Musical numbers from Guys and Dolls, Funny Girl, Damn Yankees, Showboat, Chicago, Cabaret, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, Annie Get Your Gun, Mame and Gypsy will be presented by artists from Runway Theater and other talented local performers. Also appearing will be Miss Grapevine and Miss Colleyville, doing numbers they will perform for the talent competition at the upcoming Miss Texas pageant.
The show is named for Grapevine philanthropist Dr. Edith Pewitt. Pewitt, 82, is a member of the Grapevine Heritage Foundation’s Palace Arts committee, the group that determines programming for the theater. Pewitt had always enjoyed musical theater and liked the idea of a local talent show.
"I said to the Palace Arts committee 'Why are we spending thousands bringing talent in when we have so much talent in Grapevine,’ " she said.
Pewitt helped underwrite the cost of the show. The producers named the show for her and included some of her favorite numbers. This is the second year for the variety show.
"It was just a delightful evening," said Pewitt, who appeared in the show’s opening number and will do so again this year. "We had music, we had funny skits and we had some dancing."
Pewitt, a retired educator, has been a Grapevine resident since 1950 and taught at local schools including Grapevine High School and the University of North Texas. In addition to supporting the arts and education, she is also involved with Grapevine Botanical Gardens. The Ed and Edith Pewitt Educational Pavilion at the gardens was named for her and her late husband.
"I can’t tell you what she has contributed to this area," said Sue Franks, chairwoman of the Palace Arts committee and board member of the Grapevine Heritage Foundation. Pewitt has again made a donation toward underwriting this year’s show.
"I love the area, and I love the people in this area," Pewitt said. "I hope that the love of this area is kind of like a contagious disease and people will catch it from me."
Proceeds from the follies will go to the Runway Theater and the Grapevine Heritage Foundation.
Franks hopes the audience will enjoy an evening that showcases not only talented local performers, but also the beautiful, historic theater built in 1940.
Tickets are $10 each or $5 for senior citizens, students and Grapevine Heritage Foundation members. They are available online at www.palace-theatre.com or by calling the Palace Arts Center box office at 817-410-3100.