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For those who opted out of the “Barbenheimer” theatrical releases this past weekend, there were options for live entertainment available in our midst. Seldom Scene, the progressive bluegrass band that’s been seen plenty at the Lime Kiln Theater over the years, was back at the kiln to provide a rollicking good time for those fortunate enough to have snared tickets to the sold-out show.
Over at Virginia Military Institute, the VMI Community Theatre, under the leadership of longtime director Joellen Bland, presented a 19th century French farce, “A Fitting Confusion.” Many members of the community contributed to the antics of this comedy, which was well received by appreciative audiences.
We should take a moment to commend Bland and the other members of the greater VMI community, along with generations of cadets, who have made live theater a delightful presence here for so many years. Bland has been at the helm for more than 40 of the 50-plus years that the community theater has been staging plays at VMI.
The Lime Kiln Theater is approaching its 40th anniversary of providing summertime entertainment on an outdoor stage in a magical setting. The theater opened in the summer of 1984 with the presentation of one of Shakespeare’s more obscure plays, “Cymbeline,” under the direction of Don Baker. It was actually 17 years before that, in 1967, that Baker and Tommy Spencer, then students at Washington and Lee University, staged the very first play at the abandoned, turn-of-thecentury, lime quarry and kiln just west of Lexington.
In 1985, Baker teamed with musicians Robin and Linda Williams to present the kiln’s signature production, “Stonewall Country,” that established the theater as the place to go for summertime outdoor entertainment in the region. Thus began a successful run of theatrical productions and musical concerts that continued for decades.
At its peak, the theater presented 74 performances of four plays and 23 concerts that were seen by nearly 25,000 spectators over the course of one summer. Through the years, 20 plays from original scripts premiered on the Lime Kiln stage. An additional eight original works by other playwrights were developed on the stage.
Alas, nothing lasts forever. There was a period when the theater went dark, when the magic ceased. Challenging economic circumstances caused the theater to close in 2012, but it was brought back to life in 2014 by its current executive director, Spencer McElroy. Under his leadership, the Kiln has established itself as a premier outdoor concert venue that draws an eclectic blend of prominent musical performers.
Gracing the stage at the kiln this year have been the likes of Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, Garrison Keillor, Robin and Linda Williams and Rebirth Brass Band. Still to come are Dan Tyminski, Scott Miller and Drew Holcomb, among others. One play is on tap as well, with a presentation this Saturday of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.”
We should point out that the Lime Kiln Theatre and VMI Community Theatre aren’t the only venues in the Rockbridge area to see top-rate live entertainment this summer. Friday’s Alive concerts at Davidson Park, Rockin’ the Gorge in Glasgow, Music in the Garden at Boxerwood and Friday’s Alive concerts at Glen Maury Park are among the musical offerings being presented on a regular basis.
The 25th Bank of Botetourt Beach Music Festival is being held this weekend at Glen Maury Park. The Cat5 Band opens the festival Friday evening while the Blackwater Band, the Entertainers and Band of Oz will take the stage on Saturday. The silver anniversary of the festival is just further evidence of the preponderance of outdoor musical entertainment available here in the summertime.
