Curtain Call: Live theater returns this summer around Carson City as full capacity allows for audiences
Submitted by Arianna Schmidt on Thu, 07/08/2021 - 7:50am
Live theater performances around the Carson City and Carson Valley regions have been on the back burner for over a year now as COVID-19 restricted full capacities inside audience venues.
While the pandemic brought to light numerous success stories of local businesses trying to continue operations as usual, local theater companies are no strangers to creative thinking in the last 16 months.
“We were ready to hop on stage when we heard that capacities were raised to 50 percent,” said Stephanie Arrigotti, producer and director of Western Nevada Musical Theatre Company, last spring. “But learned that social distancing restrictions were still being enforced, which lowered the capacity of the theater to about 12 percent.”
What was once Zoom sing-alongs, socially-distanced performances, and online workshops has now evolved into somewhat of a regular showtime schedule. Local companies have begun to permanently promote their shows for the second half of 2021 and beyond.
WNMTC rescheduled their revue performance to the last weekend in August, the 27, 28, and 29. This happened when news regarding Gov. Steve Sisolak’s statewide reopening plan for 100 percent capacity was announced in April.
“We are excited about the governor's new release of social distancing restrictions on June 1,” Arrigotti said in the spring. “To celebrate our return to the stage, we have named the revue "Home Again!"
According to Arrigotti, roughly 1,000 tickets have already been sold for the single-weekend performances. The show will take place in the Carson City Community Center and has showtimes in the evening at 7:30 as well as matinee at 2 p.m. Go here for tickets.
As far as children’s theater goes, Wild Horse Productions still plans to stage their rendition of “Heather’s: The Musical, High School Edition” and “Alice in Wonderland”, according to executive director Carol Scott.
“Heather’s: The Musical” is the company’s current live on-stage project, set to run one weekend only, August 5 through August 8, at the Bob Boldrick Theater inside of the Carson City Community Center.
Additionally, Wild Horse will be performing a one day, two-show special of their production “Alice in Wonderland, Jr.” on Sunday, Aug. 1 at the Brewery Arts Center outdoor stage. Tickets for both shows can be found here.
Youth Theatre Carson City is also back this summer with “Footloose: The Musical” from July 30 to Aug. 1. Performances will be held in the Bob Boldrick Theater. Tickets can be purchased here.
“We are so excited to be back presenting live, in-person programs and performances this summer to kick off our exciting tenth season,” said artistic director Andie Wilkerson. “We have so many fun things planned and cannot wait to bring the joy of theatre back to this community.”
Additionally, YTCC will be kicking off a new season with the award-winning Showstoppers Competition Team this summer, according to Wilkerson. Auditions are set for July 23 to find the team’s new group of performers.
“YTCC’s Showstoppers are a special group of performers, hand-picked from the most talented, dedicated, and enthusiastic members of the YTCC program, who tour the area bringing their love of the arts to their community,” Wilkerson said.
January 2022 will feature YTCC’s production of Disney’s “Descendants”, with auditions being held mid-August. Next summer will open “Matilda: The Musical, Jr.”, with auditions in February ahead of the July curtain. More information about shows, auditions, and workshops can be found on their website www.youththeatrecarsoncity.com.
“There is a palpable buzz around the theatre community these days as we all prepare and present our first live productions in over a year,” Wilkerson said. “(The pandemic) has brought about stronger connections, new collaborations, and deeper partnerships that I sincerely hope will continue as we move into a new normal.”
Down the road in Minden, Carson Valley Theatre Company will stage “Beautiful Noise”, a musical revue that opens on Friday, July 16 at the Carson Valley Inn Casino, according to CVCT president Lucille Rao.
The performance will run two weekends through July 25 with showtimes at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets can be reserved on their website carsonvalleycommunitytheatre.org or at showtix4u.com.
CVCT will also present the comedy “Rex’s Exes” beginning on October 15 running through October 24. Times and venue are the same as above.
