Local theater growing strong

The Valley Performing Arts Center collected a lot of costumes in the past 27 years; a room bulges with enough clothing to properly outfit actors and actresses depicting nearly any decade.

A warehouse stores props, the ancient telephones and divans, the foliage and the lamps. Sets no longer have to be torn down but rather can be put away until they are needed next time. And for the past decade, there's been indoor bathrooms rather than the old outdoor ones at the previous theater location.

The signs of progress and stability come in such forms for the Valley theater group that grew from small church quarters on the Palmer State Fair Grounds to its own 5,000-plus square feet in downtown Wasilla. Director Grant Olson, who has been with the VPA since 1980, said simply having the ability to store things has helped keep costs down and increased their flexibility.

"We try to put on shows with limited resources, and we always seem to rise to the occasion," Olson said. "Community theater is a collaboration between theater and its community."

The VPA came onto the theater scene in 1976 when its founders, John Hale and Wendy Kamrass converted the historic Lutheran church on the fairgrounds into a theater. Its first production, the story of an invisible rabbit named "Harvey," launched the start of community theater in the Valley.

Relying on volunteers from the start, VPA grew steadily in its early years. They produced two or three plays a season -- this season they will produce seven.

Valley audiences have been appreciative of the theater, Olson said. "Fiddler on the Roof" was its most successful play, selling out every night for all of its 17 performances. Patrons have cast votes the past 11 years to decide on a play's best performers, directors and designers. Each winner is listed on a plaque in the theater lobby, now named the Fred and Sarah Machetanz Theater.

And there's no shortage of talented actors and actresses in Mat-Su. But there is a shortage of men from 20 to 35 to play certain roles, Olson said, and he encourages people in that category to audition.

Here's what the upcoming season promises:

"The Boy Friend," a musical by Sandy Nelson that launched Julie Andrews' career, starts off the upcoming season. It runs Sept. 6-22, a witty cartoon of the Jazz Age. Set on the French Riviera at Madame Dubonnet's fashionable finishing school, a millionaire's daughter falls in love with the delivery boy. The boy, Tony, turns out to be rich himself.

Agatha Christie's "Murder After Hours" follows, from Oct. 25 to Nov. 10. An unhappy game of romantic follow-the-leader explodes into murder one weekend at The Hollow, home of Sir Henry and Lucy Angkatell, according to the playbill. The London Observer deemed it "as good a stage whodunit as we have had for some time."

"Scrooge!" premiers for the Christmas season, running Dec. 6-22. This is a stage adaptation of the classic musical that starred Albert Finney in the title role. Charles Dickens' wonderful characters come to life in this endearing classic.

"Catsplay," a comedy-drama by Russian playwright Istvan Orkeny, will be performed Jan. 17 to Feb. 2. It's the story of an eccentric widow still young at heart who dwells in, and overflows, her untidy Budapest apartment. Ersi's chaotic life is portrayed in episodes with the people closest to her.

The farce "Charlie's Aunt" runs Feb. 21 to March 9. Jack Chesney loves Kitty Verdun and Charles loves Miss Spettigue. They invite the two ladies to meet Charlie's wealthy aunt from Brazil. When she sends word that she can't make it yet, the only thing to be done is to recruit Lord Babberly to impersonate the aunt.

Arthur Miller's "All my Sons," March 28-April 13, tells the story of the Keller and Deever families. During the war, Joe Keller and Herbert Deever were partners in a manufacturing plant. Due to defective parts, causing the death of many serviceman, Deever was sent to prison. Keller, however, went free and built a fortune. Now the love affair of their children, Chris Keller and Ann Deever, is interrupted by the return of George Deever, Herbert's son, who has a vendetta.

Peter Pan wraps up the season May 2-May 18. It is the everlasting account of a boy and girl who follow Peter Pan and the Tinkerbell into the Never Land, where children never grow old.

For more information on times and ticket prices, call the VPA at 373-9500 or go to their Web site at www.valleyperformingarts.org.