Live theater is coming to Cordell, and locals will have the opportunity to join the fun by auditioning for a role on either February 13th or 14th at 7:00 p.m. There are two nights of auditions set to allow everyone a chance to be at one or the other. Previous theater experience is not necessary, and this will not be a musical production, so singing won’t be required. Those auditioning should be 6 years old or older. All children must be accompanied by an adult, including rehearsals.
Seasoned Director Julie Barnett is bringing the beloved children’s classic Charlotte’s Web to the stage at her venue, The Legacy at Opera House, formerly known as the Opera House Mall, located at 225 E. Main in Cordell.
Barnett purchased the century-old building over a year ago and had live theater on her mind right from the start. However, she wasn’t sure exactly how and when she would be able to get that dream to materialize so she started the building out as a space for vendors to set up booths to sell their wares.
She also held Saturday night dances with a live country and western band, plus some other musical events along the way. None of these ventures turned out to be especially profitable, and she temporarily shut the building down while still working on her dream of staging a production there.
“I knew I eventually would do a production at the Opera House. That was the reason I wanted the building. What most people don’t know is that there is a lot to the process of securing the rights to a script, and with musicals, especially, there is a pretty high cost to pay for the performance rights of the songs,” Barnett explained.
“That is why I have chosen to do this version of Charlotte’s Web as the first production. There are no song rights to purchase, and the stage set is pretty straightforward and won’t involve a lot of construction. I need to keep costs down until I see what kind of participation I get from the community,” Barnett continued.
Barnett brings plenty of theater experience to the table, as this will be one of over 100 productions that she has either acted in or directed. She has worked extensively with Hobart’s Shortgrass Playhouse, Clinton’s Southwest Playhouse, and Elk City’s Red Carpet Community Theater, where she recently received professional acclaim for her direction of ‘Willy Wonka.’
Charlotte’s Web will feature roles for both adults and children. Barnett wants to emphasize that you don’t have to have any acting experience to audition and that all types of people are needed. She says that putting on a show involves a lot of work, but that it is also a lot of fun. You might just find out that you have been bitten by the theater ‘bug’ and that you have talents you never before realized!
Charlotte’s Web will be performed on March 31st, April 1st, and April 2nd.