Celebrating 54 years of fame

COEUR d'ALENE - Lake City Playhouse is celebrating the opening of its 54th season with a preview show and annual awards ceremony Aug. 23, and you're invited.

The evening will feature performances from talented performers who will sing selections from upcoming mainstage musicals as well as the new Concerts at the Bing series: "Les Miserables," "All is Calm," "The Last 5 Years," "The Sound of Music," "Assassins," "Tommy," "Rent," "Company" and "Hair." Performers will include Abbey Crawford, Robby French, Aubrey Shimek Davis, Aaron Baldwin, Amber Fiedler, J.R. Haynie, Dan Bell, Caitlin Duffey, Kalla Mort, Torey Routson, Teri Grubbs, Daniel McKeever, Andrew Ware Lewis and more.

LCP artistic director George Green said Wednesday that the Playhouse is near to having 500 season subscribers and is seeing an upward trend in show-goers.

"Our momentum has been great the last five years," he said. "We anticipate to have one of the largest seasons of the playhouse."

The Season Preview Night has been an annual event for about five years, usually selling out all 160 seats. Six individual awards will be given out to various performers and supporters recognizing such contributions as musical excellence, artistic impact, extended volunteerism and long-term devotion. Green described the devotion award as the "lifetime achievement award."

"The folks that really make it happen are the volunteers," he said. "We have an amazing board and our staff is truly incredible."

The preview event will also include beverages, hors d'oeuvres and silent auctions. One big auction item will be a combined season ticket package.

Tickets for the Season Preview Night are $15 and can be purchased at lakecityplayhouse.org. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show begins at 7 p.m.