Abilene theater season launching after holiday break, despite obstacles

If we learned anything about theater during this pandemic that won't go away, it's that the show may not go on.

This month and leading off 2022, the Paramount Theatre's junior production of "The Wizard of Oz" was canceled the day it was to open a three-show weekend run. That was due to the loss of adults to help with offstage duties, similar to the Abilene ISD losing too many teachers to effectively have school and closing for several days.

The dress rehearsal went ahead as planned, with volunteer help, so that the youngsters and their families could enjoy a trip down that famous yellow brick road.

So, where does that leave Abilene with the theater season launching after the holidays?

Wylie postpones its four January shows

Next up was to be "The Glass Menagerie" and "The Cover of Life," both on stage starting Thursday by Wylie High School in the Black Box Theatre at Wylie Performing Arts Center.

Wylie moves to the center's main stage for two more shows, "Moon Over Buffalo" and "John Lennon and Me" at month's end.

That's not happening.

Theater department head Chris Shoemake, in his 11th year at WHS, confirmed Tuesday that all four shows are being pushed back to sometime in April, after Wylie performs its one-act play, "A Monster Calls." It's a novel made a movie made into a stage work.

Shoemake said COVID has knocked out a couple of his directors - there are four at WHS, with one taking each of the winter shows that now will be spring shows.

Of the 10 students in his show, "The Cover of Life," five have been out, making rehearsals impossible. He even double cast four of the six roles, but that did not help.

But all four plays will be done, he said, even if Wylie advances in one-act play competition.

"The kids have put so much work into these shows," he said. Performance is the reward for that work, he said.

One of his directors is Maddie Lowry, a Wylie alum who graduated from Hardin-Simmons and is in her first year back at her high school alma mater as theater music director. She directed the fall musical.

AISD shows still on

To end January, all three Abilene public high schools have productions.

Abilene High's winter musical is "Matilda," based on the Roald Dahl story. Cooper brings "Something Rotten," based on King Henry VIII. Both are scheduled for Jan. 27-29.

ACT and three colleges eye February

February normally is when the three universities' theater departments and Abilene Community Theatre return to action.

ACT, which did not have a show this time last year, brings "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" to the main stage beginning Feb. 11. Directed by Scot Miller, it will have a two-weekend run.

A couple of interesting notes on this show. ACT never has done this American classic. This is the 60th anniversary year for "Virginia Woolf." It debuted in October 1962.

Abilene Christian offers its winter musical, "The Light in the Piazza," starting Feb. 17. Director is recently retired ACU professor Adam Hester. It's a one-weekend performance.

Hardin-Simmons launches the same date with "You Can't Take It With You." Dr. Stace Gaddy will direct the one-weekend performance.

And, to make it more interesting for theater-goers, McMurry also is scheduled to bring "A Midsummer Night's Dream" to Ryan Little Theatre on Feb. 1.

It is being directed by Neena McLain.

McMurry entered into a period of change to start the spring semester with the departure of Kerry Goff. Goff is a 2010 McMurry grad and returned in 2018, coming from Fredericksburg.

He took a job in Senatobia, Mississippi, as director of the performing arts center under construction at Northwest Mississippi Community College. According to his Facebook post, it will be a 1,226-seat facility.

"It is a major career move for myself," he wrote. "I have loved my time at McMurry but am excited for this opportunity the Lord has made for us."

It turns out that "Constellations," which was staged just before Thanksgiving, was his last show to direct at McMurry.

McLain, a 1991 McMurry grad, has been named interim department head.

Like Goff, she returned to her alma mater as a visiting professor. She arrived back in Abilene in 2020.

“Kerry and I worked well together, and he will be missed,” McLain said. “Our students gained from his innovation and knowledge, and I look forward to continuing their education by pushing innovative thinking beyond what is expected.”

The search to find Goff's successor is underway.

Senatobia is 170 miles north of Jackson, Mississippi, or 40 miles south of Memphis.

The Broadway Series is scheduled to resume March 17 with the musical version of the hit 1980s movie "An Officer and a Gentleman." The 2021-22 season got off to a hit and miss start, with "The Buddy Holly Story" performed in September but the November production of "Beautiful: The Carole King Story" canceled due to a disagreement between the tour and the Abilene Convention Center concerning COVID-19 safety protocols.

Greg Jaklewicz is editor of the Abilene Reporter-News and general columnist. If you appreciate locally driven news, you can support local journalists with a digital subscription to ReporterNews.com.

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Abilene theater season launching after holiday break, despite obstacles