Music, mutts and more at the Palace Theatre through May
As the saying goes, time flies when you are having fun. As I write this, I can’t believe spring is right around the corner. Punxsutawney Phil predicted an early spring, and I know for one I am over this winter thing. Working on cruise ships for 35 years meant winters were spent in the Caribbean, Mexico, South America or Australia. In other words, I didn’t have to experience an entire winter for those 35 years. I know, poor me.
But this season, we still have plenty to cheer about at the old Palace Theatre. February will bring us the award-winning tribute show, “The Beat Goes On” starring Lisa McClowry as Cher. Check out her YouTube videos. She is amazing how she captures every nuance of the goddess of pop: the look, the mannerisms, but especially the VOICE. Amazing! Feb. 22-25 we will be featuring our junior play, "Under the Big Top," featuring dozens of local youth.
The first three weekends of March we will host local theater groups from Ridgedale, Pleasant and Elgin high schools performing their annual high school musicals. Local singer Grace Blackford will grace the Pavilion stage with her show March 23, featuring charcuterie boards and a wine tasting with the Wine Down wine bar.
More: Yoga returns to the Marion Palace Theatre for six-week session beginning in February
We have a very busy schedule for April featuring our Palace-produced adult play, Ken Ludwig’s "Lend Me a Tenor," directed by Emily Yaksic, a canine cabaret called "Mutts Gone Nuts," and a tribute to Aretha Franklin, starring singer Cece Teneal.
May brings Grand Ole Opry, 'AGT' star Chapel Hart
I am probably most excited for the month of May. We were very fortunate to book an up-and-coming country group from Mississippi, Chapel Hart, who have made numerous appearances at the Grand Ole Opry and on TV’s "America’s Got Talent." They will grace the main stage May 3.
The rest of the season we will be featuring the Shovel City Improv Group, a tribute to the Everly Brothers and a few more surprises, including a reprise of last August’s successful musical "Next to Normal" on May 17.
Being a nonprofit theatre, we are always tremendously grateful for the show sponsors: Ted Graham ("The Beat Goes On"), Jim and Barb Greetham ("Under the Big Top" and Grace Blackford), Pillar Credit Union ("Under the Big Top" cast party), the Marion Community Foundation’s Kathleen O’Shea Fund ("Lend Me a Tenor"), Alluvial Private Wealth & PHAM Orthodontics ("Mutts Gone Nuts"), Rex and Carolyn Parrott ("Portrait of Aretha"), Mike & Kelly Andrews (Chapel Hart), Beverly Young, Fahey Bank & OhioHealth ("Next to Normal"), Andy Harper (Shovel City Improv) and Jerry & Barb Baker (The Lightning Express).
Tickets can be purchased at our Box Office, open every weekday except Wednesday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., by phone at 740-383-2101 or on our website, marionpalace.org.
Kirk Detweiler is the executive director of the Marion Palace Theatre.
This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Marion Palace Theatre to showcase local talent and more through May