Image courtesy of History Boy Facebook page
After having to cancel all performances last year, History Boy Theatre Company is excited to put on a show this weekend.
Artistic Director Robby Pedersen says the Burnt Part Boys is set in a 1950s coal mining town in West Virginia. The musical is about a group of boys having to grow up without their dads, due to a coal mine cave-in. It also involves a set of ghost dads that died from that cave-in. He tells Raccoon Valley Radio this show was on his shortlist to do for a while.
“The timing was perfect, the talent to do it was perfect, and this show is amazing. I’ve been obsessed with it for 6-7 years since it came out. The music, it’s this soaring bluegrass, and we sing parts constantly through the whole thing. It may be the hardest vocal show we’ve ever done.”
Pedersen points out for the first time ever, the performances will be held outdoors at Kelso Park Friday-Sunday at 8pm. Director Samantha Schmidt talks about some of the challenges of doing shows outdoors.
“Well of course the challenge of not being in our own space. We are so used to our own stage and now we’re doing something completely different. How are we going to get lights out there? What about the sound? Just tech challenges that you don’t really have when you’re in an indoor space.”
The audience will be in the middle of a 180-degree stage area. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own chairs, along with food and beverages, although concessions will also be sold. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online, by clicking the link below or at the door. The full cast list can be found below as well.
Purchase tickets:
Cast list:
Pete: Madison Hall
Jake: Michael Kennedy
Dusty: Madeline Parrott
Chet: Quill Bardole
Frances: Josey Weaver
Dead Miner/Sam Houston/Chet’s Dad: Dave Heupel
Dead Miner/Davey Crockett/Frances’ Dad: Robby Pedersen
Dead Miner/Jim Bowie/Pete & Jake’s Dad: Michael Howland
Dead Miner/ Roy Tinns: Jacob Hanson