Bigfork Summer Playhouse gears up for 2014 season

The Bigfork Summer Playhouse is gearing up for its 55th season.

Actors and cast have been hired and crews will begin arriving in the next couple of weeks. The Playhouse will get to work.

“The worst part is the first seven weeks,” producer Don Thomson said. “Everyone puts in a lot of work.

The playhouse will put on a variety of musicals this season, starting with “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown.” The famous comic strip character comes to life on stage in this musical, which expands on the relationships among the Peanut characters. The regular repertory season will show “West Side Story,” “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” “Tarzan” and “The Full Monty.”

“West Side Story,” a classic musical theatre show, is the only script of these shows that the Playhouse has performed in the past.

“It’s got some of the best music in musical theatre,” Thomson said.

It’s a Romeo and Juliet-tale involving rival gangs, racial hatred and tragedy. The dances and songs carry the story forward.

“Thoroughly Modern Millie” is based on the 1967 film musical. Set in the 1920s a girl from Kansas moves to New York City searching for a new life. Her plans for wealth and comfort go completely awry.

“Tarzan” is based on the Disney movie of the same  name and tells the story of a boy who was raised to adulthood by a tribe of gorillas. “It’s a fun show, and should be a good kids show,” Thomson said.

“The Full Monty,” Thomson warns, is not the show to bring your kids to, as there will be nudity — though brief. The story centers on a group of six unemployed steelworkers who decide to become male strippers.

“I think it’s a great variety of things to see this summer,” Thomson said.