The final two performances of “Pokes ‘n’ Plainsmen” will run tonight and tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m. in the Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts Thrust Theatre.
“Pokes ‘n’ Plainsmen” is a collaboration with Laramie High School and the University of Wyoming Department of Theatre and Dance. The show features scenes, songs and dances that showcase some of the best performers at LHS and UW in a “cabaret” style production. This is the first time such a collaboration has been done.
“The goal with this project has been to create a collaborative environment that brings the two communities together to find commonalities and to help each other improve and grow,” director Patrick Konesko said.
Directed by UW theater faculty members Leigh Selting and Konesko, and LHS drama instructor Michael Hancy, with musical direction by UW musical theater faculty member Seán Stone, the creation of the performance is predominately student-driven despite the number of faculty directors. Students were able to select their own material and rehearse it on their own before meeting with the directors to incorporate and shape the chosen material into a larger production.
With some of the numbers being exclusive to either LHS or UW students, one of which showcases the high school students as featured soloists, all the major group numbers include both high school and university students and a few of the scenes contain [1] [2] both populations as well.
The collaborative nature of the production has helped the company focus on the theme of love and relationships, making a free-flowing musical and revue, perfect for Valentine’s Day week and and a great option for date night and casual outings.
“There are a variety of group numbers, solo songs and monologues, duets, small scenes, etc. that each approach the theme of love from a different point of view,” Konesko said. “The hope is to take the audience through the joy of love newly found, well-established relationships, love fought for/debated, and love lost.”
Another benefit of the joint production is providing an opportunity for UW faculty members and Hancy to work together to produce an art piece along with interacting with students of both programs on individual numbers and solos, chorus work and scenes.
“This production should have something for everyone to enjoy,” Konesko said. “There are lots of numbers that are light and fun, but there are also some that are more thought-provoking or more challenging in style.”
Tickets cost $14 for the public, $11 for senior citizens and $7 for students. Tickets are now available at the Performing Art box office and the Wyoming Union information desk. Tickets can be purchased at those two locations, calling (307) 766-6666 or going online at uwyo.edu/finearts.
For more information, call Kathy Kirkaldie, UW Fine Arts coordinator, at (307) 766-2160 or email kirsik@uwyo.edu.
Scenes? contains? not quite sure what to change in this sentence.
I changed it to hopefully make sense.
