Talent of BAC Stage Kids brings show to life

They're at it again, those talented BAC Stage Kids, staging the "world premiere" of "Why Does the Coyote Yodel?" this weekend at the Donald W. Reynolds Theatre at the Brewery Arts Center.

Warning: You'll find yourself becoming part of the show. You'll get instructions from two sign-holders at each side of the stage, such orders as "yodel," "boo" or "applaud." And you'll want to applaud a lot as this cast rollicks through gags, songs, dance and music.

"The program was originally a puppet show," explains director-writer-costume-design boss Darla Leanne Bayer of Carson City. "We took the puppet show version all over Nevada and Northern California."

She and her husband, Chris Bayer, created the puppet show. After taking it on the road through about all the venues possible, they were stuck with what to do with it.

"I realized that there were not enough children's plays around so we decided to adapt it to the stage," Darla Bayer says. "We added some characters and some songs and enlarged the half-hour puppet show into an hourlong children's piece."

"It has been a joy to watch our puppet characters come to life in the hearts of these young actors," says Bayer, who operates a rubber-stamp business when she's not directing. "These kids have developed the characters in ways we hadn't thought of and have enlarged the scope of the piece."

While the plot remained something of a mystery at a recent dress rehearsal, it is clear that there is a lot of high-minded dithering by carnival shill Lonesome Luke and Sagebrush Sue (the narrator and the love interest). Luke decides to take the "sound" of the desert to the Big Time, but he finds that harder than expected. However, his friends are loyal, and Luke ends up the loser.

There's the Coyote with a fancy tail; Flying Feet, a two-actor horse that talks and sings; and R. Barker, the slick carnival operator. There's a gaggle of critters dancing, singing, and scootching around on the floor, all in nifty costumes. Acts from R. Barker's carnival perform for extra variety. And there's the tricycle rider zooming about the stage in a leather vest and bike helmet.

They're all young, they're all enthusiastic, they're all about fun.

Prepare to be awed by the towering Yodelmeter, with which audience response to commands will be judged -- so get your pipes in tune.

Thank Target stores for a generous grant to help make "Why Does the Coyote Yodel?" possible -- and so delightful.

Cast (lead roles are double cast)

Lonesome Luke: Neal Long and Jacob Linstrom

Flying Feet: Melissa Coyle, Taylor Collins and Marina Crounk

Sagebrush Sue: Cassie Hood and Rachel Jackson

Coyote: Jayme Foremaster and Sierra Bertolone-Smith

R. Barker: David Patterson and Stephanie Kulla

Carnies --

Barley the Biker: Bethany Mindrum and Megan Moore

Juggling Jewel: Else Sala and Lainey Hendeson

Leticia the Lizard: Jill Shufelt and Jessica Wilson

Truthful Tanya: Danita Bayer and Caitlin Faber

Entertainers: Nica Scott, Quinn Ashley, Ann Marie Gonzoles, Chauntelle Murphy, Kaityn Hunsberger, Riley Beckwith, Darby Beckwith, Cody Odiorne, Peter Scott, Tommy Scott, Tegan Volberding and Tracy Morris

Little Bo: Aaron Long and Racel Miles

Mrs. Crumstopper: Jessica Kramer and April Fuller

Mr. Crumstopper: Amanda Schmerber and Nathaniel Williams

Placard placement professionals: Tegan Volberding and Tracy Morris

Tumbleweeds: Kyra Conway and Emma O'Barr, Abby Bailey and Lane Smith

Trained cats and dogs: Natalie Williams, Madison Preston, Katie Matuska, Western Stulac and Olivia Abbott

Cactus dancers: Sierra Stulac, Tahni Holmes, Cheyenne Contreros, Aspen Abbott, Shannon O'Sullivan and Melissa Kulla

IF YOU GO

What: World premiere of "Why Does the Coyote Yodel?"

When: 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday; Saturday and Sunday at 1 and 4 p.m.

Where: pDonald W. Reynolds Theatre, Brewery Arts Center, 449 W. King St.

Tickets: $8 general admission; $5 for students, seniors BAC members; children under 5 free when accompanied by an adult