Montage of entertainment found in ‘Huntsville On Stage’ variety show

Tori Brock
Features Editor

An evening out on the town means different things to different people. Some people like to see live music. Others would prefer to see something funny, and still others prefer the stage to anything filmed.

“Huntsville On Stage” is designed especially for each varying entertainment taste.

Set for Sept. 9, “Huntsville On Stage” is a new variety show being held at the Old Town Theatre. The night will feature comedy acts, musical talent and other live performances and will be hosted by Paul Shiver, former lead singer for the U.S. Navy Rock band.

Harold Hutcheson, Huntsville’s Main Street manager, said the evening is a great idea and is going to be a lot of fun.

“There’s a lot of talent in the community,” Hutcheson said from his office on the square in Huntsville. “I think it will truly draw people to downtown, which is a good thing.

“Main Street is behind Paul because the event is coming to the Old Town Theatre,” he added. “The theater has shown some of the old country and western-type variety shows work and people will come to see them. I can’t imagine another kind of variety show wouldn’t draw people as well.”

Hutcheson said Shiver will be the perfect host for such a show.

“He’s got a great background in music, he’s a professional himself,” Hutcheson explained. “There’s nothing better than to have somebody who knows quality put together something like this.

“It’s always good to draw out local talent,” he added. “It’s always amazing what you can find in your community you didn’t know existed.”

Shiver said his own musical background led him to the idea of a variety show.

“I have been thinking about this for about a year,” he said. “After seeing several great shows at the theater, I thought, ‘Wow, what we need to do in addition to all those is put together a variety show and hand pick talent from the Huntsville area.’ We have good talent, but we have great talent as well, and they just need to be exposed,” he said. “Music, singing, skits, comedy — we’re talking about taking all of that and mingling it.

“If you don’t like what you’re seeing at this moment, hang out, because the next act coming up is going to be totally different,” he laughed. “I wanted to put this in the format of the old Dick Clark variety show or the Ed Sullivan show. They were hosted, meaning someone carried the show, but you have guests all throughout the program.”

Shiver said through singing around the Huntsville area, he’s gotten some name recognition. He said he hopes the variety show will draw a crowd looking for good, family entertainment.

“I wanted to do something that was live and local versus people having to turn their TV on for another reality show,” he said. “First of all, this will get you out to the Old Town Theatre. It’s a beautiful theater that’s recently been restored. People need to come out and see that.

“I think the show is going to knock their socks off,” he said. “It’s a family-oriented show for all ages.”

A variety of performers will take the stage Sept. 9, and Shiver said they’re an extremely talented group.

“It’s truly going to be a variety show,” he said. “The show is going to be filmed just like a television show. Eventually, people will be able to purchase DVDs of the show.”

Produced by Lexington Aire Productions in association with GoldmineMusic.com and Huntsville’s Promise, “Huntsville On Stage” is a family-friendly event for folks of all ages, Shiver said.

Advance tickets can be purchased at the Huntsville Main Street Office, 1203 University Ave.; McNease Drugs, 521 Interstate 45 South No. 2; Eagle Graphics, 1304 Sam Houston Ave. Suite B; and TEAM Dodge Chrysler Jeep, 130 I-45 South. Tickets will also be available at The Old Town Theatre box office the night of the show.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for students and senior citizens (with a valid ID), and $10 for children 12 and younger. A portion of each ticket will benefit Huntsville’s Promise. Doors open at 7 p.m. with warm-up music and acts starting at 7:30 p.m. Showtime for the main event is 8 p.m.

08.26.06