SPEARFISH - The Black Hills Amphitheater's inaugural concert tonight is the venue's first step toward becoming the Red Rocks of the Black Hills.

Marty Hogen, the amphitheater's executive director, believes country music star Randy Travis' performance could go a long way to turning the former Black Hills Passion Play theater into a regional entertainment destination.

"Our vision is for the community, and we want to help restore this facility to what it really was in the past," Hogen said.

Securing Travis for the 5,000-seat venue's first concert was challenging, he said, because the singer's management had concerns about the amphitheater's technical capacity to host a production of the magnitude that Travis requires. The venue needs to be able to provide more than 700 amps for sound and lights, and someone to run the production.

"We had to reach far and broad to come up with the resources to make this happen," Hogen said. "We've been learning a lot as we go."

With projections telling him that the amphitheater could bring an additional 100,000 visitors to the Northern Hills, Hogen knew the venue's first act needed to have broad appeal.

"We looked at a number of different people, and it seemed like there was tremendous interest in Randy Travis," Hogen said.

Launching the new venture hasn't been without its setbacks. A Beach Boys concert scheduled for July 15 has been canceled because ticket sales didn't meet contractual obligations, Hogen said.

"I think that would have been a great show," he said. "But they will play only to sold-out houses."

For now, the amphitheater will host concerts on July 4 and Aug. 4 and 5, with others yet to be announced for August and Labor Day.

Upcoming Black Hills Amphitheater concerts

y July 4 - Phil Keaggy, Randy Stonehill Band, Bryan Duncan and Nehosoul Band: Among top names in Christian music, Keaggy is known for his acoustic sound and award-winning albums. Stonehill plays rootsy folk rock. Bryan Duncan and Nehosoul Band have a contemporary Christian sound. Tickets cost $17, $22 and $27 in advance; $20, $25 and $30 at the door.

y Aug. 4 and 5 - The Darrell Mansfield Band: Christian blues will perform two nights during the Sturgis motorcycle rally. Tickets cost $15, $17 and $22 in advance; $15, $20 and $25 at the door.

For more information or to buy tickets, go to http://blackhillsamp.com.

If you go

What: Randy Travis in concert

When: 8 p.m. today. Gate opens at 5 p.m.

Where: Black Hills Amphitheater in Spearfish; from Interstate 90 Exit 12, take Jackson Boulevard past downtown Spearfish and turn left at St. Joe Street

Tickets: $22-$42 at http://blackhillsamp.com/ or 1-800-344-6181

Call Eric Lochridge at 394-8321 or e-mail eric.lochridge@rapidcityjournal.com.