kentucky Opera.
“Melanie is a church singer who wanted to help,” Jurica said. “Dave worked with H.O.T. some, but has taken a couple of years off. I just asked him for this favor. It was the same with Ryan and my friends from Lexington. They were all willing to help.”
The show will include a wide range of songs from Broadway musicals. It will feature solos, duets and group numbers with choreography.
The show’s opening number will be “Masquerade” from Phantom of the Opera.
“It’s basically all Broadway songs that will span a lot,” Jurica said. “We’ll go from the classic Phantom of the Opera to the more popular and contemporary like Rent. We’re going to span the spectrum of Broadway.”
For more information about ARTS, visit the Web site at www.733arts.org.
Of course, I'd also argue that Charleston has been at it longer, and has better funding. Where Huntington's groups tend to make their own way, Charleston's theatre groups banded together years ago and made their way through the funding maze to acquire the kind of grants and facilities to make regular theatre possible.
It's a puzzle Huntington's theatre groups have, with some exceptions, not been able to solve. Most groups live on "the gate" (ticket sales), and that's not always a reliable way to build a successful organization.
When you get down to it, the two cities are very different. Charleston has several active (and excellent) community theatre groups, but it lacks the kind of professional-level productions Marshall University presents, and it doesn't have a summer outdoor theatre group.
What Marina Jurica is pointing out (quite correctly) is the shortage of productions for and by adults, since most of Huntington's shows are focused on young performers - Marshall's student actors, First Stage's young performers, and even HOT has relied on (mostly) young casts for the past few years.
It would be great to see a group presenting "grown-up" shows to challenge our many talented adult performers in the community - but someone has to make it happen.
7 comments:
Hey Chuck,
Allen here. Both the article and your comments lead more questions about our local theatre community.
"...- some years have seen as many as seven community theatre groups putting on shows,.."
Why is it that Huntington would even have seven, count 'em seven theatre groups. Are we a large enough market to support that number of groups/shows? Obviously not.
"Of course, I'd also argue that Charleston has been at it longer...."
Have they really been at it longer or have they just been able to maintain continuity with the theatre groups that they started so many years ago?
"...Charleston's theatre groups banded together..."
Why have the powers that be in Huntington local theatre not been able to operate this way? Could it be that because of their (Charleston) ability to consolidate and willingness to cooperate over the years is what lead to their longevity and ability to acquire funding?
I certainly don't have answers, but after having become somewhat familiar with theatre in both cities, these are questions I have had for some time.
BTW, enjoy the BLOG. We read it daily.
Allen, thanks for the comments. I hope I didn't sound like I was putting down either the Charleston or Huntington community theatre groups - I was just pointing out the differences between the two. Groups in both cities are doing fantastic work every year.
To your comments: ".. Why is it that Huntington would even have seven, count 'em seven theatre groups. Are we a large enough market to support that number of groups/shows? Obviously not."
Unfortunately, it doesn't look like Huntington's community can support that many groups. Counting Marshall (which isn't really a community theatre group, but does offer shows to the community), Huntington presently has four active theatre groups - but only two (First Stage and HOT) have announced shows for the months ahead. Two others - 5th Avenue and ARTS - are planning shows, but none have been announced.
I said: "...Charleston has been at (community theatre) longer...."
And you wrote: "Have they really been at it longer or have they just been able to maintain continuity with the theatre groups that they started so many years ago?"
I'm not an expert on Charleston's theatre groups, but I think the answer is: both. They certainly have long-running groups - the Light Opera Guild is celebrating its 70th birthday, right? The oldest active theatre group in Huntington is First Stage, still a kid at 19 years old. The continuity thing is difficult - people move away, develop different interests, and it's a lot of work to stage shows - it's tough to keep a group going when key players start to drift away.
"Why have the powers that be in Huntington local theatre not been able to (work together)? Could it be that because of their (Charleston) ability to consolidate and willingness to cooperate over the years is what lead to their longevity and ability to acquire funding?"
I think that's exactly right. For whatever reason (wisdom, self-preservation, foresight, networking skills), they've been able to secure the kind of financial support any group needs to weather the lean times. There have been some efforts along that line in Huntington, but with only limited success so far.
"BTW, enjoy the BLOG. We read it daily."
Thanks - much appreciated!
Hey Chuck,
I didn't see any negativity in your comments at all. These were just some questions that had been rattling around in the empty space between my ears for quite some time.
Allen
The Light Opera Guild is celebrating their 60th anniversary. As for Kanawha Players, I believe it's their 87th season.
As for funding, does Huntington have an organization similar to Charleston's Fund for the Arts? That's a big help to not only the theatre groups here, but other arts organizations as well.
Melanie, thanks for the correction on the dates - I knew a couple of the organizations in Charleston had been around for quite a while.
As to Charleston's Fund for the Arts, Huntington doesn't have anything like it - sounds like something Huntington should be working toward. We have an organization called the Alliance for the Performing Arts, but it's not set up to finance community theatre.
I think that a lot of the reason that Charleston has so many established theatre groups is because they are each very unique in the types of productions that they put on and the audiences that they cater to. They also take more risks and understand that the actors like to be challenged with the material.
Several of the theatres have their own permanent workshops that hold rehearsal spaces, costumes, props, scene shops, and performance spaces. This helps reduce costs and also creates a reputation in the community.
The Fund for the Arts is also definitely a big help, but how does that explain the success of the Contemporary Youth Arts Company that is not funded by it?
And they, most of the time, produce their own original shows.
Huntington needs to be brave and take a jump instead of presenting mostly the same standard musical theatre that guarantees a crowd.
Thanks for the comments, Anon.
You wrote: "I think that a lot of the reason that Charleston has so many established theatre groups is because they are each very unique in the types of productions that they put on and the audiences that they cater to. They also take more risks and understand that the actors like to be challenged with the material."
I would agree, although it's a bit easier to take risks once you're established and have the backing to absorb the occasional show that loses money.
"Several of the theatres have their own permanent workshops that hold rehearsal spaces, costumes, props, scene shops, and performance spaces. This helps reduce costs and also creates a reputation in the community."
Absolutely! There's great value in that kind of consistency.
"The Fund for the Arts is also definitely a big help, but how does that explain the success of the Contemporary Youth Arts Company that is not funded by it?
And they, most of the time, produce their own original shows."
Good question. I don't know their secret, but I would attribute their success to doing quality productions and building a following with their original shows.
"Huntington needs to be brave and take a jump instead of presenting mostly the same standard musical theatre that guarantees a crowd."
Well, some groups have tried that and ended up out of business - but certainly it's possible. I'd love to see at least a mix of new shows with the standards. Maybe someday a group will make it happen!
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