Trip a valuable chance for theater students

It's not easy for a public school to take hat in hand to try to finance a long-distance trip. But what can an instructor do when his students have performed one of the best local productions of the year and have a chance to get exposure and audition opportunities at a thespian festival?

Easy answer: You swallow hard and take hat in hand.

In reviewing director John Morris' November Las Vegas Academy production of the Roger Miller musical "Big River" (based on Mark Twain's "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn"), I wrote, "It's a joyful, communal, irresistible experience that earns your good will." The show has stayed in my mind, and I'm glad that perhaps more people will get to see it. I'm also looking forward to the cast getting a further opportunity to grow by getting a week's worth of feedback from instructors from all over the country.

The destination is Lincoln, Neb., June 25-30. You can imagine the logistics involved in getting about 80 students in flight, housed, fed and ready to perform (not to mention the curfew restrictions). Then there's the set and lighting equipment that requires its own truck. And then there's the money.

"Most of the money is coming from the students and department funds," 46-year-old department chairman Morris explains. "The total cost is about $100,000. The students pay $1,250 each, but some of them can't afford it, and we provide scholarships. We've never been able to raise even 50 percent of the costs."

The academy is also hosting a fundraising production of David Rimmer's "New York" - about events surrounding Sept. 11, 2001, - at 7 p.m. today and Saturday at the Black Box Theatre.

Is the experience worth the expense?

Morris has a list of reasons why it is.

In addition to the remounting of "Big River," students will be attending productions put on by their peers. They'll get to see some of the best high-school shows in the country. In a small theater, they'll also get to see intimate works. One of them will be an original play by academy student Rachel Lepore.

"Our kids are serious about this stuff," Morris says. "This is what they live for. This helps them to learn (the hardships) of touring, and it gives them a chance to remount a show."

Morris says the "revival" doesn't turn stale.

"We have a couple of rehearsals before the actors are up to (their original level). It's not only as good as it was, it's better. I think that's because as actors, they've had the time to step back and think about what they regret about what they originally did and figure out ways to do it better. Young people are sponges. They soak up everything."

The academy will prepare for Nebraska by offering Vegas three performances June 20-22 at the Lowden Theatre. If the "revival" equals the original, I hope more readers will consider attending. And maybe they'll see for themselves why these actors deserve this opportunity.

For more information, visit lvacademytheatre.org. Potential donors are invited to contact Morris at
jrmorris@interact.ccsd.net.

Anthony Del Valle can be reached at
vegastheaterchat@aol.com. You can write him c/o Las Vegas Review-Journal, P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125.