"The Producers" 2008
The opening night performance of The Producers was simply wonderful. Our faces hurt from smiles and laughter. The cast and crew did a really fine job.
I can only imagine the staging headaches that had to be surmounted, but the production was a truly great one. Thank you for your dedication to theater in Amarillo and thank you for having the 'nerve' to produce a play of this caliber and scope.
~ John & Linda Miller
"The Pillowman" 2008
"The Pillowman" was a stunning piece of work. Steve and I enjoyed the show and talked about it throughout the remainder of the weekend.
~ Katharyn Wiegand
Thank you for stretching the minds of the local audience with The Pillowman. It was a tour de force in the grandest sense of the words. The acting was superb and the story line was well crafted. No nightmares here -- just serious thought about the many levels of the story -- political, social and individual. The story of how these characters grapple with the many aspects of evil around them is certainly profound. I believe history will judge this drama worthy of inclusion in masterpiece category. Carry on -- we admire your talent and thank you for sharing it with the public!!
~ Doris Kaczmarek
Doris and I want to compliment you and thank you for undertaking this production, undoubtedly in our minds the best piece of non-musical theatre we have seen at ALT. It took a great playwright, caster/director, and outstanding cast to make this show work. You had all of the necessary components.
This was a 3 hour show without a wasted minute. The gripping mystery of the show and where it was going with its story was fantastic. Language and subject matter only made the show!
I was at times almost personally physically sickened by about what I witnessed or knew I was about to witness--so much the better--a tribute to the quality and power of the direction, staging and the cast performance. The staging and unfolding of the story as you did it was unparalleled.
I am sorry that I saw only the closing show--otherwise, I would have seen it at least one more time. The four "leads" were virtually flawless--great performances by Garza, Westmoreland, Washburn, and needless to say, Newman.
~ Dr. John Kaczmarek
I think that this is about as dark and intense a piece as I have seen in ever so long. In my opinion the four principals gave the best total performance this year. All four were very strong. Lots of dialogue and very intense dialogue at that. All of them stayed in character and played to and with each other extremely well. It was a pleasure to watch the performance in spite of the difficult emotional context of the play itself.
I must say that this was not my favorite subject or treatment but the play itself was a very powerful and moving piece. The cast is to be applauded for carrying on such an intense piece with such energy, skill, and commitment. I agree that the theater's place is to challenge and provoke audiences and move them beyond their comfort zone. This one moved us personally close to the far edge of our comfort zone. That said, keep presenting these plays that push and move us. Thank you for a wonderful, if somewhat uncomfortable at times, evening of challenge. We look forward to next season.
~ John & Linda Miller
"Daddy's Dyin'... Who's Got the Will?" 2008
What a night of theater. I have used up most of my superlatives for this season, but this was a super performance. The timing and business was just terrific. The business kept you watching the whole stage and I know that I probably missed some piece of business that was happening with a character that was not in my view.
I thought the set worked a treat, the lighting was good, and the actors did a great job of wearing their characters having had terrific direction. If I have any complaint at all it is with the ill mannered audience who kept laughing over the best comeback lines.
A truly fine performance and great theater. Thank you for your craftsmanship as director and to the actors tonight.
~ John & Linda Miller
Thanks for an incredible evening of fun and laughter!!!!! My husband
and I enjoyed last night's play SO much!!
What a fun cast.............and I appreciate your direction in bringing
out the best in each of them! Thank you for sharing your talent with
Amarillo!
~ Roberta Smart
"Urinetown" 2008
I enjoyed Urinetown so much. It was fun to watch and enjoy. And I’ve thought of a lot of funny parallels in life since the show… Thanks again for sharing it with Amarillo….
~ Jan McCathern
"Terrible Name, Great Play"
We really enjoyed the play tonight. The space works so well for the productions you stage there. The set was imaginative and really well done. The cast was very good. Cara is fun to watch when she does broad strokes as she did tonight. Strong voices and just good theater. We are so fortunate to have a house like ALT, thank you for all your effort.
~ John & Linda Miller
Gee Whiz, last night was fun!!!!!!
You guys all did a great job. I took my husband for his birthday and he loved it!!!!!
~ Ana Moore
I attended “Urinetown” last night and was AMAZED by Cara Kee’s performance. She was absolutely awesome. Her portrayal—both in speech and actions—was priceless as Ms. PennyWise.
The entire production was very enjoyable and well worth the money.
~ Marilyn B. Roberts
"Driving Miss Daisy" 2008
What a wonderful performance! Of the many outstanding performances we have seen at ALT we think that this is one of, if not THE best, that we have been honored to see.
Jeff did a fine directing job and produced a tightly knit whole that was just great. The characters were superb, their aging process was marvelous, the mannerisms were spot on Miss Daisy could have been Linda's grand mother, the business was excellent, the timings were tight, the set creative, and I could go on but it was just a truly fine production.
Thank you for a great experience.
~ John & Linda Miller
Congratulations to you for the successful "Driving Miss Daisy"! I absolutely loved everything about it , including the set that allowed the audience to use their imagination . I have to say that I enjoyed it more than any of the shows I've seen at ALT and we've never seen anything but great productions. Daisy was incredible -- of course she was an OU grad, what else would one expect?? Thanks to you seating us on the front row, being able to see Daisy's facial expressions was definitely a plus.
SUPERB in every way! Thanks for your work.
~ June Wadley
Just wanted to take a minute and let you know how much we enjoyed "Driving Miss Daisy."
It was a great cast, great show in every way and just wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed it!
Thanks and we always enjoy the shows, but this is one of my all time favorites and just wanted to take the time to let you know what a great job everyone did!
Thanks again!
~ Renee Wilson
"A Christmas Carol " 2007
We enjoyed the show tonight so much! Everyone did a stupendous job, and that Ebeneezer ... WOW. He's just going to get better every year, isn't he? It's like he was born for that part. And I could tell that the cast from the play were friends. It's amazing how that chemistry comes through on stage. It made it seem so much more like a real "town", you know? The sets were gorgeous as were the costumes.
~ Anita Howard
"Doubt"
Me and my daughter had an awesome time last night!!! The actors were sensational and I thought it was really good…the issue was done in good taste, and sad to say this has happened way too much…this was my daughter’s first time to go to a play of this sort and she was just in awe! Thank you Cara, you definitely put a smile on her face and it was just what she needed! You all are awesome!
~ Sharon Cooper
"Into The Woods"
Wednesday, October 3, 2007-OUR TOWN section of The Amarillo Globe News
ALT play great start for anniversary
"Into The Woods" at the Amarillo Little Theatre paves an excellent entry into the theater's 80th Mainstage anniversary.
Allen Shankles, ALT director, strikes the magic into this "fractured fairytale," an award-winning Stephen Sondheim musical. Amarillo audiences had an opportunity to see outstanding musical theater with a colossal cast and musicians.
Yes, I am a member of the ALT board of directors. This objective opinion, however, comes as a result of seeing the show.
~ Kay Paine
"Sweet Dreams, Peggy Sue "
I wanted to let you know that me and my husband Steve truly enjoyed Saturday's performance of "Sweet Dreams, Peggy Sue." We had seen both shows in the past and were very excited when our friends invited us to go. Please let Ms. Hysmith and Mr. Jones know that their performances were again perfection and that Ms. Bulla's new character was a hoot! We had a such a fun time and have been talking about it all weekend. We were hoping to see The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens again as well but still loved the show. Thank you for bringing back some great memories.
~
Joanne Boyer
"Beehive"
We had heard that the production was very
good. We were pleased to discover that it was
much better than very good..
We are constantly impressed with the caliber of performers
that you find in the Amarillo area. We are so
very fortunate to have such a pool of talent and such
a fine venue to showcase them.
The staging was fun, the lighting plot was imaginative,
the set was versatile, and the production had such
energy and effect.
~
John and Linda Miller
"Metamorphoses"
Dear Cast & Crew of "Metamorphoses",
I was mezmorized at your performance Saturday night. You truely took me into the world you created, and
I got lost in the beauty of the language as well as
the incredible visuals.
Thank you for a delightful evening.
~ Lynae'
Jacob
The premise here is fascinating; the tales
of ancient classical playwright Ovid performed
in and around a pool of water. This was clearly
a departure for Amarillo theatre goers, many of whom
openly admitted before the show started that they
didn't really know what to expect.
The set was stunning, both visaully and aurally. The
colors and hanging panels effectively complimented
the water. Even the costumes, mostly long and flowing,
seemed perfectly fitted to the atmosphere
being created. The music and lighting combined
with the set to produce a sensous, quasi-mystical
feel.
The performances were generally solid; Kevin Fuller
and Leigh Anne Stewart continue to demonstrate
their growing talent. Both young graduates of
the ALT Academy, they predict a bright future for
the theatre. The structure and direction of
the show were well done also. Another comlicated
show that has been well-crafted by Director Allen
Shankles.
The tales themselves left me a bit confused.
I walked out wondering if I'd missed the
point somehow. The stories are generally
very simple. I thought King Midas was basically
a children's story, but the complicated and relatively
arcane language of the play combined with the mystical
feeling of the set made me wonder if there wasn't
somthing else there, some deeper theme or message.
I almost felt I had to concentrate too much, or that
there was some "inside" joke or theme I was missing.
Allen stated in his pre-show speech that the tales
were to taken at face value. I guess I didn't
take that admonishment seriously.
Overall, "Metamorphoses" was a strong production.
The individual pieces were solid, although the show
in it's totality may not appeal to everyone.
Another success for the Adventure Space.
~ Dr.
Russell Robinson
Wow! Thank you for such an eventful
evening of theater. We really enjoyed the performance.
Thank you for presenting such a challenging piece.
We were unanimous in our admiration of the cast's
ability to perform under difficult conditions.
Their professional approach and delivery was really
top notch.
This seemed to me to be one of the best productions
you have staged in that the timing and flow was nearly seamless.
Props and business were handled extraordinarily well,
lines were delivered clearly, the lighting and sound
were well done and cued very well. All in all
this was one of the high points in a good season
of theater for us.
Please let the cast know how much we enjoyed the production.
~
John and Linda Miller
"The Odd Couple"
This brilliant
piece of American theatre lived up to its' promise
at ALT in January. The entire cast was solid.
Sherman Bass and Bobby Shaeffer as the leads were
outstanding. The "girls" held their
tricky accents flawlessly. This was simply
one of the best American plays ever written, with a
very competent cast under the outstanding direction
of Jeff Jarnagin. Jeff has truly come into his
own as a comedic director. Great work for all
ages and tastes.
~ Dr. Russell Robinson
A Patron's Point of View (February 7, 2007)
Our family went to the
Civic Amarillo production of Joseph and the Amazing
Technicolor Dream Coat last night. It was a
great play and one that we all enjoyed. But,
I must tell you in all honesty that the ALT production
that was done a couple of years ago could easily hold
its own and in many cases
the ALT production was much better. The presentation
last night did not have any kids in the production,
which we really missed. Cara could easily hold
her own with the narrator last night. Chuck
completely blew away their Pharoh. Jeff and Patrick
were much better than the actors portraying that role
last night. The play last night had nice choreography,
which you expect, but I am very proud of the performance
that ALT presented. The cast of ALT can hold
their own with any production that comes to town.
Last night was a very good reminder of the quality
of programs that ALT offers and the amount of talent
in Amarillo. My wife and I were wondering if
the people sitting around us had seen the ALT presentation
because they were amazed at the production last night.
If only they had seen the ALT production they would
have realized that ALT is equal to the task.
Thanks for a great job at ALT!!
~
Mike, Cheryl, Danielle, and JT Sherrer
"A Christmas Carol "
I attended "A Christmas Carol" last Friday evening and enjoyed every minute of it. Time flew by I was so engrossed in this beautiful production. I applause ALT for staging such a professional production.
Thanks for a wonderful evening full
of the Christmas spirit!
~ Jane Hudson
Wow! It was wonderful! The cast,
the scenes, fabulous! Bravo!
~ Valerie Naugle,
Bailey Naugle, Martha Duncan, Keely Chumley, Keisha
Naugle, Domnique Lehr, Megan Lehr
"Assassins"
I consider it a mark of high praise
when our conversation in the car on the way home skipped
from performer to performer while trying to mark the
strongest character. The entire cast was a strong
and vital one. Thank you for a riveting albeit
uncomfortable at times piece of theater.
~ John and Linda
Miller
My definition of art has
always included the notion that the piece
should prompt both thought and emotion from the viewer.
"Assassins,"
recently at ALT's Adventure Space certainly did that.
I left the
theatre thinking that I didn't like the overall work;
and at first didn't quite understand why, as many
of the individual performances were stirring.
Jonathan Cardenas gave a breakout performance as Samuel
Byck, who attempted to assassinate Richard Nixon.
His barely controlled rage was both menacing and captivating.
Brilliant work from a relative
newcomer to the Amarillo stage. Jim Gardner, cast
as Leon Czolgosz,
assassin of William McKinley, gave his most satisfying
performance to
date at ALT. His substantial acting skills have formerly
been overshadowed by his spectacular voice, but not
this time.
Other strong efforts included that of Sarah Johnston,
who displayed
previously unappreciated vocal ability as Lynette
"Squeaky" Fromme,
and the consistently outstanding Jeff Jarnagin as
John Wilkes Booth,
who toughed out a very credible performance on the
second weekend
despite having laryngitis.
As has also become a standard of the Adventure Space,
the lighting,
sound and intimacy of the thrust setting were powerful
additions to
the overall feel of the piece. Once again, Allen Shankles
has done a
fine job staging a complicated show.
So why did I walk away feeling somehow disappointed?
I think the
problem is with the show's intrinsic design. Part
of the magic of the
theatre is that it prompts us to suspend disbelief.
We can enter an
imaginary world for a short period of time. The depiction
of
historical events in the form a musical simply did
not allow me to do
that. I think its hard enough for a playwright to
deal with historical
events that the audience is mostly familiar with in
a pure dramatic
setting. The addition of a musical score, particularly
one as quirky
as this, (typical Sondheim-odd rhythms, dissonate
melodies) simply did not allow this piece to work
for me. I lost the ability to suspend
disbelief on multiple occasions when the music started,
despite the
fact that the songs were generally very well performed.
Finally, the idea of displaying these characters in
what might be
considered a sympathetic light bothers me a little.
Allen remarked in
his directors' notes that he was not trying to make
a social or
political comment. But it can't help but be so. Is
there truly a
purpose in trying to understand evil? It has always
been with us and
always will be. The depiction of several of the characters
as victims
of one form or another does not change the fact that
their actions
were evil; and you can't separate a man from his actions.
I applaud Allen for having the courage to tackle this
show with its'
clearly limited appeal. The Adventure Space continues
to be my
favorite theatre setting anywhere. We are lucky to
have this venue,
and I hope we never change it.
~
Dr. Russell Robinson
"Steel Magnolias"
What an incredible show!!! My husband and I just attended the Thursday evening show and it was wonderful!!! Steel Magnolia has always been my favorite movie, and now, I have this production to add to my all time favorites!!! The cast was great, and I loved them all!!! Thank you ALT for this brilliant show, and all your hard work!
Bravo!!! Went to the play this afternoon (Sunday) and loved it. Can't say that I had a favorite actress as you all did a superb job. You all worked so smoothly together. I've seen the movie many times but in person, it's a real treat. Thanks for all your hard work and dedication. Hats off to you all.
~ Sharon Bowers
To whom it may concern; My friend and I had the very distinct privilege of attending the Sun. matinee today, & it was most enjoyable. We thought the casting was excellent & each actor did a wonderful job. Congrats on another fine presentation of ALT. Thanks again for a very pleasant Sunday afternoon.
~ unknown
Wow! Words are paltry things sometimes. Thank you and your marvelous cast for a marvelous evening of theater. The first act was stunning with difficult dialog and tight timing. It showed a great deal of work and polish. The cast was wonderful, accents were good and consistent. The characters believable and well rounded. Just a great evening. Thank you so much for the work that went into this production, it truly did pay off. When most of the audience is in tears you are present at a great moment in theater.
~ John and Linda Miller
"Bright Ideas"
What a funny piece. The play was funny with some good lines and good business. Very interesting staging, very simple but very effective. Pulled the audience into the play and got the suspension of disbelief that was needed to work. Jayme was great going over the top or around the bend. Nice business in lots of scenes, very enjoyable. Cara has a nice feel for comedy and the cast worked nicely in their roles to keep the characters straight.
~ John Miller
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