One cold January day in 1996 five highly talented women in Pueblo sat down and talked about starting a singing group; a group that would work exclusively with young people of Pueblo. And so, as with all tasks started by women it was completed and became a huge success. The following year Mr. Kenneth Butcher joined as Music Director and the Pueblo Children’s Chorale was on its way to becoming the pinnacle of children’s choirs in Southern Colorado.
"The new Irving Berlin show is opening on Broadway. ‘Annie Get Your Gun,’ starring Ethel Merman."
"Okay, Mr. Peabody, all ready — oops!"
"Sherman! What have you done?"
"I'm sorry, Mr. Peabody, but I slipped and hit a bunch of the wrong buttons. We're coming to rest in Pueblo, Colorado. It's 1911 and a traveling troupe of players is putting on a production of . . . ‘Annie Get Your Gun.’ ”
"But that's impossible!"
Oh no it isn't. Opening night of Damon Runyon Repertory's "Annie Get Your Gun" had the feel of eagerly anticipated entertainment in a railhead outpost. Its frontier appeal was rough-hewn, and the opening night crowd Saturday night was rarin' and ready. Nary a seat was empty and the audience ate up the offerings of the bright-faced thespians. The mood and atmosphere had an innocence redolent of a century ago.
My apologies to all, especially the participants in the concert Saturday afternoon by the Pueblo Children’s Chorale at Hoag Hall on the campus of Colorado State University-Pueblo.
I was distracted and indisposed, and did not attend. But the Pueblo Children’s Chorale deserves recognition for its performance. Therefore, I asked individuals who were there and whose musical knowledge I respect to comment.
And, wondrous to say, I was able to hear the entire performance, provided by a musical friend.
This concert was notable for being the chorale's 15th anniversary, the final program directed by Dr. Jennifer Shadle-Peters, and the introduction of the new director, Brook Mead.
I had always wondered why my father disliked his middle name Earnest. I used to tell him that it was a good name. Oscar Wilde wrote an entire play dedicated to that name. It did not sway him. But like many of Wilde’s writings The Importance of Being Earnest, produced by Centennial High School Friday night is about more than what appears on the surface.
So you gotta ask yourself: Do you want to be moved and enlightened by a profound work of art? Or do want to laugh, chuckle and even groan (good-naturedly) while watching a schmaltzy musical comedy? If you chose the latter, then "The Wedding Singer" is for you.
Opening Friday night in the Central High School auditorium, this Steel City Theatre Company production kept a good-sized crowd amused for better than two hours with ’80s-era music, fashions and blast-from-the-past cultural references. Pat Benatar would have fit right in with the energetic ensemble.
