PORT ANGELES — “Snow White and the Five Housemates” has started a new tradition at the Lincoln Theater, said Marc Abshire, Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce executive director.
The locally-written Christmas musical comedy and pantomime presented by the Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce and Nemesis Theater Productions sold out all its shows, including the three scheduled this weekend at the “theater in the rough” at 132 E. First St.
Another British pantomime, telling a different story, will grace the theater next holiday session, Abshire said, so long as the city approves the needed permits.
“It’s a great tradition,” he said Wednesday. “Since we sold out six shows, we’ll probably have nine next year.”
The musical spoof of the fairy tale directed by writer Shannon Cosgrove and choreographer Naomi Alstrup kept audiences laughing at its comedy and allusions to the local area — such as a man who was the ninth son of the king of Joyce — and showed off the talents of its local actors and actresses.
Those on stage didn’t always stay there; cast and audience interacted constantly, with boos for the evil stepmother, cheers for the heroine and a little flirting by Snow White’s nanny.
The seating for 180 was on fold-out chairs, the walls were mostly bare except for some holiday decorations and the stage was makeshift — all of which contributed to the community theater feel of the production.
Last weekend was the first time the public had a chance to check out the historic Lincoln Theater since it was closed in 2014.
The theater opened for the first time in 1916 with 950 seats. It was closed in the 1940s but by 1950 it had been reopened. By the time Sun Basin Theaters closed it four years ago, the theater was a triplex with 519 seats.
Present day audiences found that the inside has been gutted. Renovations by Marty and Deborah Marchant, who own Jam Properties of PA, LLC, are ongoing.
Abshire has said that the chamber partnered with the Marchants with the goal of getting the community excited about the renovation of the longtime movie house, which he described as “an iconic and important venue.”
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Executive Editor Leah Leach can be reached at 360-417-3530 or at lleach@peninsuladailynews.com.
Lara Starcevich plays the fairy godmother in the “Snow White and the Five Housemates” last weekend. (Paul Gottlieb/Peninsula Daily News)
Jennifer Horton plays the evil stepmother in the “Snow White and the Five Housemates.” (Paul Gottlieb/Peninsula Daily News)
