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John Rich, the former artistic director for Pullman Civic Theatre, wants to try his hand at regional theater.
Rich is one of the founding members of the new theater company, Regional Theatre of the Palouse. As the managing artistic director, he oversees the daily operations and guides the artistic vision of the company.
“I am one of a group of very talented and interested people that want to promote the performing and visual arts in our region,” Rich said.
Rich has been in theater since he was a child.
“I have worked in this field for more than 40 years,” Rich said. “I am a professional, an actor, a director and a producer. I came to the Palouse to retire from show biz. It is hard to give up a career that you love.”
Rich said a group of creative people who wanted to see professional training and opportunities be available to all interested people on the Palouse were involved in forming the company.
“I hope that RTOP will help stimulate the arts and help those who have an interest to learn and develop their skills,” Rich said. “I want to give back and share the knowledge and experience I have learned over the years.”
RTOP hopes to draw talent from Moscow, Pullman, Colfax, Palouse, Garfield, Uniontown, St. John, Troy, Potlatch, Genesee and Tekoa.
“There are not many opportunities readily available in this area,” said Donny Schell, RTOP’s public relations director. “We want to help provide more of those for all people interested in any area of theater. And when I say any area, I mean it: technical, costume, acting, volunteering. The list just keeps going.”
The company will debut this summer with the MGM musical “The Wizard of Oz.” It will be performed in Beasley Coliseum Aug. 24-26. The musical was chosen because it is visually colorful, with spectacular special effects, and it encompasses children, teens and adults, Rich said.
“At this stage our big push is to get the word out about auditions,” said Marilyn Shaw, the RTOP Business Manager. “’The Wizard of Oz’ has a large cast so we’re hoping for large turnouts for auditions.”
In addition to plays and musicals, Rich’s future plans are to create a children’s season performed by children and teens for young audiences. He wants to produce experimental shows featuring original works and themes and also create a training program for performers.
“We are planning all types of theater experiences and training, like classes, workshops, main stage productions, children’s production, original plays, experimental works and traveling productions, which will go to the communities,” Rich said.
RTOP plans on going out to the communities, rather than having the people come to them. That is why RTOP has have set three different locations for the auditions.
“We want to provide something for people with all skill levels,” Schell said. “That way people can share and learn their skill simultaneously.”
Auditions for the “Wizard of Oz” will be held in Moscow, Pullman and Colfax. More details can be found on the RTOP Web site, www.rtop
theatre.org. Tickets will go on sale in May for “The Wizard of Oz,” and can be purchased at Beasley Coliseum, Tickets West and Washington State University’s Cougar Depot.
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