The History Boy Theatre Company in Jefferson will premier “Johnny Guitar” Friday, June 9 at 7 p.m. for a six-show run, including a Monday, June 26 performance in conjunction with the WHO Radio tractor ride.
Currently in its ninth season, History Boy produces two or three “new style” musicals each year.
“We’re always striving for quality first,” said Robby Pedersen, founder and artistic director of History Boy. “We are the only regional theatre between Des Moines and Omaha and have a reputation for premieres, important work and crowd pleasers alike, so shows running on Broadway this year will be on our stage, filling our 150 seats, next year.”
Pedersen said “Johnny Guitar” is a newer, off-Broadway, cowboy-western musical based on the 1954 movie of the same name starring Joan Crawford and Sterling Hayden. It is adapted line for line right from the film and then, through song, movement and acting, is made to be very funny, he said.
Part of History Boy’s fresh take on the original involves a singing and dancing cowboy quartet and musical fantasies. The show is centered around Vienna (played by IPTV star Kelli Kramer), a saloon owner in 1890 New Mexico. When local ranch boss Emma (Yvette Bardole) and McIvers (Darren Jackson) threaten to run her out of the territory, she sends for a gunfighter from her past, Johnny Guitar (Robby Pedersen, who also direct the production).
The ensemble of “Johnny Guitar” includes Michael Kennedy, Chet Hollingshead, Trisha Emery, Kevin Paulsen, Samantha Schmidt and Morgan Bennett.
Tickets are $15. The History Boy Theatre Company is located at 115 S. Wilson St. in Jefferson.
For more information, call 515.975.3083.
