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Dinner and a show
Theater goers get their fill of a classic combination
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FarkGreat food, great music, great theater and great laughs — as well as opportunities to support the community — are all available over the next few weeks in the form of dinner theater.
Black Hills Community Theatre’s 16th annual fundraiser, “Love, Sex and the IRS,” offers a bit of gender confusion along with a high-class meal and a chance to support the community through theater.
The Firehouse Dinner Theater’s second show, “Criminals in Love,” is a gritty and funny look at love on the other side of the law. A bit of magic and a re-imagined menu are also on tap.
Uncle Monkey’s Melodrama serves up some western schmaltz along with its western meal — and a chance to throw peanuts at a bad guy.
And Youth & Family Services’ third annual fundraiser, “Center Stage,” features the music of two talented South Dakotans, as well as a chance to learn about and support the agency’s programs.
All four shows offer the classic combination — dinner and a show.
‘Love, Sex and the IRS’
If you go
The show: “Love, Sex and the IRS” by Jane Milmore and William Van Zandt
The group: Black Hills Community Theatre
The date: Friday, Jan.18, and Saturday, Jan. 19 — social hour begins at 6 p.m., dinner at 6:30 p.m., show at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 20 — social hour begins at 12:30 p.m., brunch at 1 p.m., show at 2 p.m.
The place: Rushmore Plaza Holiday Inn, 505 N. Fifth St.
The point: Money raised will go to the BHCT’s general operations fund. The fund supports programs such as the Cherry Street Players, the Well Done Players and the Suzie Kappa Players.
The meal: On Friday and Saturday, the meal includes Greek salad and a choice of roast beef haystacks with mushroom demi glaze and sides of cheddar mashers and broccoli, caramelized chicken pecan over almond pearl cous cous and glazed carrots, or portabella ravioli with sun-dried tomato cream sauce and red velvet cake for dessert. Sunday brunch will include various dishes containing fresh produce and meats, along with a mimosa station. Catered by the Rushmore Plaza Holiday Inn.
The extras: A silent auction and raffle will be conducted at each performance featuring items donated by the various businesses and individuals from the community.
The price: $65 per person or $600 for a table of 10. All tickets include dinner, drinks and show. Call 394-1787 for reservations. Reservation deadline is Jan. 14.
Most people know that it’s a bad idea to cheat the IRS, but according to the show featured in Black Hills Community Theatre’s fundraiser, “Love, Sex and the IRS,” it’s a funny idea as well.
Directed by 25-year community theater veteran Ron Reed, this year’s fundraiser will be staged at the Rushmore Plaza Holiday Inn and features audience favorites Phil Bangs, Laurie Bangs, John Heuerman and Mo Zimney of last year’s comedy hit, “Don’t Dress for Dinner.”
“Love, Sex and the IRS” is described by the community theater as a “wild comedy with twists of fate and mistaken identities.”
Characters Jon and Leslie are out-of-work musicians who room together. In an attempt to save money, Jon has been filing tax returns listing Leslie as his wife.
This wouldn’t be a problem for the couple if Leslie were Jon’s wife, or if Leslie were even a woman.
When the IRS informs the “couple” they will be audited, it’s time to drag the comedy in — in the form of Leslie dressing and acting like Jon’s wife.
The tale becomes even more complicated when Jon’s mother drops
in, Leslie’s girlfriend shows up and a beer-drinking, busybody landlord decides to poke in.
Reed, who helped choose the show said, “It’s a fun comedy and it works well for a dinner theater. It was written for a dinner theater in New Jersey.”
The show has been on the community theater’s list of possibilities for the past three or four years, according to Reed. “This year it just fit,” he said.
“People who come to the show should expect a very relaxing and fun evening,” Reed said. “The play itself is very funny and it will be accompanied by a good meal.”
The money raised will help some of the BHCT’s programs.
“The arts are a vital part of the economic development of any community,” Reed said. “They improve the quality of life in the area by providing opportunities to view and participate in art. Plus, companies also consider how active the arts community is when deciding whether to move to a region. The support of the arts is necessary to keep that vitality in a community.”
Reed said that although last year’s “Don’t Dress for Dinner” was performed again after the dinner theater, the community theater will not be able to restage “Love Sex and the IRS” after the dinner theater fundraiser performances.
“So if you want to see the show, you’ll have to come to the dinner theater,” he said.
“Criminals in Love” offers new twists at the Firehouse
If you go
The show: “Criminals in Love” by George F. Walker
The group: Firehouse Dinner Theater group
The place: Third floor of the Firehouse, 610 Main St.
The time: Saturdays at 6:30 p.m. for the meal, 8 p.m. for the show. The show will run through February.
The meal: Barbecue buffalo brisket, baked potato and a side of vegetables; or mushroom and artichoke pasta, served in an oil and balsamic vinegar sauce; salad and “blackout” brownie dessert.
The extras: Opening act by magician Josh Balt
The point: Great food and entertainment
The price: $29 per person for dinner and show; $15 for show only; call 348-1915 for reservations.
The Firehouse Dinner Theater will be serving up its second show, “Criminals in Love,” on Jan. 12 with an improved menu and a fresh side of magic.
Director Paul Burns calls the show “a gritty dark comedy with high emotion, gunshots and explosions.”
That’s pretty easy to believe, considering the plot. “Criminals in Love” is about how a young couple, Gail and Junior, are coerced into crime by Junior’s aunt Wineva, along with several of their friends.
That’s the dark part.
The comedy arises as Wineva’s insanity becomes apparent and the audience is shown how ill-equipped for crime the group really is.
But for the show’s director, the most exciting part of this dark comedy has nothing to do with the gunshots or explosions.
“I think the most exciting part is that it’s the second show in developing a new theater in Rapid City,” Burns said, echoing his sentiments about being involved in the Firehouse’s last show, “Picasso at the Lapine Agile.”
As artistic director of the Firehouse’s theater, Jon Lee also was involved in the last production as both director and actor. This time, however, Lee has been able to concentrate on the stage, playing the role of Junior.
“For me it’s been a real stretch because I’ve never had to play a role like Junior,” Lee said. “I’m usually cast more like the stoic or philosopher versus the idiot.”
Lee describes the show as a “tragic love story,” and said he wants the audience to be prepared for strong language.
“It’s kind of like Romeo and Juliet,” Lee said, “only with explosions and cursing.”
The menu and the opening act will have a few new twists.
“We will still be serving our barbecue buffalo brisket with a baked potato and a side of vegetables,” Lee said.
Their new dish will be mushroom and artichoke pasta, served in an oil and balsamic vinegar sauce.
Magician Josh Balt is the opening act once again, but he is doing an almost completely new act, said Lee. “He has learned a lot of new tricks in the last month and a half and will be including a lot more props.”
The Firehouse’s next show will be Moliere’s “The Doctor in Spite of Himself.”
Lee said auditions will be held in the third or fourth week of January and the show will open March 22.
“We are contemporizing the French farce.” Lee said. It will include a lot of physical comedy, and be rated G or PG. There’s no swearing. The worst element in the play is some sexual innuendo.”
Uncle Monkey blazes at Roaring Gulch
If you go:
The show: “Blazing Guns at Roaring Gulch” by Shubert Fendrich
The group: Uncle Monkey’s Melodrama
The time: Jan. 17, 18 and 19. Dinner will be served at 6 p.m., with the show at 7 p.m.
The place: The Stampede Steakhouse, 420 E. St. Patrick St.
The point: “It will probably one of the best times at the theater that they’ve had in their life,” according to co-director Kasey Reub.
The meal: barbecued ribs, baked beans and coleslaw.
The extras: It’s a melodrama, so the audience is encouraged to boo, hiss and cheer. Plus, peanuts will be available to throw at the villain for $2.50 a bag.
The price: $20 includes the show and the meal. Tickets must be purchased in advance and are available at the Dahl Arts Center or by calling 394-4101.
Sometimes dinner theater can be a little bit “cheesy.” While most productions attempt to avoid this, Uncle Monkey purposely delivers what many patrons might call “cheese” – this time in the form of “Blazing Guns at Roaring Gulch” at the Stampede.
In classic melodrama form, “Blazing Guns at Roaring Ranch” has a villain, a hero and a heroine. Uncle Monkey’s Web site (www.unclemonkeysmelodrama.com) has this to say about the show:
“Polecat Snipe Vermin is looking to spoil the day. Can hero Harry Heartstone save the town, or will sheriff Willie Lovelace steal his heart first? What is devious Widow Black really up to and how does handsome country boy Bill Fillbert fit into this mess?”
Co-director Kasey Reub said that attendees can expect to have a good time.
“It will probably be one of the best times at the theater that they’ve had in their life,” Reub said.
With the audience encouraged to boo and hiss at the villains, cheer for the good guys and throw peanuts at the bad guys, the melodrama does sound like a lot of fun.
Mark Barnes, owner of Uncle Monkey’s, said he plans keep the family fun going throughout the summer.
“The show is family-oriented,” Barnes said. “You can bring your kids. The whole concept is good clean family fun.”
The audience is given a quick tutorial on the traditions of the melodrama Barnes said.
“I’ve seen guys thinking it was stupid to boo and hiss,” Barnes said. “But as soon as the peanuts start to fly, they start asking, ‘Where can I get a bag of peanuts?’”
The meal is part of the fun, as well.
“We theme the meals with the show,” Barnes said. “For example, for Dracula we had prime rib because that cut of meat is traditionally served quite rare. This show has a western theme, hence the barbecue ribs.” The Stampede has had a chef on staff since the melodrama started there.
The show will follow dinner at 7 p.m. Three musical numbers and one comedy act are also slated to perform.
“Come, eat, laugh, throw your peanuts, have a good old time,” Barnes said. “It’s the most fun you’ll have at a live performance in the area.”
A night of music to raise funds for YFS
If you go:
The show: “Center Stage,” an evening of music featuring fiddler Kenny Putnum and singer/songwriter/guitarist Gordy Pratt
The group: Youth & Family Services’ third annual dinner theater fundraiser
The date: Feb. 29 and March 1. Social hour and tours of the facility begin at 6 p.m. followed by a buffet-style meal and the show.
The place: Youth & Family Services, 120 E Adams St.
The point: Provide education opportunities through facility tours and raise funds for the nonprofit.
The meal: Catered by Outback Steakhouse, the menu includes sirloin steak or chicken breast, with roasted garlic mashed potatoes, tossed Caesar salad, New York style cheesecake and Starbucks coffee.
The extras: A silent auction featuring a variety of items will be conducted both evenings.
The price: $50 per person or $300 to host a table of six. For reservations, call 342-4195.
Fiddler Kenny Putnum and singer/songwriter/guitarist Gordy Pratt will provide entertainment for an evening dedicated to raising funds and awareness Feb. 29 and March 2 at Youth & Family Services.
Danie Koskan, YFS community relations coordinator, said attendees can expect “barn-burning fiddle tunes” as well as “country and classical guitar tunes.”
“It won’t be just one type of music that night,” Koskan said, “and that’s what we’re excited about.”
Koskan said she hopes that people will come to be exposed to great entertainment and learn about the nonprofit organization.
“We hold it at the YFS facility to get people in the door and let them know a bit about what we do,” she said. “We’re raising funds, but we’re also trying to create awareness.”
“Outback Steakhouse donates the food to YFS,” Koskan said. “A lot of different people in the community are coming together to make this happen. We’re always looking for volunteers, as well.”
A silent auction featuring a variety of items will be conducted both evenings.
“We always have some really great packages,” Koskan said. “This year we have a Nebraska football package, tickets to the Rapid City Rush and art by Richard Dubois.”
Contact Crystal Hohenthaner at 394-8463 or crystal.hohenthaner@rapidcityjournal.com
Vivian, played by Mo Zimney, faints after catching a glimpse of Leslie, played by John Heuerman, as Bob Faubert looks on as the three rehearse “Love, Sex and the IRS” on Monday night. (Seth A. McConnell/Journal staff)
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