Two Shows, Two Stories

There were a couple of stories in the Herald-Dispatch yesterday all you theatre fans will want to read: one about Harvey, a show running right now at the Renaissance Theatre, and the other about Annie, a show that starts the first weekend in July.

Here's Harvey (the story was written by my pal Angela Henderson):

Fans of the stage are in for a special treat this weekend as dinner theater comes to Huntington.

ARTS Resources for the Tri-State presents Harvey, the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Mary Chase, AT 8 p.m. Friday, June 25 and Saturday, June 26 and at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, June 27 in the Renaissance Ballroom of the Renaissance Center, 900 East 8th St., in Huntington.

Dinner tickets are no longer available, but show only tickets are available at the door each night for $15. You can also order tickets online at www.733arts.org or by calling 304-733-ARTS.

Danny Ray, the production's director and designer, promises a show like no other.

"It's something that won't be experienced anywhere else in Huntington," he said. "It's going to be wonderful."

Harvey is the story of Elwood P. Dowd, who meets a mischievous spirit called a pooka that takes the form of a giant white rabbit.

"It's about Elwood visiting the town and bringing Harvey with him which embarrasses his family," Ray said. "It's a very, very funny play. It's a delightful comedy that's good for all ages."

The story is probably best known from the 1950 film starring Jimmy Stewart as Elwood.

Ray said the experience putting the performance together has been a good one.

"It's been incredible," he said. "We have a marvelous cast. The chemistry is really good. There are a lot of laughs that come out at rehearsal."

The play stars Nancy R. Jackson, Dylan Clark, Amelia Rapp, Mark Baker, Kenny Harbolt, Nick Husted, Jordan Bean, John Pritchard, Loretta Hetzer, Linda Reynolds, Brandon Ward and Jennifer Sias. Clara Adkins is the assistant director.

Staging the play in a dinner theater setting does have its challenges, Ray admitted.

"There's the artistic aspect and the restaurant portion. It lends itself to a certain type of show," he said.

Because of the limited space, Ray said different locales are suggested as opposed to full blown sets being constructed.

"Harvey" is Ray's first production in three years after he left the theater to work on his master's degree. He couldn't be happier about his choice for a comeback.

"This play is one of my favorites," he said. "It has a message but it's also very, very entertaining. It'll be a delightful evening."

And here's Annie:

Summer is officially here, and in Huntington that means one thing — Huntington Outdoor Theatre.

Those steamy July weekend nights will once again be filled with the sights and sounds of local performers bringing a classic production to life at Huntington’s Ritter Park Amphitheater. This year H.O.T. will perform Annie.

“Annie is a timeless production with great music,” said Artistic Director Helen Freeman. “This is a show that appeals to the young and the old. We’ve been trying to get the rights to this show for several years, but it’s such a popular show that this is the first time they’ve been available to us.”

The family favorite centers on the hijinks of a Depression-era orphan who is wise beyond her years. Her upbeat message is that there is always hope.

Annie will be performed at 8:30 p.m. nightly July 2-4, 9-11, 16-18 and 23-25. A special pay-what-you-will preview will take place at the final dress rehearsal on Thursday, July 1.

As always, there will be preshow entertainment at 7 p.m. each night. This year’s show will be a Taste of Broadway and will feature some of the best known numbers from Broadway classics that have been seen on the H.O.T. stage.

Freeman said this year’s production is beginning a week early at the request of the Cabell-Huntington Convention Visitors Bureau to coincide with the 2010 US Youth Soccer Region I Championships.

The early opening is also being helped in part by a donation from Massey Energy, according to Freeman. Massey matched a grant from the state to purchase new sound boards.

“They gave us $3,000 to buy two new sound boards to make 34 channels,” Freeman said. “We’re real excited because now we own all of our own equipment. Before we used stuff from Marshall (University). Now we’re independent.”

Tickets for Annie are $16 for general admission and $15 for seniors 65 and older and children ages 5-12. Children 5 and under are admitted free. Groups of 20 or more are $15 if the tickets are purchased at the same time. All tickets include a $1 surcharge for the Greater Huntington Parks and Recreation District.

Tickets can be purchased beginning at 6 p.m. at the gates on show nights. Tickets are also available at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena box office and Borders Books and Music at the Huntington Mall.

Gates open at 6:30 p.m. for picnicking. Concessions are also available. Bring your own lawn chairs or blankets.

For more information, go online at www.hotwv.org.