Broadway musical set for Friday and Saturday at Prairie View's Performing Arts Center

Alex Raphael-Martin as Legs-Ruby and Cali Hurt as Trixie perform "I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy" during rehearsals on Tuesday, Nov. 11. The song was one of many well know tunes that will be performed on Friday and Saturday. (Images by Roger Sims / Linn County Journal)

By Roger Sims, staff writer

rsims@linncountyjournal.com

This week’s production of the classic musical Give My Regards to Broadway at the Prairie View Performing Arts Center is one of the most expansive in the school district’s history. It also promises to be one of the most entertaining when it opens for a two-performance run on Friday, Nov. 14 with curtains opening a 7 p.m.

A matinee performance is scheduled for the next day, Saturday, Nov. 15, with curtains opening at 3 p.m. Seating begins a half hour before each performance. Both shows are open to the public and there is a modest admission charge to help cover production costs.

Based on the songs by composer George M. Cohan, a prolific playwright and entertainer during the first half of the 20th century, the musical is the story of a Broadway producer who is trying to open a show in the theater district in New York City but is having trouble raising money to do it.

With a cast of 29 middle- and high-school actors and 17 students handling lights, sound, props and costumes, Give My Regards to Broadway is one of the more ambitious productions in the Performing Art Center's history.

Enter an aspiring actress, a bookie on the run from the mob, a bevy of showgirls, a last minute financier, and add in songs, dancing, and romance and you have the classic musical. The costumes and hairstyles truly bring back visions of the 1930s and ‘40s.

The production has nearly 30 actors from the middle and high schools as well as a full complement of stage crew, sound booth and lighting personnel.

Callen Mowery as Eddie and Cheyanne Moss as Betty perform a duet.

The production has come together over the last two months under combined talents of production director Austin Pixton, musical director James Beltz, choreography director Raquel Beltz, and artistic design director Jaqueline Beltz.

Particularly noteworthy is the piano performance of James Beltz, who plays piano throughout the production. Songs include many Cohan favorites including the title “Give My Regards to Broadway,” “I’m a Yankee Doodle Dandy,” “You’re a Grand Old Flag,” and many more.