By Chip Chandler — Digital Content Producer
You can't stop the beat
Amarillo Little Theatre's Hairspray continues this weekend with performances at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday on the ALT Mainstage, 2019 Civic Circle. Limited seats are available now (update: no, they're not; the show's sold out), and if you aren't squeezed in this week,; try again for the May 20 to 22 performances.
I caught the show on its official opening night last weekend and had a grand time. Drew Grimes steals the show as Edna Turnblad, the house-bound mother of heroine Tracy (Emma Elkins); Grimes puts his own twist on a role played originally by Divine and, quite poorly, by John Travolta in the theatrical version of the stage musical. Elkins, though fighting through some vocal rough patches last week, is an ingratiating leading lady; you're immediately on her side and happy to stay there. Kudos, also, to Laurenn Reynolds who shows some crack comic timing as Tracy's friend Penny, Brandon Bellar as the plastic but sympathetic Corny Collins and Tevae Shoels as the jive-talkin' Seaweed. And I'd be remiss not to note the showstopping performance of Devlon Jones, who sings the show's anthem, "I Know Where I've Been"; the song is traditionally sung by Motormouth Maybelle, but director Allen Shankles wisely gave the moment to Jones, who simply slays the song.
Sets are bright and colorful, and choreographer Crystal Bertrand did some amazing work in staging a breathtaking number of dances, the most I've ever seen in an ALT production. There were rough patches throughout the night, particularly vocally, but I'm hopeful those have been ironed out by this weekend.
Call 806-355-9991.
Amarillo's going to the dogs
Well, you can tell by the way they use their walk, they’re a person’s pet – no time to talk.
Whether they’re a boxer or whether they’re a mastiff, they’re stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive.
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive.
Sorry, had to get that out of my system. If my doggerel didn’t clue you in, perhaps this will help you make more sense of it: Muttfest 2016 is themed Disco Dogs: Stayin’ Alive.
The annual fundraiser and party for Amarillo Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals runs noon to 5 p.m. Sunday in Memorial Park, 26th Avenue and Washington Street. The free family fun day for pets and their owners will feature food and beverages from Rudy’s Country Store and BBQ, Party Stop and more. The party also will feature owner-pet look-alike, best costume, waggin’est tail, best dancer and King & Queen Mutt contests.
Vendors will offer information and products, and Lone Star Veterinary Services will offer low-cost vaccinations.
Call 806-622-0555 or visit www.amarillospca.net.
Everybody poops. Including animals.
In a technically unrelated but thematically appropriate coincidence, Amarillo Zoo, 2401 Dumas Highway, will hold its first-ever Fecal Fest from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday.
Poo at the Zoo will educate visitors on the weird, bizarre and sometimes funny ways animals use their poop. Mike Boley, the Zoo’s visitor services coordinator, said guests can take part in (and these are his words) “crappy crafts, gastronomical games, turd trivia” and more, including a bison chip accuracy contest.
Admission is $4 for adults, $3 for seniors, $2 for children ages 3 to 12 and free for children 2 and younger. Call 806-381-7911 or visit www.amarillozoo.org.
High-flying 'mad' man
Daredevil “Mad” Mike Hughes will return to the area to again attempt to jump Palo Duro Canyon on his steam-powered rocket.
Hughes delayed an April attempt after problems during a test run, but he plans to make the leap at 5 p.m. Saturday (weather permitting) at Palo Duro Zip Line & Adventure Park, just west of the state park entrance.
In 2014, Hughes jumped 1,374 (just over a quarter mile) in his steam-powered rocket. He hopes the Palo Duro attempt will double that distance.
Admission is $10 or free for children ages 10 and younger. Visit www.madmikehughes.com or www.palodurozip.com.
In Case You Missed It
Comic-book, anime, movie and TV fans will unite Friday through Sunday at the third-annual Yellow City Comic Con in the Amarillo Civic Center Complex, 401 S. Buchanan St. It will open with a VIP night at 5 p.m. Friday, featuring panels with Mighty Morphin Power Rangers stars David Yost (Blue Ranger/Billy) and David Fielding (Zordon), actors Coleman Youmans (The Walking Dead) and Tim Rose (Star Wars), voice-over stars Mike McFarland (Dragonball Z) and Amarillo native Trina Nishimura (Attack on Titan), and a dance. The con runs from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday; VIP ticket-holders will get in 30 minutes early. More than 150 exhibitors, professional artists and regional cosplayers will be on hand throughout the con. … Amarillo artists Scott Hyde and Lightnin' McDuff will get the spotlight in "Lightnin' and Mr. Hyde," an exhibition opening with a 7 to 10 p.m. Friday reception and on view, by appointment, through June 14 at Process Art House, 700 S. Van Buren St. It's the first time they've showed their work together in a two-man exhibition.
Chip Chandler is a digital content producer for Panhandle PBS. He can be contacted at Chip.Chandler@actx.edu, at @chipchandler1 on Twitter and at www.facebook.com/chipchandlerwriter on Facebook.
