At a lively wine and cheese event exclusively for season ticket holders at the Pagosa Springs Center for the Arts on March 26, Tim Moore, artistic director of Thingamajig Theatre Company, previewed the three Broadway musical hits, a fundraising gala and a special children’s show that will make up the professional live theatre’s ‘Broadway in the Mountains’ season this summer.
The three musicals are “The Great American Trailer Park Musical” opening June 2, “Jersey Boys” opening June 16, and “Godspell” opening June 30. They will run in rotation until late August. Evening performances are at 7pm and matinees are at 3pm.
“Newsies Jr.,” playing July 15 and 16, will be the theatre’s Whatchamawhozits children’s summer camp show.
This year’s fundraising Broadway Gala fundraiser will take place Tuesday evening, July 25.
Best of Broadway
“The Great American Trailer Park Musical” is a heartwarming musical comedy about the female experience that explores the complicated relationships between a group of misfits living at a trailer park in Florida. It was performed off-Broadway in 2005, toured nationally in 2008, played at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and in the U.K. that year, and also spawned a Christmas version.
“Jersey Boys” became an international music phenomenon as it dramatized the story of the formation, success, eventual breakup and great music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, the iconic ‘60s rock ‘n’ roll group. Winner of the Tony, Grammy and Olivier awards for best musical, it later became a hit movie. One of the bestselling groups of all time, the Four Seasons sold an estimated 100 million records worldwide and were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
“Godspell” is structured as a series of parables principally based on the Gospel of St. Matthew, interspersed with multiple music styles. It was a long-running success off-Broadway and in touring productions, and enjoyed a 2011 Broadway revival. Several cast albums have been released over the years. One of its songs, “Day by Day” from the original cast album, reached #13 on the Billboard pop singles chart in 1972.
Returning favorites plus new talent
Highlight of the season ticket holders event was Moore’s introduction via anecdotes and audition videos of the professional actors, directors and production experts who are coming to Pagosa from cities across the U.S. to direct, sing, dance and perform in this summer’s shows.
Five of the 14 actors this summer are much-admired favorites with local and out-of-town audiences from previous performances at Thingamajig. They include Trevor Brown, Rosa Campbell, Kristi Contreary, Samantha “Sam” Luck and Allie Tamburello. Rosa Campbell also will be stage manager. As an added bonus, dancer Dani Loewen returns as the choreographer for “Jersey Boys.”
Others on stage will be talented new faces.
All the actors were recruited by Moore on a month-long nationwide audition trip that took him to New York City, Memphis and Michigan where he saw 7,800 artists and issued callbacks to 300 before choosing the final 14. “This is a singers’ season, so everyone is a very strong vocalist,” Moore said. “It was exciting to see so much fresh new talent.
“I was very impressed with the wave of skilled young actors that I met. I’m sure some of them will make it to Broadway as their careers advance, as several past Thingamajig alumni have done. It is a thrill for us to have them perform on our stage this summer, along with some of our most popular stars.”
Top directors take leadership roles
Ann Evans Watson comes from Michigan to direct and choreograph “The Great American Trailer Park Musical” in her first appearance at Thingamajig. She is associate professor of musical theatre at the University of Michigan, an Equity actor, vocal instructor and coach. Many of her students have performed on Broadway and have won prestigious acting awards.
Dennis Elkins comes from New York City to direct “Jersey Boys.” The former head of the Fort Lewis College theatre department, he is well known to Thingamajig audiences. Here he starred in dramas including “Red,” “A Picasso” and “A Few Good Men;” played major roles in musicals like “Cabaret” and “Hairspray;” directed hits like “Thoroughly Modern Millie” and “A Christmas Carol” and wrote and starred in a one-man autobiographical trilogy.
Andrew Barratt Lewis comes from Utah to direct and choreograph “Godspell.” He is associate professor of musical theatre at Weber State University in Utah and well known as a director and choreographer. Also a Thingamajig favorite, he previously directed “Bright Star” here last summer, as well as the Christmas shows “Grand Night for Singing” and “Miracle on 34th Street.”
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!”.
Mackenzie Lowe returns to Thingamajig as lighting designer, a key role she has held here since 2019.
Season ticket 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 invitations to exclusive events, free drink tokens on Opening Weekends, discounted tickets, no ticketing fees, reserved seats, unlimited ticket exchanges at no extra charge, and come-again tickets to see a show a second time while bringing a paying guest when you attend an Opening Weekend performance.
Season tickets are $120 per person, and $200 for a reserved seat. They are available on the theatre’s website at pagosacenter.org or by phoning the box office at 970-731-SHOW (7469).
Individual tickets for the shows also are available on the website: $42 for adults (“Trailer Park” and “Jersey Boys” are recommended for more mature audiences) and $25 for kids 12 and under for “Godspell.”
Insights on today’s artistic world
During his presentation to the enthusiastic audience of season ticket holders, Moore shared his insights into the world of theatre, which has been so devastated by COVID.
“So many colleagues and so many artistic organizations are gone for good,” he lamented. “Yes, the big guys like Disney and the cruise lines are still here. But the effect of COVID on the industry has been monumental.
“We are so grateful to all our supporters that Thingamajig has survived this very difficult time,” he said to a spontaneous round of applause.
“It’s going to be a great summer,” someone called out from the audience.
Thingamajig Theatre Company was cofounded in 2011 by Tim and Laura Moore. It is an award-winning professional nonprofit 501c3 theatre in residence within the Pagosa Springs Center for the Arts. Its talented actors, directors and production experts come from across the U.S. and around the world to produce musicals, comedies and dramas year-round. Thingamajig also is dedicated to providing theatrical experiences and educational opportunities for youth and teens in our community.
