PHOTO: Tyler Price Robinson is among the talented professional actors coming from cities across the U.S. to perform in Thingamajig’s summer season. He will play the small-time gambler Nicely-Nicely in “Guys and Dolls.” He’s shown marching in Pagosa’s 2018 July 4 parade, wearing his ‘UPS Guy’ costume from “Legally Blonde.” Photo courtesy Jeff Laydon, Pagosa Photography.
At a lively wine and cheese event for season ticket holders at the Pagosa Springs Center for the Arts on April 15, Tim Moore, artistic director of Thingamajig Theatre Company, announced the talented creative team that will bring three outstanding Broadway musical hits and a fundraising gala to our community this summer.
The three musicals are:
“Bright Star,” with the bluegrass score composed by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, opening Friday, June 3
“Guys and Dolls,” a romantic comedy involving a high-rolling gambler and a strait-laced missionary, opening Friday, June 17
“SpongeBob the Musical,” a family-friendly show based on the Nickelodeon animated TV series, opening Friday, July 1.
These musicals will run in rotation through most of August. This year’s fundraising Broadway Gala will take place Tuesday evening, July 26.
‘Best of Broadway’
“As we begin our 11th year, we are super excited to be presenting these musicals, which represent the best of Broadway from classic to contemporary,” Moore said. “‘Guys and Dolls’ is the iconic romantic comedy that’s on everyone’s favorites list. ‘Bright Star’ is a powerful drama featuring bluegrass music that originated in the Appalachian region of the U.S. ‘SpongeBob’ showcases the latest in technological innovation and spectacle in its staging.”
Moore pointed out that even the settings of the three shows are remarkably diverse. “Bright Star” is set in North Carolina in the 1920s and 1940s. “Guys and Dolls” is set in Damon Runyon’s New York City, with a side trip to Havana, Cuba. “SpongeBob” takes place in the underwater world of Bikini Bottom.
Returning favorites plus new faces
Professional actors, directors and designers are coming to Pagosa from cities across the U.S. to sing, dance, perform and direct in this summer’s shows. All of the actor auditions were conducted virtually, following COVID precautions in effect on Broadway and in other U.S. theaters earlier this year.
Four of the 16 actors in the cast are much-admired favorites with local and out-of-town audiences from previous performances at Thingamajig. They include Trevor Brown, Samantha Luck, Tyler Price Robinson and Allie Tamburello. Others on stage will be talented new faces. All will perform in various roles in the musicals and all will sing and dance at the gala.
“Bright Star” will be directed by Andrew Barratt Lewis. He previously directed two Thingamajig shows – “A Grand Night for Singing” at Christmas 2019 and “Miracle on 34th Street: A Live Musical Radio Play” last Christmas.
“Guys and Dolls” will be directed and choreographed by Pia Wyatt. She directed “The Who’s Tommy” in the summer of 2019 and choreographed all the 2018 summer musicals including “Legally Blonde,” “West Side Story” and “Thoroughly Modern Millie.”
“SpongeBob the Musical” will be directed by Dustin Hebert, who previously starred in “The Full Monty” and “Spamalot” in 2013. Pia Wyatt will be the show’s choreographer.
Two other admired Thingamajig alumnae are returning to add their talents and expertise to this summer’s live-theatre productions. Boni McIntyre will be the music director for all three shows. She has a wealth of experience with Thingamajig musicals, having been music director for multiple productions including “Jekyll & Hyde,” “West Side Story,” “Ring of Fire,” “Legally Blonde” and “Mamma Mia!”. Elly Hunt, who previously designed costumes for “Men on Boats,” will be the costume designer for “Bright Star.”
Season ticket special benefits
To ensure you don’t miss any of the three summer musicals, consider buying season tickets. Multiple benefits go along with being a season ticket holder including admission to Champagne Opening Nights, discounted tickets, no ticketing fees, reserved seats, complimentary exchanges and come-again tickets to see a show a second time when bringing a paying guest.
Another special incentive to become a season ticket holder is that you are invited to a Wine and Cheese Open Rehearsal on Tuesday, May 24 from 6:30 – 9pm. This event will give you an advance look at the all-star lineup of actors as they practice the songs and dances they will perform in the shows.
Season tickets are $120 per person, and $200 for a reserved seat. They are available on the theatre’s website at pagosacenter.org. Individual tickets for the shows also are available on the website: $42 for adults and $25 for kids 12 and under. Evening performances are at 7pm. and matinees are at 2pm.
Friends of the Theatre opportunities
You also can pay your annual Friends of the Theatre dues of $35 per person on the theatre’s website. Becoming a Friend brings you multiple fun interactions with the actors and directors including social gatherings, invitations to behind-the-scenes events, excursions to Williams Lake for water sports in the summer and Wolf Creek for skiing in the winter, and opportunities for one-on-one interactions if you provide rides to and from the Durango airport for traveling artists.
Thingamajig Theatre Company is an award-winning professional nonprofit 501(c)(3) theatre in residence within the Pagosa Springs Center for the Arts. Its talented actors, directors and designers come from across the U.S. and around the world to produce musicals, comedies and dramas year-round. Thingamajig also is dedicated to providing educational opportunities for youth and teens in our community.
