Brownsville’s Camille Playhouse celebrates 55 years

February 4, 2019July 2, 2022 / Roadtirement / 2 Comments

Brownsville,Texas is home to a delightful community theater, the Camille Playhouse. Born of humble beginnings in 1963, this vibrant theater has become a beloved source for live theater in the Rio Grande Valley.

Sher and I attended a Saturday night performance of a musical classic: A Chorus Line. The theater is located in Dean Porter Park, a Brownsville city park. The lobby is warm and welcoming when you arrive to purchase your tickets. The theater itself is comfortable with all seats having a clear view of the stage.

We really enjoyed the performance of A Chorus Line. Chris Ikner directs. During the performance, which ran two hours without intermission, Sher and I were continuously surprised with the very talented cast. The choreography was, well, high stepping to say the least. Numbers such as “One” are performed with precision. Several of the cast have excellent voices and share that talent on stage.

A Chorus Line offers song, dance, humor and heart wrenching drama as a group of strangers compete for one of a limited number of spots in the chorus line of a Broadway play. The Camille Playhouse version of the musical is moving, well acted, fun and worth seeing. The show will be onstage February 8th, 9th and 10th. If the quality of A Chorus Line is any indication, we would suggest enjoying any production at Camille Playhouse.

Check future productions at the Camille Playhouse website.

“The Lost Colony” brings history to the outdoor stage

July 13, 2016July 2, 2022 / Roadtirement / Leave a comment

1st contact between Indians and English

The Lost Colony of Roanoke Island has been the subject of study by historians for centuries. For the past 79 years the Roanoke Island Historical Association has put on a play that gives the history of the lost settlement and one version of what happened to the missing settlers.

This production is a wonderful play. The costumes and sets are fantastic and the actors are professionals who give great performances. The outdoor theatre is very comfortable and all seats provide good views of the stage. The show has all the elements of a top notch production including a seamless narration given by a “National Park Ranger”.

The story line traces the history of the early English explorations in the New World. The interaction between the Indians and the English is portrayed with drama and in a couple of cases violence. The scenes shift back and forth between Roanoke Island and Queen Elizabeth and the English Royal Court and the docks in London.

Lavish costume for “Queen Elizabeth” (Emily Asbury)

Actor Christian Muller

We were able to chat with one of the cast members prior to the show. Christian Durand Muller was a delight to talk with and, as part of the Choir, added greatly to the production.

The Waterside Theatre is located within the grounds of the Fort Raleigh National historic Site. The Outer Banks of North Carolina is a popular travel destination. When you visit be sure to get tickets for “The Lost Colony”. Here is the website.

Old Tom (Robert Hooghkirk)

Sure looks like a ship sailing off to the New World!

Don Bridge portrays NPS Historian (narrator)

Indy’s Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre presents “Guys and Dolls”

April 3, 2016July 2, 2022 / Roadtirement / 4 Comments

Nathan and Adelaide Photo courtesy Beef & Boards Media

The musical comedy Guys and Dolls is now running at Beef & Boads Dinner Theatre on the northwest side of Indianapolis. This intimate venue, beloved by Indy theater goers for decades, provides a perfect setting for this sometimes madcap story of two couples attempting to sort out their feelings.

The cast is filled with Beef and Boards favorties. Eddie Curry has the role of pro gambler Nathan Detroit. Nathan is in a race to procure a location for the biggest craps game ever seen. Adding to the frivolity is the local cop, played by Daniel Scharbrough, who is constantly breathing down Nathan’s neck in an effort to bust the game. Enter Sky Masterson who will bet on anything. Nathan sees this as a chance to make a sure bet with Masterson in order to get the cash to rent the place for the craps game.

The bet brings in a sweet, innocent Mission worker named Sarah Brown, played by Betsy Norton. The bet is that Masterson can get Sarah to go to Havana, Cuba with him for dinner. Meanwhile Nathan is still wooing Miss Adelaide, played by Deb Wims. Nahan and Adelaide have been “engaged” for 14 years. Both men have different ideas of romance. Both women also have different ideas about their perfect man.

Things get crazy quickly. The floating craps game ends up in a couple of unlikely places. Sky and Sarah go to Havana and return. Nathan and Adelaide plan more than one wedding time. Other gamblers join in the search for the perfect game. The cop keeps trying to bust the game. Laced throughout the cast sings, dances, laughs and just carries on!

This favorite won a Tony for Best Musical when on Broadway. The Beef and Boards version features all of the famous songs including “Luck Be A Lady Tonight” and “Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat”.

Guys and Dolls runs through May15 at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre. You will really love the buffet that Chef Odell Ward prepares for this production.

Call for reservations at the Beef & Boards box office at 317-872-9664 or visit the Beef & Boards website here.

“The Guys” Photo courtesy Beef & Boards Media