Western Playhouse, the summer theatre company at Missouri Western State University, will present musicals old and new in its third season. Meredith Willson’s perennial favorite, “The Music Man,” will be produced June 20-28, and “Mother Divine,” an official selection of the New York Musical Theatre Festival’s 2013 Next Link Project, will be produced July 11-19. Both productions will be staged in Potter Hall on the Missouri Western campus. Auditions for both productions will be held in Kansas City and St. Joseph next month. Tickets will cost $22.50 for adults and $9.50 for youth 17 and under, with family discounts available.
“We are excited to bring these great musicals to life,” said Dr. Bob Willenbrink, producing director and founding dean of Missouri Western’s School of Fine Arts. “‘The Music Man’ is a family classic that will be enjoyed by young and old alike. ‘Mother Divine’ is an award-winning new script that will continue to grow in popularity as it reaches new audiences.”
Equity and non-Equity principal auditions for actor/singers who can dance will be held on March 15 at Crown Center in Kansas City, Mo., and on March 16 at Potter Hall on Missouri Western’s campus, from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. each day. Sign up for an audition time at www.westernplayhouse.com/auditions.
Western Playhouse is also seeking technicians for both productions. Visit www.westernplayouse.com/technicians to apply for a spot on the technical crew.
“Music Man” won five Tony Awards, including Best Musical, when it debuted on Broadway in 1957. Willson described the musical as “an Iowan’s attempt to pay tribute to his home state.” Harold Hill’s latest con is to sell band instruments and uniforms to parents with promises that he would form a band, then skip town once the goods arrive. But his scheme in River City, Iowa, hits a snag when he falls in love with the town’s librarian. With familiar tunes like “Seventy-six Trombones,” “(Ya Got) Trouble” and “Till There Was You,” “The Music Man” is one of the most beloved musicals ever produced. It will be performed at 7:30 p.m. June 20, 21, 26, 27 and 28, and at 2 p.m. June 22.
“Mother Divine” is based on the real-life events of the Depression-era Harlem evangelist Father Divine. The musical takes a comic look at the two “Mother Divines” and their husband who claimed to be God. Father Divine’s claims of immortality hit a snag with the untimely death of his presumed-to-be-immortal wife. When Father tells his flock that he “reincarnated” Mother as a young blonde bombshell known as “Mother in the Second Body,” the spirit of the original Mother Divine returns to set the record straight. “Mother Divine” was written by Laurel Klinger Vartabedian of St. Joseph (book and lyrics) and Bill Evans (music). “Mother Divine” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. July 11, 12, 17, 18 and 19, and 2 p.m. July 13.
“Nearly two years ago, I was chatting with Laurel Vartabedian and learned she had written a musical that was in competition for production in New York City,” said Dr. Gordon Mapley, Western Playhouse co-founder and executive producer and dean of the Western Institute at Missouri Western. “I read the script, studied the historical underpinnings of the play and eventually viewed clips of the New York City production. Loving the musical, I sought Laurel’s approval for the Western Playhouse to be the first company to produce the play after the New York Musical Theatre Festival. We appreciate the opportunity to work with Laurel and some of her New York contacts to produce an exciting 2014 Playhouse.”
The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) is considered the preeminent festival for launching new musicals. “Mother Divine” was one of ten shows selected as a Next Link Project out of over 200 complete shows submitted. “Mother Divine” is also being prepared for a Los Angeles-area production this summer.
Western Playhouse was founded in 2012 as a unit of the Western Institute at Missouri Western. It is a resident summer theatre company utilizing professional actors.
Missouri Western State University is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit www.missouriwestern.edu.