Theater lovers have several options this summer to enjoy some stagework, with four shows opening over the next few weeks—including, coincidentally enough, two different takes on the same Shakespearean classic.
I spoke with Jayme McBride, director of the new Pen & Shadow theater company, and Kyle Roberson, leader of the Young Directors’ Foundation at Amarillo College, about their respective upcoming productions of 12 Angry Men and Much Ado About Nothing. Check back over the next couple of weeks for chats about the Texas company’s own Much Ado and Amarillo Little Theatre Academy’s You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.
(These conversations have been edited for brevity and clarity.)
Chip Chandler: All right, so first tell me what Pen & Shadow is.
Jayme McBride: Pen & Shadow is something that I have wanted to do for a very long time. It’s theater with a service purpose. I want everything that we take in to go back into the community. I wanted theater to have a bigger place and a bigger cause. So I just kind of thought, well, if I’m going to do it, I better start doing it. So I made some phone calls and got some friends to dive in and help me.
CC: How did you pick 12 Angry Men as your first show?
JM: I chose it because of the circumstances surrounding the boy who’s on trial and his situation and the environment he grew up in. We thought the perfect recipient of the money would be Mission 2540 (a nonprofit ministry working with families in low-income apartment communities founded by Brick & Elm co-publisher Jason Boyett’s brother, Brooks). In 12 Angry Men, they discuss living circumstances and environment, and how that can affect whether or not you’re found guilty, or whether or not you’re apt to do something that you would not normally do. It kind of connected there, so that’s something that I went over with Brooks. There’s a lot going on with this kid that we never see, but there’s a lot of discussion about his environment and the difference between being raised in a healthy environment versus not-so healthy.
CC: What do you hope is the future for Pen & Shadow?
JM: The goal would be to do at least one show a year, and really look at environmental theater. We’re going to do this in the Horizon Gallery (at Arts in the Sunset). If we can get a space in the Texas Panhandle War Memorial Center next year, doing something there and have the money go to veterans. I always want to have a connection with the show to where the proceeds go.
CC: You said on Facebook that you want to bring “powerful, actor-focused theater.” What does that mean to you?
JM: The goal is not to do big giant musicals. This is for people who want to see dialogue that makes you think, dialogue that makes you wonder, dialogue that makes you have a conversation. It’s for actors who are more driven in that kind of process. It also gives the community shows that you can really, really dig into and think about. It’s not a project to compete with anyone, but to just contribute a little bit more.
CC: What else should audiences know?
JM: At intermission, we’re going to have chances to vote on your favorite juror. We were going to do something asking if people think the defendant is guilty or not guilty. And then we decided it might be kind of fun to just throw all those fancy actors to the wind and see what audiences think. And then we’re also going to recommend in our curtain speech and in our program that if you want the most out of the experience, to go to the opposite side after intermission, because it’s going to be completely in the round.
The show will be staged at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $15, plus service fee. For information, email kbqpenshadow@gmail.com.
Chip Chandler: What is the Young Directors’ Foundation?
Kyle Roberson: It’s sponsored by (theater fraternity) Delta Psi Omega and Amarillo College. It gives an opportunity for people to direct after [attending] Amarillo College, but theoretically, if [West Texas A&M University] folk or [Amarillo Little Theatre] folk wanted to come on by and direct, they just let us know.
CC: How did y’all choose Much Ado About Nothing?
KR: Well, we were looking at money and budgets. And Shakespeare, it’s just so conveniently budget friendly. So we picked that one. I love the script. It’s hilarious to me.
CC: What is it about the show that you like so much?
KR: I think despite it being Shakespeare, it’s honestly very feministic in a lot of ways. It’s a little bit more aware of the times. I think the script does a lot of it with just having these such strong female characters, telling the men off, telling them like what they did wrong.
CC: How fun is it to be in the director’s seat for this show?
KR: Oh, it’s scary. It’s very intimidating. I put myself in these positions and I get scared real quick. But I just put on a smile, really. But this is fun. This is the biggest cast I’ve worked with.
CC: Where and when are you setting this?
KR: We are in an ’80s stock market office. You know, big hair, bright, colorful.
CC: Have you been watching Wall Street to get in the mood?
KR: I’m not gonna lie to you. I honestly don’t like that movie, but I told people they could watch it if they wanted to.
Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday in the AC Experimental Theatre. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for AC seniors and students, and $6 for students, plus service fee. Call 806-443-0635.
This week’s other can’t-miss options:
Starlight Theater with Big G & The Tradewinds with Brandon Trey Borup: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday; Sam Houston Park, 4101 Line Ave.; free; 806-378-3036
Amarillo Sod Poodles vs. Frisco RoughRiders: 7:05 p.m. Tuesday, continues through Sunday; Hodgetown, 715 S. Buchanan St.; ticket prices vary; 806-803-9547
Jim Laughlin June Jazz Series featuring Esquire Jazz: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday; after party at 9 p.m.; Amarillo College Experimental Theatre Porch; free; 806-371-5340
Texas: 8:15 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays through Aug. 1; Pioneer Amphitheatre in Palo Duro Canyon State Park; ticket prices vary; 806-655-2181
High Noon on the Square with Andy Chase & Friends: 11:45 a.m. Wednesday; 501 S. Fillmore St.; lunch $12; 806-372-6744
Music at Wellington Square Courtyard featuring Doc Laughlin & Friends: 7 p.m. Wednesday; 1619 S. Kentucky St.; $15 cash or Venmo at the door; kids ages 10 and younger free; 806-584-9571
Wibby Wednesday with Ansley Beedy: 7 p.m. Wednesday; Six Car Pub & Brewery, 625 S. Polk St.; 806-576-3396
Groove Anthem: 6:30 p.m. Thursday; Crush, 627 S. Polk St.; 806-418-2011
Music in the Gardens featuring Tennessee Tuckness: 7 p.m. Thursday; Amarillo Botanical Gardens, 1400 Streit Drive; admission $10 nonmembers, $5 members; 806-352-6513
Shallow Side: 7 p.m. Thursday; Rockwell Event Center, 16307 Interstate 27; tickets $10; 806-683-2156
June Jams with Juke Box Duo: 7:30 p.m. Thursday; Neblett Park, 508 16th St. in Canyon; free; 806-656-6833
Girls Night Out: 8 p.m. Thursday; Bomb City Distillery; 306 S. Cleveland St.; tickets $20.45 and up; 806-220-2662
John Cooper: 8 p.m. Thursday; Smokey Joe’s, 2903 S.W. Sixth Ave.; 806-331-6698
Kolton Moore & The Clever Few: 8 p.m. Thursday; Golden Light Cantina, 2906 S.W. Sixth Ave.; cover; 806-374-9237
RagTown Arts grand opening: 5 p.m. Friday; 1900 S.W. Sixth Ave.
Colton Amerson: 6 p.m. Friday; The Food Park on 25ninety, 13130 Soncy Road; 806-420-0582
art after dark: 7 p.m. Friday; Amarillo Museum of Art, 2200 S. Van Buren St.; tickets $35 nonmembers, free for members; 806-371-5050
The A-Town Rockers: 7 p.m. Friday; Teddy Jack’s, 5080 S. Coulter St.; 806-322-0113
Plemons Bridge: 7 p.m. Friday; Patio Vista at The Barfield, 600 S. Polk St.; 806-414-2200
Rodney Branigan: 7 p.m. Friday; Crush, 627 S. Polk St.; 806-418-2011
Cameron James Smith: 7:30 p.m. Friday; Shark Beach Burgers, 1505 E. Farm-to-Market Road 1151; free; 806-335-5644
Jen Williams & The Potty Mouths: 8 p.m. Friday; Smokey Joe’s, 2903 S.W. Sixth Ave.; 806-331-6698
Brother & The Hayes: 9 p.m. Friday; Golden Light Cantina, 2906 S.W. Sixth Ave.; cover; 806-374-9237
Dave McNeir and Bergundi Rose: 9 p.m. Friday; Rounders Club, 2801 S. Virginia St.; no cover; 806-352-3317
Dueling Pianos Night One: 9 p.m. Friday; Blind Pig, 609 S. Independence St.; tickets $25 and up; 806-412-4251
Kelly Hasty Band: 9 p.m. Friday; Western Horseman Club, 2501 E. Interstate 40; cover; 806-379-6555, Ext. 2999
Props N Pistons Car Show and Fly-In: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday; Tradewind Airport, 4105 Tradewind Ave.; propsandpistons@yahoo.com
Boof with Nip Slip, Ick, NRWHL, Annelida, Social Anxiety and Twelve2Six: 6 p.m. Saturday; Atomic Yellow, 3701 Plains Blvd.; tickets $10; atomicyellowict@gmail.com
Road Trip: 7:30 p.m. Saturday; Golden Light Beer & Wine Garden, 6014 S. Western St.; 806-221-2337
Coffee: The Universal Language screening: 7 p.m. Saturday; Amarillo Little Theatre, 2019 Civic Circle; free, reservations requested; 806-476-0111
New Generation Band: 7 p.m. Saturday; Georgia Street Taphouse, 2001 S. Georgia St.; 806-803-7000
Weathered and San & Tone Pilots: 7:30 p.m. Saturday; Shark Beach Burgers, 1505 E. Farm-to-Market Road 1151; tickets $24.33 and up; 806-335-5644
Jason Boland & The Stragglers: 8 p.m. Saturday; The Lumberyard, 850 N. 23rd St. in Canyon; tickets $34.45, plus fees; 806-804-3000
Juju’s Jukebox: 8 p.m. Saturday; Smokey Joe’s, 2903 S.W. Sixth Ave.; 806-331-6698
Boss Texas: 9 p.m. Saturday; Western Horseman Club, 2501 E. Interstate 40; cover; 806-379-6555, Ext. 2999
Dueling Pianos Night Two: 9 p.m. Saturday; Blind Pig, 609 S. Independence St.; tickets $25 and up; 806-412-4251
Six Gun Silhouette: 9 p.m. Saturday; Broken Spoke Lounge, 3101 S.W. Sixth Ave.; no cover; 806-373-9149
Taylor Lowe & Friends with Psyck: 9 p.m. Saturday; Golden Light Cantina, 2906 S.W. Sixth Ave.; cover; 806-374-9237
Jim Laughlin June Jazz Series: 7:30 p.m. June 30; after party at 9 p.m.; Amarillo College Experimental Theatre Porch; free; 806-371-5340
Email submissions to info@brickandelm.com.
Movie options:
Opening Thursday: Distaff heroine Supergirl, franchise finale Jackass: Best and Last (Cinemark Hollywood 16, 9100 Canyon Drive, and Cinergy, 9201 Cinergy Square)
Special engagements: The Boss Baby (through Thursday, Cinergy); Child’s Play 3 (Tuesday and Thursday, Cinergy); Ocean’s 11 25th anniversary (Wednesday, Hollywood 16); Shrek Forever After (Wednesday and Thursday; Hollywood 16); Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Calamity (opens Thursday, Hollywood 16); Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby 20th anniversary (Sunday, June 30 and July 1, Hollywood 16); Secret Movie Series (Monday, Hollywood 16); The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants (Monday, July 1 and 2, Hollywood 16); Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie (Monday to July 2, Cinergy); Tales from the Hood (June 30 and July 2, Cinergy)
