The summer theater performances at the historic Rock Church in Auburn will begin on Friday, June 28. Show time is 7:30 p.m.
The 2019 summer theater season includes performances on Friday and Saturday evenings through Saturday, July 27.
This year the cast and crew will present “A Pocket Full of Everything.” The production is under the direction of Kristen Bringhurst.
“The play is set in the 1930s,” said Bringhurst. “Back in those days gypsies really did come through Star Valley. They are mentioned in several people’s personal history in Star Valley. They are in the play this year. The villain in the story is a true character from the past as well. The late Rula Crook, a long-time resident of Smoot recorded the facts about him.”
“The thing that is unique and fun about these plays is that they are taken from real events in Star Valley’s history,” Bringhurst continued. “Allene Heiner Robinson does all this research and then throws in a little fiction for fun.”
According to Bringhurst, the summer theatre could not happen without a talented playwright, assistant directors, accompanists and cast.
“The accompanists are the very talented Jane Anderson and Pat Davis,” Bringhurst said. “I am so blessed to have some absolutely wonderful assistants. They help me so much. Melanie Seilbach is the set and props director. She has done a great job with the set pieces for the gypsy camp. We even have a gypsy wagon painted by Val Chadwick Bagley.”
“Lori Hyde is my costume director she has done an amazing job with everyone’s costumes and this year the costuming has been so fun,” Bringhurst added. “The music director is Eileen Humphreys. She is new to the valley. She is a piano teacher and a voice teacher so it’s been so great to have her on our staff. These ladies have helped in other areas as well including advertising, planning rehearsals and just everything.”
“We have a great cast this year,” Bringhurst said. “We have some very talented singers and actors. One of the fun things about the Rock Church Play is that the cast includes all ages. So often several members from one family are in the play together. It’s so fun. This year we have two married couples in the cast so that’s been really fun.”
According to Bringhurst, the summer theater production represents “literally hundreds of volunteer hours.”
“It is a lot of work but then when we start the performances it’s so much fun when it all comes together,” she said. “Tickets are sold at the door. There is a different preshow every night featuring a variety of local talent. This year are pre-shows range from Cowboy Poetry to a magic show to a variety of musical performances.”
The show starts at 7:30 p.m. The doors open at 7 p.m. Seating is first come, first serve.
Tickets are $5 a person. Children age six to 12 are $2. Anyone under six years of age is free.
All the proceeds go to Star Valley Historical Society.
The play is sponsored by the Star Valley Historical Society.
“Another cool thing about the play is it is held in the historic Rock Church building,” said Bringhurst. “The history of the building is printed on the back of our program so people can learn more about it when they come see the play.”
The 2019 Schedule
Showtime is 7:30 p.m. at the Historic Rock Church in Auburn.
Shows will take place Friday, June 28; Saturday, June 29; Friday, July 5; Saturday, July 6; Friday, July 12; Saturday, July 13; Friday, July 19; Saturday, July 20; Friday, July 26 and Saturday, July 27.
