"Rivertown"
Gala
to celebrate Madison’s
‘Rivertown’ musical set for Oct.
Production
written in honor
of Madison’s Bicentennial
By
Konnie McCollum
Staff Writer
(October 2009) – Madison, Ind., residents and
visitors are encouraged to celebrate the opening of the original musical
“Rivertown,” at a gala to support the Madison Consolidated
High School Theatre, which is producing the show.
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Photo
by Matt Griffith Some
of the cast of "Rivertown" |
The Rivertown Gala will be held at 5 p.m. on Oct. 10 at
the Madison Consolidated High School Cafeteria. The event will feature
a dinner catered by Baby Back Blues BBQ, music by Soundz Like Dixieland
and tickets to the 7 p.m. performance of “Rivertown,” the
musical written for Madison in honor of the city’s Bicentennial.
The gala is open to anyone who enjoys food, music for dancing and a
live musical production.
The creators of the show, Charles Moman, who wrote the lyrics and music,
Yancy Unger, who wrote the script, and director Aaron Kelsey will be
present at the gala. Several of the cast members of the musical will
be on hand in costumes to add to the “Main Street” atmosphere
organizers have created for the event.
The musical will be performed at 7 p.m. on Oct. 9-10, and Oct. 16-17,
and at 2:30 p.m. on Oct. 11 and 18. Performance tickets range from $5
to $20.
“The gala is a celebration of the world opening of our very own
original musical,” said director Aaron Kelsey, the director of
the theater program at Madison Consolidated High School. “There
aren’t many other towns that can say they have an all-original
two-act broadway style production created just for it.”
The event will also serve as a fundraiser for the Madison Consolidated
High School Theatre, which is supported by tickets sales to shows and
by community supporters like River Valley Financial Bank, the theater’s
2009-2010 season sponsor.
“I don’t think the majority of the public realizes how expensive
the average theater production is,” said Kelsey. “Our shows
are not even close to being as elaborate as they could be, but our costs
average $12,000 per show for production costs.”
Organizers Kelsey, Cheryl Torline and parents of student actors hope
to sell 200 tickets to the gala to help offset those costs.
Kelsey said he is hoping to sell out for the shows and the gala. “
‘Rivertown’ would be a great show to restage each summer for
the tourists at a riverside location, much like the Stephen Foster Story
is presented in Bardstown, Ky., or other shows at the Lincoln Amphitheatre.”
• Gala tickets are $30 and can be purchased at the hilltop locations of River Valley Financial Bank or by contacting ticket chairperson Tamma Kennedy at (812) 273-2144. Tickets for “Rivertown” the musical are available at River Valley Financial Bank or online through the Madison Area Convention and Visitors Bureau at www.VisitMadison.org.