This summer, life's a 'Beach' at BAC

A wave of groans erupted from the female performers when the box of doughnuts arrived at their rehearsal of "Go-Go Beach." The last two months have been spent learning lines, practicing choreography and fearing the costumes.

After all, when you spend the entire show in a bikini, it matters.

"Yes, there's a lot of 'no I can't have that' because I'm going to be in a bikini on stage," said Briana Valley, who plays J.J. "You are very self-aware, but it's not like I'm on stage alone so that makes it better."

"Go-Go Beach," the light-hearted musical written as a spoof to the film "Beach Blanket Bingo," includes songs like "The Formula for Love," "Beautiful Life" and "Girls in Bikinis."

The performance is the centerpiece of the Summer Splash Festival beginning Thursday at the Brewery Arts Center. The festival includes music, concessions, vendors and limbo contests, along with the play on an outdoor stage.

The story revolves around a surfer named Woody, played by Alexander Biber, who gets in trouble with his girlfriend, J.J., played by Valley, when he falls for teen pop star Mindy Chinchilla, played by Weston Spann. The situation is further complicated by his interactions with flowerchild Bulldog, played by Elisa Sala.

Director Karen Chandler said it's an ensemble show with easily recognized characters.

"It's a strong cast. We are really trying to hone in on the stereotypes of the movie," Chandler said. "Even in the names, they are playing to those stereotypes."

Watching the cast of Carson High School alumni and current students perform, Chandler said she can see a lot or herself in Bulldog.

"I was the girl who learned how to surf with the guys. I was a full-blown hippie as a junior in high school," Chandler said. "I pulled out all my old boxes of stuff to help with the costumes."

"We wanted a light summer musical to do during the summer, something that we can do outdoors," said Chris Willson, BAC program manager. "This is the perfect musical for that. Plus as soon as ours closes, it opens in New York."

The arts center directors hope to make an outdoor festival and performance an annual event, an idea Chandler supports.

"There's not a lot going on in Carson City during the summer, and John (Procaccini, BAC executive director) said that people love to sit outside and watch theater, so we decided to do musicals," Chandler said.

If the summer festival becomes an annual event, she said it will allow local theater students to continue to develop their skills while remaining in the area.

"This is a chance for us to build that," she said. "We want to do it so that you can count on something to do at the BAC for at least four to six weeks during the summer, and the kids from Northern Nevada have a place to continue to develop their craft."

Biber said the show offers him a chance to do an energetic show with performers he knows.

"This is probably the last show I get to do with them," he said. "I went to high school with a lot of these kids, and we have all performed together."

Willson said patrons are encouraged to wear summer attire for the festival and performances.

• Contact reporter Jarid Shipley at jshipley@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.

If you go

What: "Go-Go Beach" and the Summer Splash Festival.

When: 8 p.m. Thursday-Sunday and Aug. 3-5. Festival opens at 7 p.m.

Where: Brewery Arts Center Performance Hall, 449 W. King St.

Tickets: $15 for general admission; $12 for BAC members, students and seniors.

Call: 883-1976 or go online at www.breweryarts.org for more information.