Original cast returns for "Those Boomer Boys"
John Glueckert and Steve Nelson (in back) and Neal Lewing and Bob Mazurek (front) are Those Boomer Boys in the Port Polson Players production that opens Aug. 15. Trish Tavenner plays piano for the show, which continues through Sept. 1. (Karen Lewing photo)
The Port Polson Players continue their 49th season with the music and humor of the Baby Boomer era. “Those Boomer Boys” plays Aug. 15-Sept. 1 at Polson’s Theatre on the Lake, with curtain times at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays.
The show is a revival of one of the most popular offerings from the Players of the past four decades.
“We wanted to end our 49th season with a bang,” says managing director Neal Lewing, who also compiled the show. “This is one of the most requested shows we’ve ever done.”
The musical event features the original cast of the show from when it first debuted in 2006. John Glueckert, Bob Mazurek, Steve Nelson and Lewing are accompanied by the renowned Trish Tavenner on piano.
“We’ve done this show almost a hundred times over the past two decades,” said Tavenner, who draws a following from all of western Montana.
The Players had just closed the show in the fall of 2006 when the famed Rialto Theatre in Deer Lodge burned. Neal and his wife, Karen, the troupe’s artistic director, were founders of the Old Prison Players there and quickly volunteered to kick off fundraising efforts to restore the historic building with a benefit show by the Boomers.
The event was so successful that the Deer Lodge community requested the “Boys” return as the first show to play on the new stage, which they did in 2009 to a packed house.
“Trish got a standing ovation when she walked out,” recalls cast member Nelson.
“We’re thrilled for these five talented performers to return to the stage in their original roles,” said Karen.
“Trish and her boys are more fun than a barrel of Boomers!” Neal added. “The Baby Boom era, 1946 to 1964, was a golden age of music and comedy, when Truman was president but Elvis was king. And we were there!”
Reservations can be made for this rollicking musical comedy at portpolsonplayers.com or by calling the box office at 406-883-9212. The show is produced in association with Mission Valley Friends of the Arts, a non-profit arts support entity since 1989.