Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05
March 29, 2007 issue
Blue Ridge Community Theatre Brings Hello, Dolly! to Farthing This Week
Musical favorite Hello, Dolly! is Blue Ridge Community Theatre’s 2007 spring production. With music and lyrics by Jerry Herman and book by Michael Stewart, this beloved story is about a woman at the turn of the century who is a matchmaker and wants not only to find mates for the various couples around her, but also wants to also make a match for herself. Songs such as “Before the Parade Passes By,” “Hello Dolly” and “It Only Takes a Moment” are just some of the tunes audiences will recognize in his highly energized costume production.
Directed by Janet Barton Speer, Hello, Dolly! is produced by Alma Ward and Kathleen Rowell with orchestra direction by Graydon Eggers and music direction by Dana Davis.
Blue Ridge Community Theatre has been in operation for more than 30 years, and the Hello, Dolly! cast includes people from three High Country counties. But Blue Ridge Community Theatre is not only community theatre, it is also family theatre.
Fran Greenfield, a member of the BRCT board of directors, has been involved with the theatre for 18 years, having appeared in and directed a number of productions. Her grandson, Michael Navarro, is a sixth grader at Hardin Park Elementary and is in Hello, Dolly!, his second show with BRCT, having been in the children’s chorus in Annie. "The stage is in our genes!" Greenfield said.
Robin Austin’s father was the first Daniel Boone at Horn in the West and his mother was the first Nancy in Horn, and Robin is in Hello, Dolly! with his daughter Noelle. Robin’s wife Anne (now deceased) appeared with Robin and their three children in numerous BRCT productions, including the first Hello, Dolly! and Peter Pan. Noelle played Tinkerbelle in Peter Pan. Their boys Grant and Jordan were lost boys in Peter Pan and have also played in other productions.
Helen Phillips is appearing in the chorus of Hello, Dolly! with her granddaughter Sirena Roe. Sirena’s mother, Anna Keber, appeared in several 1970s BRCT musicals, along with Helen and Helen’s other daughter Lida Keber. “For 30 years, the BRCT musicals have for me ushered in spring by the excitement of appearing on stage, singing fun songs, and the satisfaction of working with other people to create a great show,” Helen said. “It’s always been a superb pleasure to watch Janet Speer direct, taking people who’ve never appeared on stage and turning out a professional-level production. I’m more grateful to her than I can say for the fabulous experience she’s made possible for me and for my children. And now my grandchild.”
Laura McKinney and her father Scott McKinney appear together in Hello, Dolly! Scott first appeared in a BRCT production in 1982’s My Fair Lady when he played a street kid.
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Laura Carringer and her daughter Amanda appear together in Hello, Dolly! Laura has played in summer theatre productions Speer has directed at Lees-McRae College. “I wanted Amanda to have the opportunity to see how a full production is put together, to see if this may be something she’d like to do,” said Laura. Amanda said, “This is a great time to spend together. Mom and I are so busy all the time. It’s something we can do together.”
Mark Gay and his son Bryan appeared together last year in Children of Eden and are both in Hello, Dolly! Bryan also appeared in Annie. Mark said, “This is lots of fun. It provides me lots of quality time with Bryan. And we meet a lot of interesting people.”
Julie Hedrick and her daughter Lauren have appeared together in seven past BRCT and Lees-McRae productions. Julie said, “Janet [Speer] is so delightful to work with, and she keeps her heart in the right place. That makes it fun. It’s a great thing for us to do together.”
Performances of Hello, Dolly! at Farthing Auditorium are Friday, March 30, through Sunday, April 1. Show time on Friday and Saturday is 8:00 p.m. Performances on Saturday and Sunday are at 2:00 p.m.
Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students and children. Obtain tickets in advance from the Farthing Box Office at 828-262-6084 or plan to purchase tickets at the door.
Want To Go?
Dates: Friday, March 30, to Sunday, April 1
Times: 8:00 p.m. March 30 and 31/2:00 p.m. March 30 and April 1
Location: Farthing Auditorium, ASU
Cost: $15 adults/$10 students and children