Grace Abele plays Dorine and Micah Goodding plays Tartuffe in "Tartuffe," one of the shows at the Texas Shakespeare Festival in Kilgore. (Sarah A. Miller/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

The golden age of Hollywood will come alive on the Tyler Civic Theatre stage in the classic “Singing in the Rain.”

“When they (patrons) come to the show, it’s going to be like they are at the premiere of the movie … . That’s how it’s going to feel,” director Michael Ward, said.

Performances are set for 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at 400 Rose Park Drive. The play also will be staged Aug. 2 to 5 and Aug. 9 to12.

Tickets can be purchased by calling the box office, 903-592-0561, or at tylercivictheatre.com

The story centers on Don Lockwood and Lina Lamont, stars of silent movies whose not-so-loving relationship and careers are in jeopardy thanks to the emergence of talkies.

Lamont’s squeaky voice doesn’t sound good so the beautiful Kathy Seldon is brought in to do voice dubbing for the self-indulged starlet. When Lockwood starts to fall in love with Seldon, careers and emotions are left hanging in the balance. 

Putting the show together has been a challenge, Ward said.

The musical “has a lot of moving parts and a lot of moving people at the same time,” he said. “It’s been about really understanding the stage and (audience) sight lines.”

There are over 20 people in the cast and crew. A live orchestra performs the music.

“Live music to me is just better than canned music. It sounds better and it feels better,” Ward said. “The orchestra is part of the show.”

Ward said they found a way to pull off the iconic “Singing in the Rain” musical number, which occurs in a downpour.

“I want people to come and see how we are going to make it rain,” he said.

He said getting the right look and sound of the early 1920s’ time period was important. “I really have this vision of going with the art-deco feel for the show with costuming and makeup. We are taking a few liberties with some of the songs to make them feel more like in the ’20s than in the ’50s.” 

Ward wants the play to be a fun experience.

“We want to have fun. I want to have fun with this show and I want the people out here to have fun. I want them (patrons) to feel a part of it,” he said. “We are literally rolling out the red carpet for our patrons to come and see the show.”

Ryan Ordmandy plays Don Lockwood. Ordmandy describes his character as “very confident, borderline arrogant sometimes, but he still has pure intentions.” 

A big hit in silent films, Lockwood loses some of his confidence when he realizes that he is a terrible actor in talking movies.

The role requires him to act, sing and dance.

He said his biggest challenge has been trying to “dance right while at the same time trying to make sure I’m still breathing at the end.”

Bailey Crawford plays Lamont. “She is vain and sees no flaw about her, especially when it comes to her high-pitched, nasally voice,” Crawford said.

Crawford added that Lamont “is very snake-like and artful when it comes to attempting to take down Kathy Seldon. She conspires and twists arms to get what she wants.”

Ashten Lane plays Seldon, who she describes as “a level-headed, simple, kind person who puts other people’s needs and other peoples dreams above her own.” 

For Lane, the play is about showing others to “don’t be afraid to try new things (because) it will almost always lead you down an exciting path and you will be glad that you did it.”

“PETER PAN”

Palestine Community Theatre is staging the musical “Peter Pan” at Texas Theatre, 213 W. Crawford, Palestine.

Curtain times are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are available in advance at thetexastheater.com. Performances continue Aug. 3-5.

• Dora Bailey/Third Assistant Director-Jennifer Rader
• Zelda Zanders-Rachael Dickson
• Olga Mara/Wardrobe Mistress/Fan 2/Woman-Chauncie Thompson
• Mary Margaret/Miss Dinsmore/Pedestrian 2-Elfin Morgan
• R.F. Simpson-Roger Pharr
• R.F. Simpson’s Wife/Pedestrian 1/Another Person-Kelci O’Brien
• Roscoe Dexter-Stephen Rainwater
• Cosmo Brown-Jordan Boyd
• Lena Lamont-Bailey Crawford
• Don Lockwood-Ryan Ordmandy
• Villain/Policeman/Second Assistant Director/Voice Of Man-Cameron Davis
• Lady In Waiting/Audience Member 2/Hairdresser-Darby Owens
• Rod/Tenor/Sam(lines only)-Bryan Knous
• Kathy Seldon-Ashten Lane
• Sid Phillips/Sound Engineer/Workman 2/Man With Her-Gordon Holmes
• Male Diction Teacher/Workman 1/Another Man-Ryan Jackson
• Girl/Another Woman-Madelynn Crow
• Audience Member 1/1st Assistant -Annette Rios
• Audience Member 3 – Haven Elliott
• Voice on Balcony-Sierra Williams