"Shenandoah"

   There's a great story in today's Herald-Dispatch by Dave Lavender about the musical Shenandoah, which takes the stage tonight at the old Huntington High School. (The photo above is by Toril Lavender.)

   You can read the story right here - and here's an excerpt:

   If you hear musket fire from inside the old Huntington High School this weekend, you might not want to call the cops, it's just the folks at Arts Resources of the Tri-State turning back the clock to the drama of the Civil War. 

   Armed with an orchestra, a more than 40-member cast and crew and a Tony Award-winning story, director Stephen Vance and ARTS presents a rare local performance of the Civil War-themed musical "Shenandoah" at the Huntington High Renaissance Center, located at 900 8th St., Huntington. 

   "Shenandoah," runs 8 p.m. Oct. 11-12 and Oct. 18-19. Matinee shows are 3 p.m. on Oct. 13 and 20. Cost is $15 for show only and $30 for Friday and Saturday dinner and a show. 

   Call 304 733 ARTS(2787) or get tickets at the door. Dinner reservations fill up quickly and should be reserved in advance. 

   Vance, one of ARTS' four company directors, which also includes Gene Anthony, Bil Neal and Michael Murdock, said he picked this musical to do after falling in love with a song from the show ("I've Heard it All Before") that Neal sang a couple years ago at a cabaret. 

   "The original reason I picked the show was hearing him sing a song from the show, and then when I read the script it was crazy good. The script is what won it the Tony for Best Book." Vance said the fact that the musical, which was out in 1974-1975, and based on the 1965 non-musical film starring Jimmy Stewart, had never been done here was a good reason to put on the show, as was the fact that this is the 150th anniversary of West Virginia, the only state born out of the Civil War.