Summer shows only 3 weeks away

By Donnie A. Lucas

With just three weeks remaining before the opening date, rehearsals for the Fort Griffin Fandangle are going very well, according to artistic director Lorna Ayers.

“We have had a great response by cast members this year,” Ayers said. “We have picked up several more adults in just the last week in response to needing more supervision for our record number of kids in the show this year.”

Last week, the director issued a call for a parent, grandparent, or some other adult to accompany children on stage and be in the show with them, with the exception of the Indian Prairie scene.

“Our request was received very positively,” she said. “We had several new people to help with the kids last week, and the veteran cast members pitched in to help the new people and encourage them. There is no telling how many people are in the show, but it might be a record of some sort. I know we are busy sewing dresses for little girls and making a number of new animal heads.”

At least one rehearsal was cancelled this week and other threatened by rain, but Ayers said that rehearsals are on track or a little ahead.

“About the rain – always plan on coming to practice regardless of the forecast,” she said. “We will notify cast members with the REMIND app if a rehearsal is cancelled or the time changes.”

A schedule of rehearsals for the remainder of May and for the month of June can be found on the show’s website at www.fortgriffin fandangle.org.

Cast and crew members should click the ‘cast’ tab at the top of the page and use the entry code of 2022 when prompted to access the schedule.

The general rehearsals for production numbers and major scenes continue on Tuesday and Thursday each week, with the Ft. Griffin street scene and Beehive sequence practiced on Monday nights.

Children in the Indian scene and sqaure dancing will meet on Sunday evenings, and Huppi Hi and the Train dancers have rehearsals on Wednesdays.

Currently, no rehearsals are scheduled on Friday or Saturday.

All rehearsals start at 7:30 p.m. at the Prairie Theater. All cast and crew members are reminded to park in the cast parking lot even during rehearsals.

The Fandangle will perform a Sampler of the summer show at Frontier Texas! on Saturday, May 29 at 1:00 p.m.

“Frontier Texas! has a weekly shootout reenactment through July 4 and we were invited to perform this Saturday as part of the Memorial Day activities immediately following the shootout,” Ayers said. “We are taking basically the cast that performed at the Reynolds Bend Sampler, but without the horses and wagons.”

The theme of this year’s show will pay homage to the independent and courageous spirit of the settlers who peopled this part of Texas in the second half of the 1800s.

“We are basing the show on the life of George Rey­nolds and the extraordinary type of people who were drawn here,” Ayers said. “They weathered hardships and persevered, and it is their spirit we will try to capture in the show this year.”

Tickets

Fandangle tickets can be purchased online at fortgriffinfandangle.org by selecting the link for tickets.

Reserved seats cost $15, with special group pricing for groups of 20 or more, as well as active military and veterans.

Box seats cost $20 per seat and are sold only in complete boxes for $80, $120, and $160 if available.

To inquire about tickets or for large orders, contact the Fandangle office at 325-762-3838.