VCT Presents "The Old Home Place"

Vancouver Community Theater presents "The Old Home Place" a three-act play set in a small town during the 1930s. After her husband's death, widow Greta, takes over the family farm. A friendship forms with the girl next door she finds peeking over the garden wall, but the girl's mother disapproves and the mother's fiance wants to ship the girl off to boarding school.

The production opens October 4 at the Manor Grange, 17901 NE 72nd Ave., Battle Ground, Wash. and runs October 4. 5, 11 and 12 at 7 p.m. with additional matinees at 2 p.m. on October 5 and 12. The cost is $7 general and $5 for children and seniors. For more information call 360.892.4292.

Classic Musical "Godspell" Coming Soon

The cast of Pacific Stagework's production
of Stephen Schwatrz' "Godspell"

Pacific Stageworks proudly presents "Godspell," a rock musical based loosely on the Gospels.

The cast consists of actors from both the Portland and Vancouver area who create a joyous and poignant spiritual experience for the audience and actors alike, regardless of individual religious beliefs.

Running October 11-13 and 18-20 at 7:30 p.m. with 2 p.m. matinees on October 12, 13, 19 and 20, "Godspell" will be performed at the Battle Ground Community United Methodist Church (10300 NE 199th St. Battle Ground, WA 98604). Tickets are $15 online and $17 at the door and can be purchased online at www.pacificstageworks.com, by phone (360-213-5174), or at the door.

Book by John-Michael Tebelak and playful and poignant score by Stephen Schwartz (Wicked), "Godspell" includes such songs as "God Save the People," "All Good Gifts" and the international hit “Day By Day.” 

 Cast includes: Peter Liptak, Laurie Campbell-Leslie, Patti Westby, Dorinda Toner, Kathleen Jung, Zak Campbell, Rebecca Duncan, Hannah Toner and Nick Hulscher. Director Tony Bump focuses his concept on how Jesus’ message can release our potential and allow us to become our best selves. 

“Too many times we try to fit ourselves into other’s expectations,” Tony says. “Each of us is unique with different talents, personalities, and things to accomplish. The gospel can help us find out who we truly are and lead us to a more meaningful and abundant life.”

Conveyed through song, dance, and humor, the biblical parables and the crucifixion story are central elements of the musical. "Godspell" is a groundbreaking and unique reflection on the life of Jesus, with a message of kindness, tolerance and love.

THREE REVIEWS ON THEIR WAY THIS WEEKEND

This weekend we'll review three productions. That's right, three. (We're getting busy.) There are actually nine shows playing, six of which are high school productions, three of which we have previously reviewed (Love Street Playhouse's "An Inspector Calls," Battle Ground and Prairie High School's "Get Smart" and Magenta's "The 39 Steps".)

The three we are reviewing this week are Evergreen High School's "Beauty and the Beast," Fort Vancouver High School's "The Wizard of Oz" and "Rabbit Hole" at Clark College.

Look for the two high school reviews Friday at noon and the Clark review at noon Saturday.

SIX SCHOOLS STAGE SPRING SWEEP: “Beauty and the Beast,” “Get Smart,” “Hairspray,” “Hello Dolly!,” “Oliver!” and “The Wizard of Oz” all play in May

This weekend sees the local high schools staging their spring shows. Evergreen offers Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast;” Prairie and Battle Ground combine for “Get Smart” (see previous review); Union opens “Hairspray;” Hello, Dolly!” comes to Mountain View; “Oliver!” hits the stage at Hockinson; and Fort Vancouver produces “The Wizard of Oz.”

“Beauty and the Beast,” the love story of Belle and the enchanted beast prince based on the Disney animated film, runs 7 p.m., May 3, 5, 11 and 12; 2 p.m. May 12; 9 and 11 a.m. May 5 at the Evergreen HS Auditorium, 14300 N.E. 18^th St., Vancouver, Wash. The May 5, 9 and 11 a.m. shows are “Breakfast with Belle” shows. Regular shows are $7 for students and seniors, $10 adults; breakfast shows are $8 (pre-registration required). Call 360-604-3700 for tickets or visit www.ehsdrama.com for information.

“Get Smart,” based on the 1965-1970 TV show pilot, continues 7 p.m., May 3 with snack night; May 4 and 5 dinner theaters also play 7 p.m. at the Battle Ground HS Commons, 300 Main St., Battle Ground, Wash. Snack night is $7-10; dinner shows are $25-30. Call 360-513-1402 or visit www.seatyourself.biz/bghs for tickets. See our review here.

“Hairspray,” the story of segregation and a young teens’ dream to dance on a American Bandstand-type TV show set in the 1960’s, runs 7 p.m., May 3, 4, 5 and 12, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. May 11 at the Union HS Performing Arts Building, 6201 N.W. Friberg-Strunk St., Camas, Wash. $7 students and seniors, $10 adults. Call 360-604-6220 for tickets and information.

“Hello, Dolly!,” the story of a matchmaker hired to help a rich man find love falls for the man herself,  runs 7 p.m., May 3, 4 and 5, with an additional 1 p.m. show on May 5 at Mountain View HS, 1500 S.E. Blairmont Dr., Vancouver, Wash. Tickets, $8 for students and seniors, $10 for adults, available by calling 360-604-6100.

“Oliver!,” Charles Dickens’ tale of an orphan boy who escapes the workhouses to work the streets, runs 7 p.m., May 4, 5, 12 and 13 with an additional show at 1:30 p.m. May 5 at Hockinson HS, 16819 N.E. 159^th St., Brush Prairie, Wash. General admission is $5 and $6, students and children $3 and $4. Information and tickets at 360-448-6450 ext. 5619.

“The Wizard of Oz,” the story of a Kansas girl caught up by a tornado into the magical land of Oz, based on the L. Frank Baum story and MGM film, runs 5 p.m., May 3, 4 and 5 with an additional show 1 p.m., May 5 at Fort Vancouver HS, 5700 E. 18^th, Vancouver, Wash. General admission is $5 or $4 for seniors.  Call 360-313-4000 for tickets and information.

All are musicals with the exception of “Get Smart.”

By Gregory E. Zschomler