BRAD HORN/Nevada Appeal Western Nevada Performing Arts dancers wait for their gold hats for 'Dress Rehearsal' in the dressing room of the studio on Saturday afternoon.
For two nights, the blinking construction crash-barrels and neon casino signs on East William Street will be transformed into the bright lights of Broadway when students from Western Nevada Performing Arts present "Tribute to Broadway" at the Carson City Community Center tonight and Friday at 7 p.m.
After a long and rigorous audition process and four months of constant rehearsals, the company will belt out catchy Broadway take-home tunes and stomp the boards with dance routines from the likes of "Grease," "42nd Street," "A Chorus Line," "Will Rogers" and "Oliver," giving their glitzy regards to the luminaries that still inhabit the Midtown firmament.
Sandy Shull, board member for WNPA, said that this year's performance is a ramp up from previous years, steering away from the usual "fairy tale ballet" theme of the past.
"The students have been working 12 hours a day on the weekends and rehearsing hours after school. We wanted to do something different and more challenging than the usual show."
The students come from all over the Carson City, Minden, Gardnerville and Lake Tahoe area.
"It's definitely a lot more work. More costumes are needed; there's lots more detail in each of the numbers, and the kids have to use more performing and acting skills," Shull said. "All new costumes have been hand made by parents, who have spent hours upon hours of sewing, pasting and gluing to make this performance special."
Students and parents have spent whatever time they have left fund-raising - selling candy, holding garage sales and car washes for the nonprofit performing group.
At the end of the month, the company is taking its show on the road and going to Disneyland.
"A Tribute to Broadway" is directed and choreographed by Gina Davis, with assistance from Angee Maw.
"It's very different from what we usually do, but it has given us a chance to learn new things," said a student from the center.
Shull says board members "Alicia Goddard, Elizabeth Corda, Kathy Comba and lots of volunteers have crafted a really great show."
Jazz hands and toe-tapping are strictly optional.
Contact reporter Peter Thompson at pthompson@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1215.