The South Arkansas Arts Center that will offer an online streaming performance of “Singin’ in the Rain” in the time period traditionally reserved for a live spring production.
Recorded live during its summer musical run onstage in 2018, the show features a cast of talented local dancers, singers and actors performing the beloved songs and famous dance sequences of the classic Hollywood film.
Hilarious situations, snappy dialogue and a hit-parade score of Hollywood standards make “Singin’ in the Rain” the “Greatest Movie Musical of All Time.” Each unforgettable scene, song and dance is accounted for, including the show-stopping title number, complete with an onstage rainstorm!
The production, made possible by sponsor Murphy USA, will be screened via web through a special arrangement with Music Theatre International on April 16 through 18.
“Our long-running, volunteer-run community theatre has been put on hold for almost a year now because of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said SAAC Executive Director Laura Allen. “Theatres across the country have been in the same position, and in response, theatrical licensing agent MTI has created the unprecedented opportunity to stream archival recordings of a few select productions. Typically, these are shows that could only be seen live, so the chance to re-watch this production, from the safety of our own pods, is truly extraordinary!”
The local cast includes many SAAC stage veterans and familiar faces. Alexander Jeffery can be seen as the suave Hollywood leading man Don Lockwood, originally portrayed by Gene Kelly. Brandon Wallace plays Cosmo Brown, Don’s wacky and playful best friend and former dance partner. Laura Purvis portrays the upcoming, strong-willed actress Kathy Seldon, who emerges as Don’s saving grace in his talkies. Hali Pinson is featured as Lina Lamont, a tone-deaf singer who fails to transfer from silent films and causes Don great distress. Successful, magnanimous film producer R. F. Simson will be played by Corey Sublett; high strung, frustrated director Roscoe Dexter by Mike Means; and young starlet and Lina’s best friend Zelda Zanders by Lainey Walthall.
The show also features Don Lockwood and Cosmo Brown throughout their lives. Meredith Stone and Rusty Orrell can be seen as Don and Cosmo in their Vaudeville years, respectively. Maggie Meyer and Jace Waters play young Don and Cosmo in their childhood years. Rounding out the cast are Hannah Davis, Abby Cate, Brandy Walthall, Savannah Reynolds and Addie Bosanko.
The ensemble is filled by Brooklyn Alexander, Armani Amos, Lyric Amos, Joanna Benson, Thomas Brewster, Carmelo Brown, Alex Brummett, Kenny Burns, Emma Daniel, Josie Denson, Tiffanie Duke, Blake Goff, Bill Meyer, Madelyn Poss, Holland Ruff, Steve Shofner, Bob Stephenson and Justin Yates.
The musical will be available for three screenings: Friday, April 16 and Saturday, April 17 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, April 18 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets will be sold online, and ticketholders will be provided a direct link to view the streamed performance. Individual tickets are available for $5, and “pod party” tickets, designed for multiple viewers of the same screen, are available for $20.
For more information, contact the SAAC office at 862-5474 or visit saac-arts.org. SAAC is located at 110 E. 5th St. in El Dorado.