Oliver cast set to kick off season on the right note

CASEY RESSLER

Frontiersman Valley Life editor

The 30th season of Valley Performing Arts gets off to a musical start, as the curtain rises on "Oliver!" tonight at 8.

Directed by longtime VPA veteran Grant Olson, "Oliver!" is a musical take on Charles Dickens' classic book, "Oliver Twist." The 10-piece orchestra is a highlight, director Grant Olson said.

"There are moments when you sit there and you forget that you are watching community theater," Olson said. "Jennifer Dalby (the musical director) has put together a fantastic orchestra, one of the best I've ever heard."

The lead role is played by Terrance Smith, a newcomer from Anchorage.

"This is his first time on stage, and he's really grown," said Olson, who is directing his 59th play. "He's really mature for his age."

Smith came to VPA from the Alaska Children's Choir. Olson said he had performed in an opera before his lead role of Oliver, but other than that, he has no prior theater experience.

Another young star is Leonard Pritchett, who plays the Artful Dodger. He's a middle school student Olson said has done well so far.

Among the older actors, the Harris family is well represented. LouAnn Harris and her father, Stan, both appear in the performance.

"Stan has done the music for so long, it was good to see him take to the stage again," Olson said.

In all, there are approximately 45 cast members, a number Olson said is about the limit for him as a director.

"It's certainly one of the largest I've worked with," Olson said. "A lot of them are kids, and that's as many as I can keep together at any one time."

Olson said one hurdle he envisioned when signing on for "Oliver!" was that of familiarity - too many people are too familiar with the production for VPA's to make a memorable impression.

"Then again, I thought that with 'Sound of Music' but we packed them in for that," Olson said. "When you see 'Oliver!' live on stage, it really is kind of special."

Show times are 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. on Sundays.