In addition to this week’s Texas Route 66 Festival celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Mother Road (see last week’s column for more), this week also sees the opening of the historic 60th season of the Texas outdoor musical.
I chatted with new Artistic Director and longtime company member Cloyce Kuhnert ahead of Thursday’s opening night. In her tenure, which dates back to 1980, Kuhnert has done everything from singing in the chorus to serving as musical director to wrangling the costumes to starring as the iconic Aunt Anna—everything but riding the horses or choreographing the dancers. (This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.)
Chip Chandler: So, not only is this your first year as the artistic director, but this is also a big major anniversary, so talk to me about these two major milestones for you.
Cloyce Kuhnert: Woo. Well, the life is different. It’s so interesting to see it from this perspective because of being involved with all of the aspects of the show. But it’s also really humbling to be able to do this and to take into consideration everything that has gone on before. I’ve brought several things back from the old days. So I’m hoping that the people who have not seen the show in a while will come and say, oh my gosh, I remember that from back then, or people that come to see the show for the first time will say, oh, this is a lovely story. And I’m hoping that the 60th anniversary is going to bring people out to see us who haven’t seen us in a while and they can renew appreciation for Texas.
CC: How do you think that this show has lasted for 60 years?
CK: I think the pioneer spirit that started the show with Margaret Harper has been the thing that has endured. I mean, we’ve gone through terrible times. But it’s such a positive experience. It’s a positive story. It’s a story that makes you feel good about life and about the things that you can accomplish even through adversity. I think that people want to see that kind of thing.
CC: Tell me a little bit more about what you’ve got planned for the show for this season. What have you brought back and what surprises are in store?
CK: Well, I usually don’t talk about this, because I want people to come and experience it themselves. But mostly, I have really tried to be as faithful to the [original] Paul Green script as possible. … But I have kind of done a little bit of reworking of “West Texas Rain” to incorporate it more into the storyline than it had been before. You know, that’s that song that they wrote after the 2013 accident [in which five cast and crew members died].
CC: Yes.
CK: I think it’s time for us to make it a part of the show rather than just a featured musical number.
The musical will be staged at 8:15 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays in Pioneer Amphitheatre in Palo Duro Canyon State Park. Ticket prices vary. Call 806-655-2181.
I met nascent Broadway star Tevae Shoels when he was playing basketball. OK, he was playing teenage basketball star Chad Danforth in Amarillo Little Theatre Academy’s 2014 production of High School Musical.
Some 12 years later, Shoels takes a break from appearing in Aladdin to return to his home stage for From ALT to NYC: An Evening with Tevae Shoels at 8 p.m. Friday on the Allen Shankles Mainstage, 2019 Civic Circle. (Full disclosure: I’m on the ALT board of directors.)
Shoels and I caught up in April for a conversation for Brick & Elm’s May/June issue, but I wasn’t able to fit our full chat in print. So here, edited for clarity and brevity, is a sneak peek of one of the songs audiences will enjoy at the show.
CC: So, I did a deep dive on your Facebook page. and I saw your performance of The Beatles’ “Blackbird” at 54 Below, and I love that you said that that was the first song that you ever sang. So tell me, how did that feel to sing that first song again in a setting like that?
Tevae Shoels: So yeah, the first time I sang it was a talent show in sixth grade in the gym of Sam Houston Middle School. I had watched it on Glee, and I remember being like, oh my god, this song from Glee! And one of my teachers was, like, Tevae, that song is by The Beatles (laughs). When I booked this cabaret show here in New York, I wanted to honor that in this new life I was beginning. That was the day after I had moved to New York. You know the line, “You were only waiting for this moment to arrive.” [Moving to New York was] something I had been yearning for since I was such a young kid, and I just felt on the cusp of so much opportunity and inspiration. It just felt like a very special way to pay homage to that song and to what that meant for little Tevae.
Tickets are $30 to $50. Call 806-355-9991.
This week’s other can’t-miss options:
Starlight Theater with Velvet Funk with Brannon Oliver & Co.: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday; Sam Houston Park, 4101 Line Ave.; free; 806-378-3036
Jim Laughlin June Jazz Series featuring Amarillo Jazz Society: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday; after party at 9 p.m.; Amarillo College Experimental Theatre Porch; free; 806-371-5340
2026 Dogie Days: Wednesday through Saturday; McDade Park, 1438 Durrett Ave. in Dumas; barbecue tickets $15; 806-324-9595
High Noon on the Square with Buster Bledsoe: 11:45 a.m. Wednesday; 501 S. Fillmore St.; lunch $12; 806-372-6744
Cameron James Smith: 6 p.m. Wednesday; Teddy Jack’s, 5080 S. Coulter St.; 806-322-0113
June Truckin’ with St. Andrews: 6 p.m. Wednesday; St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 1601 S. Georgia St.; free; 806-376-6316
Music at Wellington Square Courtyard featuring Polk Street Jazz: 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 Swamp Rats: 7 p.m. Wednesday; Six Car Pub & Brewery, 625 S. Polk St.; 806-576-3396
Tin Can Tourists Route 66 Centennial Rally Parade: 2:30 p.m. Thursday; Historic Bivins Building, 1000 S. Polk St., to Big Texan RV Park, 1414 Sunrise Drive; free; TexasRoute66Festival.com
The Richie Dorman Band: 6 p.m. Thursday; Smokey Joe’s, 2903 S.W. Sixth Ave.; 806-331-6698
Colton Amerson: 7 p.m. Thursday; Georgia Street Taphouse, 2001 S. Georgia St.; 806-803-7000
Music in the Gardens featuring Big G & The Tradewinds: 7 p.m. Thursday; Amarillo Botanical Gardens, 1400 Streit Drive; admission $10 nonmembers, $5 members; 806-352-6513
Rocking OT Centennial Car Show and Karaoke Night: 7 p.m. Thursday; Old Tascosa Taproom and Brewery, 3100 S.W. Sixth Ave.; 806-681-4050
June Jams with Old Dog Trey: 7:30 p.m. Thursday; Neblett Park, 508 16th St. in Canyon; free; 806-656-6833
Trinity River Surf Club: 9 p.m. Thursday; The 806 Coffee + Cafe, 2812 S.W. Sixth Ave.; no cover, donations accepted; 806-322-1806
Cars screenings: 4:30 p.m. Friday for families, 7:30 p.m. Friday for ages 21 and older; Don Harrington Discovery Center, 1200 Streit Drive; admission $5 for first screening, $10 for second screening with $25 drink wristbands; 806-355-9547
Austin Brazile: 6 p.m. Friday; Bar Z Winery, 19290 Farm-to-Market Road 1541; 806-488-2214
Move. Create. Reflect. opening reception: 6 p.m. Friday; Chalice Abbey, 2717 Stanley St., Suite A; RSVP requested; 806-576-2480
Main Street: The Lost Dream of Rt. 66, Photographs by Edward Keating opening reception: 6:30 p.m. Friday; Amarillo Museum of Art, 2200 S. Van Buren St.; free for members, $10 nonmembers; 806-371-5050
Living Hollow with A Quick Death in Texas, Horrid Demise, Death Warrant and Dysmorphia: 7 p.m. Friday; Atomic Yellow, 3701 Plains Blvd.; cover $10; atomicyellowict@gmail.com
The Chad Feemster Band: 7:30 p.m. Friday; Shark Beach Burgers, 1505 E. Farm-to-Market Road 1151; free; 806-335-5644
Christopher Erin & The Obvious Few: 8 p.m. Friday; Smokey Joe’s, 2903 S.W. Sixth Ave.; 806-331-6698
Night at PPHM: 8 p.m. Friday; Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, 2503 Fourth Ave. in Canyon; $5 nonmembers, free members; 806-651-2244
Pat Green: 8 p.m. Friday; The Lumberyard, 850 N. 23rd St. in Canyon; tickets $43.30, plus fees; 806-804-3000
The Buster Bledsoe Band: 9 p.m. Friday; Western Horseman Club, 2501 E. Interstate 40; cover; 806-379-6555, Ext. 2999
Carson Jeffrey: 9 p.m. Friday; Hoots Pub, 2424 Hobbs Road; cover
Giddy Up Go: 9 p.m. Friday; Golden Light Cantina, 2906 S.W. Sixth Ave.; cover; 806-374-9237
Canyon Farmers Market: 8 a.m. to noon Saturday; continues through Sept. 26; Fourth Avenue and 15th Street in Canyon; 806-567-0746
Sunset Marketown: 8 a.m. to noon Saturday; continues through Sept. 19; Arts in the Sunset, 3701 Plains Blvd.; 806-354-8802
Amarillo Card Show: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday; Amarillo Civic Center Complex North Exhibit Hall, 401 S. Buchanan St.; 806-378-3096
No Map Left: Route 66 Underground Art Market: 10 a.m. Saturday; Idol Art Studio, 1201 S. Polk St.; 806-236-4128
Supernova Festival: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; Sam Houston Park, 4101 Line Ave.; tickets $5 ages 3 to 15; 806-640-8740
Texas Route 66 Festival Finale: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; Historic Route 66 district between Georgia and Bellview streets; TexasRoute66Festival.com
Miss Texas 66 Pinup Pageant: noon Saturday; Historic Route 66 district between Georgia and Bellview streets; TexasRoute66Festival.com
Paracosm opening and first-anniversary party: 2 p.m. Saturday; Nina Lune Art Gallery, 601 S. Prospect St.; free; 806-341-1934
Bomb City Groove and Boss Texas: 3 p.m. Saturday; Smokey Joe’s, 2903 S.W. Sixth Ave.; 806-331-6698
Texas Route 66 Classic Car Show: 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday; Historic Route 66 district between Georgia and Bellview streets; TexasRoute66Festival.com
Friends of PASO Cornhole Tournament: 6 p.m. Saturday; Reed Beverage, 3701 S.E. 25th Ave.: admission $30; 806-372-1050
Neon After Hours: 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday; Idol Art Studio, 1201 S. Polk St.; 806-236-4128
Double Vision and Dallas Boston Experience: 7:30 p.m. Saturday; Shark Beach Burgers, 1505 E. Farm-to-Market Road 1151; tickets $24.33 and up; 806-335-5644
Chad Miller & The Good Fortune: 9 p.m. Saturday; Hoots Pub, 2424 Hobbs Road; cover
Hayden Labrier & The Lucky Strike: 9 p.m. Saturday; Golden Light Cantina, 2906 S.W. Sixth Ave.; cover; 806-374-9237
Marty Lee McCray: 9 p.m. Saturday; Broken Spoke Lounge, 3101 S.W. Sixth Ave.; no cover; 806-373-9149
Next to Kin: 9 p.m. Saturday; Western Horseman Club, 2501 E. Interstate 40; cover; 806-379-6555, Ext. 2999
Relic with The Stray Sons and Touching Voodoo: 9 p.m. Saturday; Skooterz, 4100 Bushland Blvd.; cover $10; 806-679-0122
Yellow City Pride: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday; Sam Houston Park, 4101 Line Ave.; free; yellowcitypride@outlook.com
Alamo Park Live with Grupo Zuperado and Grupo Incepcion: 3 p.m. Sunday; El Alamo Park, 16th Avenue and Roberts Street; free; 806-676-5160
Criminal Minds Trivia: 7 p.m. Monday; Pondaseta Brewing Co., 7500 S.W. 45th Ave.; 806-418-6282
Katsuk: 5 p.m. June 16; The Handle Bar & Grill, 3514 S.W. Sixth Ave.; 806-803-9538
Starlight Theater with Stealing Handshakes with Dani Bee: 6:30 p.m. June 16; Sam Houston Park, 4101 Line Ave.; free; 806-378-3036
Amarillo Sod Poodles vs. Midland Rockhounds: 7:05 p.m. June 16, continues through June 21; Hodgetown, 715 S. Buchanan St.; ticket prices vary; 806-803-9547
Jim Laughlin June Jazz Series featuring Polk Street Jazz: 7:30 p.m. June 16; 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: Disclosure Day, Steven Spielberg’s return to alien invasions (Cinemark Hollywood 16, 9100 Canyon Drive, and Cinergy, 9201 Cinergy Square)
Special engagements: The Croods (Tuesday to Thursday, Cinergy); I Know What You Did Last Summer (Tuesday, Cinergy); The Birdcage 30th anniversary (Wednesday, Hollywood 16); Sonic the Hedgehog (Wednesday and Thursday, Hollywood 16); concert film BTS World Tour Arirang in Busan: Live Viewing (Saturday, Hollywood 16); Ponyo (Saturday, Sunday and June 17, Hollywood 16); KPop Demon Hunters Singalong (Monday and June 17 and 18, Hollywood 16); The Wild Robot (Monday through June 18, Cinergy); Species (June 16, Cinergy)
