VPA kicks off 28th year

The 28th season of Valley Performing Arts kicks off Friday in a big way -- The Sound of Music takes the Fred and Sara Machetanz Theater stage in one of the largest productions to date.

Twenty-eight seasons ago, VPA started out as a small group of theater enthusiasts. Wendy Kamrass, John Hale and a host of other volunteers founded VPA and debuted with Harvey on the stage of a Lutheran church on the Alaska State Fairgrounds.

"It wasn't very elaborate, but it was a theater, and that was all that mattered," said Larry Bottjen, who acted in the first show.

Today, the Fred and Sara Machetanz Theater is a hallmark of the community, as Valley Performing Arts has gone from a small operation to a first-class community theater group. The organization has won numerous awards throughout the years, the facilities have improved every year and audiences are packing the theater. While many of the same VPA veterans have been with the group for years, there is a constant influx of new actors, lending a fresh breath to an ever-evolving organization.

VPA is continuing to grow, and the "Brick and Mortar" program was designed to help fund that growth. Donations can be made to Valley Performing Arts by purchasing a "brick" with your name or business on it. Throughout the season, special recognition will be paid to those who purchase bricks. The money raised will help fund a project in which a new ship, adjacent to the theater, would be built to allow set designers to work longer than the 19 days currently in between shows.

The Sound of Music starts Friday, and organizers are hoping for continued success from last season. Last year, 8,601 people showed up to the theater, a 29-percent increase from the previous season.

The Sound of Music has already sold out one performance, and ticket sales have been good.

Following The Sound of Music is Stones in His Pockets (Oct. 31-Nov. 16); My Three Angels (Dec. 5-21); The Crucible (Jan. 16-Feb. 1); Lost in Yonkers (Feb. 20-March 7); Toad of Toad Hall (March 26-April 11); and Of Mice and Men (April 30-May 23).

Tickets are available at all CARRS TIX outlets as well as at the VPA box office.