It was a busy weekend at 176 Sawyer Street. Friday was the opening of “Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” with sold out performances all weekend. The cast was very excited with the excellent audience responses and complements after the show. The cast photo was taken after the matinee on Sunday – you can see a them below along with a shot of the Ranch Girls and Aggie Boys, all courtesy of cast member Dan Svenson.
Sunday night was the first rehearsal of “Show Stoppers” which is our annual fundraiser running March 24th, 25th and 26th. Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary defines showstopper as “1 : an act, song, or performer that wins applause so prolonged as to interrupt a performance” – and while many people think of just songs as show stoppers, this fundraiser highlights the performer aspect as well. Many Lyric regulars are set to appear - some with decades of performing experience, others with “only” several. The rehearsal covered the music for the opening and closing group numbers and many singers were able to workOnce a week rehearsals are planned until opening, making it an attractive show for busy performers.
Last night was the first rehearsal for “Ragtime”, Lyric’s final show this season. With a large cast, the theater seats were 1/3 filled with actors and the production staff for the ‘meet and greet’. Rehearsals run 4 nights a week and rehearsal space will be shared with either Best Little or Show Stoppers until the end of March. So for the next month, you could come on Sunday and Monday and see three different casts hard at work. Not bad for the ‘dead of winter’!

--Posted by Margaret Barrasso

Best Little Whorehouse Cast Photo

Ranch Girls and Aggies ham for the camera in the make-up room

Cast and Crew

Last night was a run-through of “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas”. The show opens next Friday and is well on its way to being ready. Director Vince Knue, set designer Don Smith and choreographer Nancy Salmon watched from the audience, taking notes. Music director Leslie Chadbourne was playing the show, lighting/tech designer Jim Caruthers was running the light board, costume designer Denise Knue was both watching the costumes under the lights and fitting new pieces to cast members and stage manager Doreen Caruthers was back stage changing sets with her crew. As expected, some costumes and set pieces were in use but the unfinished product was even fun to watch. Still rough around the edges with things to work on and clean up, but if everything was ready for an audience last night, the show would have peaked too early. It needs the tension of working to get ready, working to (frantically) finish up the details. The lighting cues are in, but need some timings and levels adjusted. The set crew is working to change the sets, but need practice to make them smooth. Some of the costumes are ready, some still in progress; the cast will need the next week to get used to them and practice their changes. Props are the same story – a couple more to gather and then the cast will need time to get used to them on stage. The box office opens this week, then in one short, frantic, busy week, it’s all ready for opening night.

-- Posted by Margaret Barrasso

Below are photos taken from last night's run-through rehearsal.

From the opening number:

20 Fans

Don Miller and Rickie Bogle

Mary Vaillancourt and Victor Banville

Rhonda Trask and Brian Chadbourne (playing Miss Mona and the Sheriff Ed Earl)

Miss Mona and the Ranch Girls

Melvin P Thorpe (Christopher Benoit) and his singers

Melvin speaks and they listen