FAYETTEVILLE T2 Extends ‘Sundown Town’

FAYETTEVILLE — The third time’s a charm for TheatreSquared, a 5-year-old professional theater company based in Fayetteville.

Thanks to audience demand, “Sundown Town,” a new musical by local playwright Kevin Cohea, will play for an extra weekend, with performances tonight, Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. It’s the third time so far in the four-show 2010-11 season that a play has expanded beyond the scheduled run.

“It’s an understatement to say that interest in ‘Sundown Town’ has been overwhelming,” says Martin Miller, T2 managing director.

“After adding seats and performances, we were still turning away hundreds of ticket buyers.”

Adding another weekend was a complicated decision, Miller admits, but it was made easier by experience.

In September, “The 39 Steps,” the first show of the 2010-11 season, was also extended, and performances were added for “Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some),” in December.

“It’s thrilling,” Miller says simply. “It reminds us why we’re here, why this is our artistic home. There’s a hunger out there for art of great quality.”

Beyond demand at the box office, the board of TheatreSquared had to consider the availability of actors, technicians and the onstage band, 3 Penny Acre.

“And finally, with this production in particular,” the running costs for anadditional week were not likely to be covered by additional ticket sales,” Miller says, “so we had to decide from a mission perspectiveif it was something worth doing.”

Private donors stepped in to help fund the additional weekend, Miller says.

Even with the demand for additional seating, Miller says T2 has no interest in moving from the 150-seat studio theater.

“We really want to preserve the intimacy of the theater experience at TheatreSquared,” he says.

“So before we look to a larger venue, we’ll look to adding performances. We’re considering for next year just programming shows with longer runs.”

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FYI

‘JOSEPH’ HOT, TOO

“Sundown Town” isn’t the only big hit in Northwest Arkansas right now. “Joseph and the Amazing Tech nicolor Dreamcoat” has sold out all but the Sunday show of its third weekend at Rogers Little Theater, making it the best-sell ing production of at least fi ve seasons.

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FAQ

‘SUNDOWN TOWN’

WHEN - 7:30 p.m. today-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday

WHERE - Nadine Baum Studios in Fayetteville

COST - $10-$24

INFO - 571-2728