Back to The Old West

I don’t normally spend a lot of time in bars.

But lately I’ve been hanging out three nights a week at Fayette County’s newest watering hole, The Prairie Belle Saloon.

A while back I said yes to an invitation to try out for a part in the upcoming Fayette County Community Theatre play, “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.”

I don’t think it’s a challenge I would have sought out for myself without the invitation, but I am so glad I did.

The cast is so talented. I feel honored that they are letting me tag along for the ride, We’ve been practicing three nights a weeks at where the play’s going to be performed, the Fair Pavilion (lots of us locals still call it The Round Up Hall). Every time I walk in and strap on my gun belt, I feel like I’m walking back into the old west. Our play is an iconic western filled with good guys and bad guys, love and sacrifice. At it’s heart it’s about the changing nature – and the taming – of The West. It’s all set during two different time periods in that fictional Prairie Belle Saloon.

Anyway, a good play (like a good newspaper) is nothing without an audience to enjoy it, so I hope you will make it out to the play Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. or Nov. 10 at 3 p.m. You can get tickets online or at the downtown box office, but I bet they’ll squeeze you in if you walk up the day of the show too. I’m even skipping covering the Leps final regular season football game to perform in Friday’s show (don’t worry we’ve got someone else covering the game).

Hope to see you there.