PULLMAN, Wash. — WSU Summer Palace opens its 2000 season June 29 on
the Washington State University campus with the ragtime musical “Tintypes.”
Appropriate for ages 6 and older, “Tintypes” takes the audience on a trip to
turn-of-the-century America, when the innocent, slower-paced days of ice
cream socials and hoop skirts gave way to a bustling world of automobiles,
electricity and the telephone. Popular songs from 1890-1917 include “Meet Me
in St. Louis,” “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” “Stars and Stripes Forever,” “Bill
Bailey, Won’t You Please Come Home” and “Hello Ma Baby.” The musical
runs June 30, July 1 and July 6-8.
Also on the summer schedule is “Charlotte’s Web,” based on the novel by
E.B. White of an affectionate, sometimes bashful pig named Wilbur and his
friendship with a spider named Charlotte who lives in the rafters above his pen.
Wilbur is devastated when he learns he will be slaughtered at year’s end.
Determined to save her friend, Charlotte spins messages into her web,
convincing the farmer and surrounding community that Wilbur is no ordinary
animal and should be saved. The production is set for July 13-15.
The season ends with “Godspell,” the rock musical adaptation of the Gospel
according to Matthew, planned for July 20-22 and 27-29, with a revival
scheduled Sept. 8-9. An immediate success when it opened in the spring of
1971 at an off-Broadway theater, “Godspell” is a whimsical view of Jesus, who
is dressed like a clown with a red nose, a red heart painted on his forehead and
a Superman shirt. His followers and disciples reenact parables and scenes from
Jesus’ life with enormous energy. Several songs from the show, including
“Day by Day,” became hits. The “Godspell” cast album won a Grammy Award
for Best Score and became, in 1972, the only cast album on the charts.
Curtain time for all shows is 8 p.m., with a 2 p.m. matinee also offered July 15
for “Charlotte’s Web.” The productions are held in Daggy Hall. The box office,
335-7236, opens June 5, and family discounts are available. Questions can be
directed to staff at 335-7447.
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