By Ron Evans
Theatre is slowly making a return to the Wenatchee area following a year plus of dark stages, refunded tickets and cobwebbed auditoriums. The Numerica Performing Arts Center is one such art house that is now coming back to life with a brand new Executive Director, J. Woody Lotts of Lake Forest Park, and their first full performance since the pandemic started.
Hot August Nights: Songs Stripped Down is a two-night only event featuring performances of fan favorite numbers from Rocky Horror Show, Batboy, Cabaret, Chicago, La Cage aux Folles, The Full Monty, Hands On A Hardbody, and the yet-to-be-seen Pippin. The show, originally planned for the stage inside, will be held under the warm, dusky skies of the valley in the courtyard just outside the PAC. A space that has been utilized to charming effect with Twilight Theatre featuring an outdoor performance of The Tempest in 2019.
Songs Stripped Down director Jaime Donegan says with the new mandates set in place by Governor Inslee, the move outdoors made for a safer and more compliant event. The switch will also make for some logistical challenges but that didn’t phase the director. “It’s theatre, we adjust. And honestly, it was a pretty easy fix.” Donegan said.
The idea for the show came from a simple longing to get back to utilizing the venue, according to Donegan. “Alex Haley (Program Director for Numerica PAC), and Mike Locke (Technical Director/Facilities Manager for Numerica PAC) reached out to me when I got back in town in June, and they were like, ‘let's do something.’ And so we came up with using it as sort of a teaser for Mamma Mia, which loads into the theater the day after we finish this production. And plus, we still really want to continue Hot August Nights once this is over, and we can get moving again.”
Brian Higgins, Ernest Palmer and Matthew Pippin testing the acoustics of the courtyard.
That initial idea then evolved into the organizers kicking around a list of all the songs from the different shows they have done over the years in bite size, encapsulated mini-show style. The point wasn’t to tell the whole story but to play almost like a ‘greatest hits’ of theatre from the PAC. Donegan said that was the easy part, rounding up all the cast members (many of whom currently live in other parts of the country) he wasn’t sure would be so simple.
“I called Anthony Ieradi, who lives in New York. I said, I don't know if you would be interested in doing this...but since nobody's really performing right now - he's like ‘I’m in. I’m there.’ And then I called Christina Capehart, who’s currently in Florida and it was the same thing. ‘Let’s do this.’ Then I got Alex Isom, who lives in LA and she's like, ‘yep, I'll do it.’ And so then I have local performers that are also in the show; Brian Higgins, Daina Toevs, Alesha Perrin. Ainsley Shearer, Amy Edwards, Ernest Palmer. Paul Atwood, Ally Atwood, and Matthew Pippin.”
From a directing standpoint, stitching together a showcase of pieces from multiple musicals offers a different kind of challenge than presenting a singular story on the stage, Donegan says. Especially with so little time to rehearse with the full cast. But he also feels that kind of energy is part of what will make this event special and exciting. “We have three rehearsals for this. So we are going to really be pushing it. But I have faith in all these people that they know what they're doing. And they're so dialed in. They knew not to show up just learning their stuff. They needed to know it cold, and be ready to take direction.”
Watching the group rehearse on Tuesday night was a thrill on many levels. It was nice to see these performers back in their element and doing what they are so passionate about. It was also fun to see the last minute scheming of the crew as they dialed in the sound and talked about lighting logistics while performers waved to looky-loos and sang from the bushes surrounding the courtyard. All at the helm of a director who was saying “Well, let’s try it and see how it looks. Why not? Hmmm. You know, I think it’s great!”
The cast and crew were clearly also having fun stretching their creative legs with a sense of freedom while still maintaining focus and trust on how the director was steering the ship.
“Let’s try it and see how it looks!” Donegan experimenting with staging performers Alix Isom and Ally Atwood.
Christina Capehart expressed her sentiments on being back in town for a Numerica PAC performance. “Coming back to Wenatchee to perform after a year of Covid isolation feels like a dream. Jaime is truly a miracle worker dedicated to keeping the arts thriving in this community. There is no place I’d rather be.”
Local actor Brian Higgins has similar feelings. “Being back to Hot August Nights this year is the first time I’ve felt like life can be normal since the pandemic began.”
Matthew Pippin said “It’s thrilling to be playing again with people I’ve worked with for seven seasons. Hot August Nights is the Wenatchee equivalent of American Horror Story. A new plot line each season, returning players playing different characters. It’s a gem, it’s love, and it’s life. I can’t tell you how much I love Hot August Nights.”
With 20 separate vignettes in the lineup, this will be a full evening of live theatre and music out in the courtyard. Guests will be required to mask up so bust out your finest evening facial wear and snatch up those last few tickets while you still can. VIP table seating is sold out for both shows but at the time this story was published general admission tickets were still available for both nights.
Like most performance venues the Numerica PAC has taken a major hit from the pandemic and they need your support now more than ever. What better way than with an evening of live theatre, a cold beer and some of your favorite humans? Well...there are of course other ways you can support them as well, according to Donegan.
“The PAC always could use more help. Volunteering for upcoming events, for cleaning and maintenance, all sorts of little jobs here and there. We all want this venue to keep going, and it's going to take people giving their time. Because not everybody can give big bucks. But if you can give some time - even two, three hours a week to the PAC, it will go a long way in keeping this great place for our community alive.”
SHOW TIMES:
Thursday, August 26 7:30pm
Friday, August 27 7:30pm
Tickets available at numericapac.org