Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, Texas, William Kerns column [Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, Texas]

Aug. 29--The 2010 season has not gone precisely the way Lubbock Moonlight Musicals producer Gerald Dolter had hoped.

In fact, even after holding a fundraising gala late in the season, Dolter stated that the outdoor summer program at Mackenzie Park's was wounded financially by unexpected June rains that extended into the first week of July.

Productions of "Hello, Dolly!" and "Willy Wonka" are over. But the Moonlight Musicals production of "Buddy! The Buddy Holly Story" will continue, as planned, into September and can be perceived as part of the local Holly celebration.

Performances were slated for Sept. 3-7 at the amphitheater, with at least a pair of shows also being performed afterward on the road.

Dolter confirmed this week that the Sept. 5 show has been canceled, the second planned Sunday performance of "Buddy!" to suffer that fate -- although Dolter is fairly certain that most people felt they'd be too tuckered out after the 2:30 p.m. Texas Tech football game to continue on to the 8 p.m. musical. In any case, only two tickets had been sold.

Nevertheless, local procrastinators have four more opportunities to see "Buddy!" on Friday and Saturday, and Sept. 6 and, finally, on Holly's Sept. 7 birthday.

Premium seats in the center section are $28; general admission tickets are $20 for the general public, $13 for students and $8 for children (includes service charges).

Dolter's original plan was to bring back Matthew Wycliffe, the actor from London's West End who impressed in half of the 2009 Moonlight Musicals presentations of "Buddy!" You may recall, however, that back in this summer's infancy, Wycliffe was not allowed to board a flight to the United States. Evidently, Moonlight Musicals had erred on his application for an American work visa and, despite Dolter's calls and pleas, the problem could not be fixed.

For a short time, Dolter was able to hire a second experienced British actor-musician, Oliver Seymour Marsh, to fill in; he flew home in July.

Dolter and visiting music director John Banister had hoped that Wycliffe would be here for most of the performances, while they were grooming Texas Tech student Andrew Smith to also perform.

Instead, the fate of "Buddy" wound up being placed on the back of Smith, 21, who could not even play guitar back when he was initially cast in the role.

He may not be from England -- this Buddy was home schooled and graduated from high school at age 16 in the Texas town of Bullard -- but Dolter said Smith has come on like gangbusters.

He'll have to.

Dolter stated last week, "The visa for Matt is not going to happen this year. We have waited long enough. Andy is the guy for the remainder of the season and for Clovis and the Spencer Theatre. ... He is doing so well."

Banister and Dolter originally had hoped for as many as 10-12 breakout performances in other communities after Moonlight Musicals' season ended. At least two have confirmed, on Sept. 8 at the Marshall Auditorium in Clovis, N.M., kicking off the Clovis Music Festival; and a 2 p.m. matinee on Sept. 26 at the gorgeous Spencer Theater in Alto, N.M., near Ruidoso.

Both may want to re-think their advertising campaigns, however.

In fact, the original advertising for the LMM performance in Clovis reflects definite miscommunication. At best, there would have been one British star and, unfortunately, circumstances will not allow him to appear. Festival publicity states, "'The Buddy Holly Story' is on another leg of their international tour, and is excited to make a stop in Clovis during the Clovis Music Festival, where it all began."

Tickets are $20, and can be purchased online at http://clovisrocks.com. Or call the Clovis Chamber of Commerce at (575) 763-3435 for festival details.

There also appears to have been some miscommunication prior to the Spencer Theater's winter season publicity being printed.

The Spencer's season will include such touring attractions as "Benise" (the Latin "Riverdance"), Matthew & Gunnar Nelson, Lorrie Morgan, The Ten Tenors and the touring Broadway show "Legally Blonde," which also is making a stop in Lubbock.

But the Moonlight Musicals "Buddy!" is advertised there as: "'The Buddy Holly Story' is presented by Lubbock Moonlight Musicals and stars 18 professional actors, singers and musicians from London's West End and National British Tour, as well as supporting players from West Texas."

Tickets are $59 and $56, and can be purchased at (575) 336-4800, toll free at (888) 818-7872, or by visiting www.spencertheater.com.

Again, with Wycliffe missing, patrons will be greeted by a gifted West Texas cast.

I had wondered if perhaps Marsh might be re-hired to replace Wycliffe. However, Lubbock Moonlight Musicals already is obligated to pay Wycliffe's summer salary, according to Dolter. He added that, considering the rainouts and the earlier appearance by Marsh, LMM cannot afford to take on the extra expense.

That said, Dolter also is busy planning the 2011 Moonlight Musicals season. He learned this year that, while the 2009 turnouts were super, not everyone was enticed to return to see the Holly musical again the very next summer.

In 2011, look for Dolter to seek the rights to three well known stage musicals.

He said, "We do not know yet where we will fit 'Buddy Holly' in the season. As it becomes a professional show, we will have performances only when we are guaranteed a large audience -- such as bus tours and special group performances in Lubbock -- and to prepare for the tour next fall."

That said, the final Lubbock performance of "Buddy! The Buddy Holly Story" will be the biggest, and the only evening, attraction on what would have been Holly's 74th birthday, Sept. 7 -- with the exception of a 5:30 p.m. free show by Prophets of Rockabilly at the Buddy Holly Center.

Tickets for Moonlight Musicals productions can be purchased at Select-A-Seat outlets at Amigo's Supermarket, Dollar Western Wear, Lubbock Memorial Civic Center, Market Street, Ralph's Records & Tapes, Texas Tech Student Union's ticket booth and United Supermarkets. Call 770-2000 or (800) 735-1288 for more details.

Looking ahead (and west), this year's Clovis Music Festival may be its most exciting, to date. Featured attractions also include Starship, with Mickey Thomas; Kevin Montgomery & Johnny Rogers; Bobby Vee; Billy Richards' Coasters; tribute show Originators of Rock 'n' Roll, and more.

Talk about the movies at my journal Reel to Real. Or chat about theater, music, dance and visual arts at Center Stage, both journals at lubbockonline.com.

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