For Huntington Outdoor Theatre life really is a stage, and an outdoor one at that. Now entering its 16th season, H.O.T. has grown to become a summer tradition for many throughout the Tri-State.
By the Editors
HQ 69 | WINTER/SPRING 2010
What was Helen Freeman thinking? “To provide a performance opportunity for the abundant talent located in the area, to give the Tri-State another entertainment option during the summer months, and to enhance the tourism opportunities in the area.”
She wasn’t thinking about the torrential downpours, swarms of mosquitoes, numerous cuts, sprains, bruises, fractures, an impalement or two – or the temperatures that are always hot, hot, HOT!
But that’s appropriate, because we’re talking about H.O.T., Huntington Outdoor Theatre.
In 1994, Freeman – who teaches speech, theater and debate at Huntington High School – and her “partner-in-crime” Patty Shaver thought the Tri-State would support quality musical theater that was geared toward families and presented outdoors. Now, going into H.O.T.’s 16th season, their thought has proven to be true, as thousands of people have flocked to the Ritter Park Amphitheater to see some of the world’s most beloved musicals presented by some of the most talented performers and skilled technicians in the region. Freeman remains H.O.T.’s president and artistic director, and Shaver is the organization’s vice president and managing director.
Yes, there are meteorological challenges. For instance, in 1997, during a performance of The Sound of Music, a cloudburst came without warning, causing a 45-minute delay. But in typical H.O.T. fashion, the cast and crew made the best of the situation, inviting the audience onto the stage under cover. And while they waited for the storm to pass, the cast took guests on a tour of the set and backstage to the costume and props area. As it turned out, almost all of the playgoers stayed through the delay and gave the show a standing ovation when it finally reached its somewhat soggy climax.
Rain also plagued last year’s production of All Shook Up. The show was rained out on two Saturday nights. Those are key performance dates, but Freeman said they were able to survive.
“The show did well, so the rain-outs didn’t kill us,” she said.
Since the shows are presented in July, heat is another major factor. Finding a spot backstage during a show, in front of the handful of fans, means finding a prime piece of real estate. And there are other challenges as well.
“For me the actual scheduling can be a challenge,” said C.E. Wilson, an audience favorite in H.O.T. productions like The Music Man, Hello Dolly and Annie Get Your Gun. “The biggest challenge for me is balancing the weeks and weeks of rehearsal and performance with family life and work.”
Which is why Shaver and Freeman factor in the actors’ opinions when deciding what shows to present.
“First off, we have two starting points in deciding,” said Shaver. “We look at shows that will please the audience and shows that will please the actors. It’s important that the audience responds to the show, but it’s just as important that the actors respond to the show, if we’re going to ask them to give up their whole summer.”
Shaver said that she and Freeman seek input from a lot of different people before taking the suggestions to the H.O.T. Board of Directors, all the while keeping in mind the H.O.T. mission of providing shows appropriate for the entire family.
Name a classic of musical theater and it has probably shown up on a H.O.T. playbill in the last decade and a half. Tri-State residents have plopped down in their lawn chairs or on their blankets and enjoyed Guys and Dolls, Oklahoma, My Fair Lady, 1776 and many more cherished musicals.
Jeremy Richter appeared as Sky Masterson in H.O.T.’s production of Guys and Dolls.
“One of my favorite moments – probably because of my huge ego – was the creation of the Jeremy Richter Fan Club, made up of some of the young ladies and little girls in the cast,” he said.
And what started as a joke escalated into a full-blown fan club, with membership cards and a video tribute to the fans’ “heartthrob.”
“Growing up in Wheeling, most of the theater I did was at Marshall University,” Richter said. “I really missed out on the friendships and experiences of community theater. I felt like part of a family with H.O.T., and I owe them a lot for that.”
The strong sense of family is demonstrated not only in the feelings among the cast and crew, and in the decision-making for show titles, but also in a very literal sense. Productions usually boast more than one family member; a glance at a Huntington Outdoor Theatre program might turn up multiple Wolfes, Alfords, Olsens, Lamps, Minskers and Plybons.
Families are the key to H.O.T. productions. Audiences are encouraged to bring all of their aunts and uncles, grandmas and grandpas, brothers and sisters – and of course plenty of food to feed them. People can bring a picnic or enjoy the concessions at the theater, dining in a great setting.
This summer, Huntington Outdoor Theatre will present the musical Annie. The performance dates are July 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24 and 25. For more information, call (304) 523-8080 or visit www.hotwv.org.
