Hey, look what's happening behind the Cheddar Curtain. The Milwaukee Repertory Theater has included the Roger Bean musical "Route 66" as part of its 2010-2011 season. Here's a taste of what it's like: The production runs until April 25. You can buy tickets here.
Category: Theaters
The power of dedicated volunteers
This story in the Tulsa World does a good job in explaining how a bunch of volunteers helped return the historic Coleman Theatre in Miami, Okla., to its original grandeur. Barbara Smith, the executive director, once told me that the theater was very close to meeting the wrecking during the 1980s. The theater was eventually … Continue reading The power of dedicated volunteers
“Route 66” musical hits the road
Springer Theatricals is taking its "Route 66" musical on the road this winter and spring, including two towns on the Mother Road next month. Here's the play's premise, according to BroadwayWorld.com: In this musical comedy, a gang of rowdy Chicago service station attendants (played by Brian C. Gray, Dylan R. Hauck, Reid Robinson and Casey … Continue reading “Route 66” musical hits the road
The phantom musician
This is the restored Mighty Wurlitzer organ that you can hear when you tour the historic Coleman Theatre Beautiful in Miami, Okla. The medley of songs from "The Phantom of the Opera" musical comes from an electronic player-recording of a local musician when she performed it. The last part of this video is taken in … Continue reading The phantom musician
Notes from the road
If you're traveling the Mother Road this week, you may have to make other plans for the midsection. As this map from the National Weather Service shows, the Route 66 corridor is under a winter storm warning all the way from about Springfield, Mo., to Gallup, N.M. -- much of it freezing rain. Authorities closed … Continue reading Notes from the road
Route 66 documentary to be screened at Coleman Theatre
"Bones of the Old Road," a documentary about exploring obscure alignments of Route 66, will be screened at the historic Coleman Theatre in Miami, Okla., at 7 p.m. Nov. 24. The film's hosts, Route 66 researchers Jim Ross and Jerry McClanahan, along with "Bones of the Old Road" camera operator, producer and editor Kathy Anderson, … Continue reading Route 66 documentary to be screened at Coleman Theatre
Shakespeare in the raw
Theatre group Avenue 10 in Amarillo will stage an adaptation of William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream." The unique thing is the actors are reportedly going to perform at least parts of the play nude, according to KFDA-TV. It's going to be titled "Midsummer Night's Nude." And, yes, this story has a Route 66 connection. … Continue reading Shakespeare in the raw
National Park Service launches Route 66 site
The Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program is already under the auspices of the National Park Service. But the NPS recently launched a Route 66 "Discover Our Shared Heritage" travel itinerary site that should prove useful to novice travelers and be informative to researchers. Funded in part by American Express and the World Monuments Fund, the … Continue reading National Park Service launches Route 66 site
Slide in to the drive-in
The Joplin Globe has a nice article and photo slide show about the historic 66 Drive-In theater in Carthage, Mo. Check it out. The story contains a notable quote from a local historian: “It (Route 66) reminds us of an era that’s passed us by,” said Brad Belk, director of the Joplin Museum Complex. “It … Continue reading Slide in to the drive-in
New musical features Route 66
Village Theatre, a company based in the Seattle area that concentrates on performing new plays, will present a Mother Road-related production during the Village Originals' ninth annual Festival of New Musicals this week. Productions will be held at the Francis J. Gaudette Theatre in Issaquah, Wash. These will be staged readings -- no sets, but … Continue reading New musical features Route 66