"TRADITION !...TRADITION !" AT THE PLAYMILL THEATRE {11}

forever plaid.

music man.

joseph and the amazing technicolor dream coat.

guys and dolls.

the secret garden.

hello dolly.

paint your wagon.

footloose.

oklahoma....

 i do not know how or where it began
but,

i do know and remember going to see

"once upon a mattress"

as a high school student
(early 1980's).

evidence...

 it has been many years, many plays, many casts,
many dollars later

and the TRADITION continues.

this year,

playmill celebrates 50 years

with 

"seven brides for seven brothers"

"beauty and the beast"

and "the fiddler on the roof"

i elected to enjoy fiddler

where TRADITION was emphasized.

each theatrical experience

begins with a pre show...

singing, dancing, comedy, 

and a "special days" celebration.

then the lights are dimmed

and the play transpires.

the theatre is small.

the audience,
 so close to the stage,

is able to be engaged

in such a personal way.

it is worth going to a show

just to see how amazingly clever

the sets,

the costumes,

the transitions,

the space utilization,

can be

 especially due to what some 

might view as limitations.

the intermission

is almsot as entertaining

and every bit as delicious !

cast and characters burst through the doors shouting,

"homemade fudge!" "ice cold drinks!" "popcorn!"

"ice cream!" "dole whip! "candy!"

one cannot help but get caught up in all the excitement.

waving dollars

and calling

"i'll take a popcorn here"

or even jumping out of a seat to hit the stage where all the goodies are.

people help in making change, handing goodies down the row,

and occasionally 

even buy something for someone else

in this "feel good atmosphere."

then the cast is off with the goodies

 and back in character

as quickly as they entered.

i have never been disappointed in a performance.

thanks to my sis,

i have had wonderful seats.

the cast exits before the audience

and forms a line just outside.

those that desire... 

can meet the cast,

get autographs,

shake hands,

take photos,

and give praises.

what impresses me most,

the cast cleans up after the performances,

runs the concessions,

the tickets,

the house...

and then on weekends,

provide music, words, lessons, inspiration,

and more at church.

truly a TRADITION of

quality, family entertainment

for more information:

playmill theatre

owned by

roger and heidi merrill

heidi merrill

"the fudge lady"

makes 2,000 pounds of fudge each year

to sell at intermission

read on :)

http://beckarock.blogspot.com/2009/07/playmill-playmill-and-more-playmill.html