Another month has gone by and the Soper Reese Community Theatre has again been filled with members of our community ? both on the stage and in the audience.
The Lake County Chamber of Commerce third annual lip sync was a tremendous success. One highlight was the performance by Jennifer Strong of “Heroes,” which left the audiences in tears, standing and saluting our veterans.
In a Third Friday Live Performance, Andre Williams and Andy Kong teamed for an amazing vocal presentation. The showing of “North By Northwest,” a personal favorite classic movie, was a treat. Then, the best show to date for Lake County Live radio topped off the month at Soper Reese Community Theatre.
This year”s 31st annual Spring Dance Festival was better than ever. All the dance schools in the county participated to present this amazing, high energy show, featuring dancers young and old.
Dancing seems to keep everyone young. A joy was watching Betty Lou Surber dance; at 84 she keeps up with the best of them on stage and does it with great joy and enthusiasm.
Don”t miss the Lake County Symphony”s annual Mother”s Day Pops Concert on Sunday at 3 p.m. Tickets often sell out for this concert, so get yours early.
Kathy”s thoughts on the theater:
I know I speak for many when I mention the well of memories that arise each time we enter the theater. Growing up in Kelseyville in the 1960s and ”70s, when we needed a break from school, 4-H projects, scouting or the many other activities in Lake County, we went to the movies.
Bob Reese (“Mr. Reese”) welcomed us all and kept a good eye on us too. On more than one occasion, he suddenly appeared at our seats to gently remind us to keep our feet off the seats or stop whispering.
One of the big responsibilities he assumed was to remind our boyfriends of the proper way to treat a girl while on a date ? no hands on knees while he was watching.
The most important “rule” was to sit in the correct seats ? and upstairs. Since I was from Kelseyville, we only sat on the south side of the theater, leaving the north side to Lakeport. To this day, including while attending the many fine performances at the renovated theater, I am still uneasy if I must sit upstairs on the north side.
As students, we could not afford to sit in the cushy middle seats upstairs ? the loges ? except for those special times when Mr. Reese kindly opened the theater in the middle of the night for our prom nights. On those occasions, after we had enjoyed dancing at the prom, he showed a movie around midnight. We sat in the soft seats ? and sometimes took a little nap, too.
The youth of Lake County felt loved and protected by Mr. and Mrs. Reese and their welcoming theater.
Coming up this month:
? Sunday is Mother”s Day. Bring Mom to the symphony at 3 p.m.
? Third Friday Live will feature “Austin and Owens” and “Travis Rinker” at 7 p.m. May 18.
? The Record-Bee will present an informational seminar on submitting press releases on May 23, 6 to 8 p.m.
? Lake County Live, KPFZ, 88.1 FM, will present a live radio broadcast from the Soper Reese stage at 6 p.m. May 27.
? The next Tuesday Classic movie is “Jaws” on June 12, at 6 p.m.
Tickets to Soper Reese theater events are available at The Travel Center in the Shoreline Shopping Center, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; at the theater box office on Fridays from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and two hours before show time on the day of an event. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.soperreesetheatre.com.
For all the latest in information, tickets and more go to www.soperreesetheatre.com. We”ll see you at the theater.
