Reagle Music Theatre sizzles with shows this summer
When actor Luke Hawkins stepped onto the stage earlier this summer to co-star in Reagle Music Theatre’s “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” he said it was “an absolute pleasure” to perform his first show with the organization.
Hawkins, a Broadway veteran of “Xanadu” and Harry Connick Jr.’s “True Love: A Tribute to Cole Porter,” was familiar with the area after attending Boston Conservatory.
But he hadn’t had the chance to perform in Waltham before and was thrilled when Reagle staff asked him to join “Beautiful.”
“Beautiful,” which finished its run in June, is one of two shows the Reagle is featuring during its 56th summer season.
The season has attracted star power, with Broadway actors performing as cast members in “Beautiful” and in Reagle’s upcoming show “Evita,” which runs July 11-20.
A third show had been planned but was recently canceled. Rachel Bertone, the theater’s artistic director, said the organization would no longer be producing “Newsies,” which had been slated to run Aug. 8-17. She did not respond by deadline to questions about why the musical would not run and when the decision had been made.
Community support
This summer’s two performances revolve around real people and real events. Bertone said she makes sure one summer show is a familiar classic (“Evita”), and one is a contemporary musical (“Beautiful”).
Bertone, who will be directing and choreographing “Evita,” noted it is the first time “Beautiful” had been performed at the Reagle.
While the theater is continuing to put on rich performances with several Broadway stars, finances are always a concern.
“Like any arts organization, we rely on the support of our local community,” said Bertone. “We can’t rely on grants alone.”
Noting that President Donald Trump’s administration has been canceling National Endowment for the Arts grants, she said “it’s been hard times to say the least.”
Bertone hopes that the local community will step up to fill any gaps by attending Reagle shows.
“No donation is too small,” she said. “I think it’s so important for people to come out to live theater.”
Another way the organization helps enrich the community is through the Reagle Youth Theatre, which offers a variety of educational programs for the next generation of actors.
Bertone said there is still room for students in its summer intensive program, which starts in July. The four-week program includes daily music, acting and dance classes; weekly Broadway class guests; and rehearsals for a full-scale production of a junior musical. Financial aid is available.
Bertone added that in the fall Reagle will launch year-round education programs, noting that more information will be available on its website later this summer.
Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston is located at 617 Lexington St., Waltham. For more information, visit https://www.reaglemusictheatre.org/.
