This weekend, Triumvirate Theatre performers will take the stage for “Tarzan” in Palmer, the first of a four-month string of events and appearances by the group.
Triumvirate productions have taken place in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough for many years, President Joe Rizzo said Wednesday. These are directed by AJ Seims, a Triumvirate Theatre board member.
Seims directed last July’s performances of “Tarzan” in Soldotna, and will be directing the “Tarzan” performances this weekend at the Glenn Massay Theater in Palmer.
Using the same show for performances on the peninsula and in the Valley allows the Triumvirate to reach a new audience while reusing props, costumes and set pieces, Rizzo said, but this weekend’s performance will feature an almost entirely different cast and crew.
Collin Christiansen is the only member of the cast who performed in Soldotna returning for Palmer’s show, as Tarzan in both.
“It’s really kind of nice to be able to do productions back and forth, sometimes the same production, because it’s a completely different audience,” Rizzo said. The trade recently happened the other way around when “Newsies” was produced in Palmer and then Christiansen directed it in Nikiski.
The next local showing of the Triumvirate Theatre is fast approaching with a Feb. 10 premiere of “Seussical,” a musical featuring a number of characters pulled from the works of Dr. Seuss.
“I have 22 kids in that show,” Rizzo said. “The music is super catchy and I have an incredibly enthusiastic cast on this. The children are just having a great time putting this thing together.”
“Seussical” will play in the Kenai Central High School auditorium Feb. 10 and 11, then play at schools for “about 900 kids” including at KCHS and Nikiski North Star. The production will return for a second weekend at KCHS on Feb. 17 and 18.
In March — and spilling into April — the Triumvirate is partnering with Kenai Peninsula Food Bank for a combined fundraiser called Dinner Theater on March 31 and April 1.
Following in the footsteps of previous Triumvirate shows such as “Forrest Guppy” and “Fish Wars,” in April, the Triumvirate will bring back its annual fish parody show with “The Codfather.”
For more information about the Triumvirate Theatre, including details about upcoming productions, purchasing tickets and supporting the ongoing fundraising effort to rebuild, visit triumviratetheatre.org or facebook.com/triumviratetheater.
Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.
