Casting call out for local playwright's 'Blackjack Bottom'

A few years back, Paula Nelson, while living in Carson City, composed a musical play called "Blackjack Bottom," about a cowhand from the fictional town of Blackjack Bottom, Texas.

A Tahoe theater company localized it - changed it to Blackjack Bottom, Nev. - performed it and since then the play has retired into the "put-away-but-not-forgotten" vault only to be resurrected by someone who wondered where it has been all these years.

"It's just a wonderful show," said Margaret Edson, vice president of Carson Valley Community Theatre, and co-producer of the play which CVCT will perform in March. "It's just darling."

Edson's husband Norris, a CVCT board member, is the other producer of "Blackjack," a western musical about a ranch hand singer-dancer who is encouraged by his friends to enter a talent contest and win a trip to Nashville.

"(Nashville's) not everything he thought it would be," laughed Margaret Edson.

The Carson Valley Community Theatre will hold auditions 6-9 p.m. Dec. 6 and 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 9 at the Carson Valley Inn, lower level in the Donegal Room, for "Blackjack Bottom."

"We need a cast of 12," said Edson.

Needed are a dozen singer/actors - six men and six women - ages 20 to 70, soloists and back-up singers. Auditions consist of cold readings from the script and a singing audition. Bring sheet music or tape/CD for accompaniment if desired, accompany yourself on guitar, or sing a cappella.

The play includes original music from the country genre, all written by Nelson, who now resides in Kings Beach, Calif., at Lake Tahoe. Musicians, both on keyboard and guitar, are needed. Rehearsals will begin Jan. 16. Show dates are March 9-11 and 23-25. The two Fridays and Saturdays are dinner shows and the Sundays are matinees. All shows will be performed in the Donegal Room at Carson Valley Inn.

For more information, e-mail clifclip@aol.com or call 782-3670.

n Jo Rafferty can be reached at jrafferty@recordcourier.com or 782-5121, ext. 210.