For the past two seasons, I’ve had the immense pleasure of working as a dramaturg on a few productions at Amarillo Little Theatre.
Because it never fails to be asked in the lobby after each show, here’s what the heck a “dramaturg” is, or at least how I do it: I research—the era in which the show is set, the circumstances of its writing, and the history of the production and any subsequent revivals or adaptations. As a lover of history, both theatrical and actual, it’s a dream role (and certainly better suited for me than anything on the stage).
For the last several weeks, I’ve been working with the cast of ALT’s current production, Ragtime, the musical adaptation of the E.L. Doctorow novel, and I’ve had a wealth of topics to dive into since late August. It tells the story of three groups of Americans at the turn of the 20th century: A family of WASPs in New Rochelle, New York; the passionate and musical denizens of Harlem; and several immigrants, mostly Eastern European Jews. Both the novel and the musical mix mostly unnamed fictional characters with some bold-faced historical figures like Booker T. Washington, Harry Houdini, Emma Goldman and others.
This is anything but a dry history lesson, though. The story they tell is the weaving of the American tapestry, and it can’t help to have powerful echoes with the state of things today. It doesn’t hurt that the 35-member cast and 25-piece orchestra are giving amazingly strong performances night after night. Now, as I’m not just a member of the production team but also a member of ALT’s board of directors, you can take this with a grain of salt, but I can’t recommend this show highly enough.
Four performances remain: 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the ALT Allen Shankles Mainstage, 2019 Civic Circle. Call 806-355-9991. And if you come, make sure to find me in the lobby and ask all your dramaturgical questions.
This week’s other can’t-miss options:
Todd Royce’s “No Holds Barred” Comedy Tour: 7 p.m. Tuesday; Rockwell Event Center, 16307 Interstate 27; tickets $20, plus fees; 806-683-2156
Working Ranch Cowboys Association World Championship: Thursday through Sunday; Amarillo Civic Center Complex Coliseum, 401 S. Buchanan St.; ticket prices vary; 806-378-3096
Taste of the Holidays: A Culinary Journey with Wine and Mocktails: 6:30 p.m. Nov. 13; 2108 Paramount Blvd.; tickets $100; 512-457-4100
Nine Eyes with Tanner Lane:9 p.m. Thursday; The Western Horseman, 2501 E. Interstate 40; 806-379-6555, Ext. 2999
7th Anniversary Party: Friday through Sunday; Pondaseta Brewing Co., 7500 S.W. 45th Ave.; 806-418-6282
Jody Nix & The Texas Cowboys with Casey Berry:10 p.m. Friday; The Western Horseman, 2501 E. Interstate 40; 806-379-6555, Ext. 2999
Arieon Keller with McKenna Nall: 9 p.m. Friday; Golden Light Cantina, 2906 S.W. Sixth Ave.; cover
Buzz & Brews Mead Festival: 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday; Creek House Honey Farm, 5005 Fourth Ave. in Canyon; admission $35 in advance, $40 at the door; 806-681-3446
Chamber Music Amarillo’s “Painting with Notes”: 7:30 p.m. Saturday; Arts in the Sunset, 3701 Plains Blvd.; tickets $40; 806-376-8782
Christopher Erin & The Obvious Few:8 p.m. Saturday; Hoots Pub, 2424 Hobbs Road; cover
Evan Charles with Maggie Burt:8 p.m. Saturday; Golden Light Cantina, 2906 S.W. Sixth Ave.; cover
Hangman: 9 p.m. Saturday; Whiskey River, 4001 S.W. 51st Ave.; 806-367-6163
Seth Ward & The Silence with Willie Chuck: 10 p.m. Saturday; The Western Horseman, 2501 E. Interstate 40; 806-379-6555, Ext. 2999
21st Anniversary Trailer Park Bash: 10 p.m. Saturday; RR Bar, 701 S. Georgia St.; 806-342-9000
New releases:
Horror flick Keeper, heist sequel Now You See Me, Now You Don’t and dystopian adventure The Running Man (Cinemark Hollywood 16, 9100 Canyon Drive, and Cinergy, 9201 Cinergy Square)
Special engagements:
Virgin Punk: Clockwork Girl (through Thursday, Cinemark Hollywood 16); j-hope’s Hope on the Stage: The Movie (Wednesday and Saturday, Cinemark Hollywood 16); Wicked re-release (opens Friday, Cinemark Hollywood 16); The Boy and the Heron (Saturday through Nov. 19, Cinemark Hollywood 16); and Secret Movie Series (Monday, Cinemark Hollywood 16)
