No Strings Theatre Company is pleased to present the world premiere of "Glamtastic: an evening with Kitty ala Bebe and Marco!" written and directed by local theatre artist Tom Smith. "Glamtastic" opens June 22 and runs through July 8 at the Black Box Theatre, 430 North Downtown Mall in Las Cruces.

A cabaret featuring such hits as "My Heart Will Go On," "That Old Black Magic," "Dancing Queen," and "Wind Beneath My Wings," "Glamtastic" tells the life of cruise ship lounge singer and game show guest Kitty ala Bebe and her rise from small town girl to international superstar. Along the way, Kitty regales the audience with stories about meeting famous celebrities, her triumph over rubbing alcohol addiction, and inventing rap music. She is accompanied, both in life and on piano, by her husband Marco.

No Strings Theatre Company's production marks the world premiere of "Glamtastic." "When I first met Kitty, - and this was back when she and Marco were performing at Studio 54, she struck me as someone whose life was, well, both glamorous and fantastic. I told her she sounded 'Glamtastic!' So when she contacted me this year about wanting to make a comeback to the legitimate stage and asked if I would help shape her songs into a full cabaret, I jumped at the chance!" says Smith.

Marco Jimenez is the musical director for the production. This will be his last appearance on a Las Cruces stage before leaving to attend graduate school in Arizona. "To work with legends like Kitty and Marco is a dream come true," says Jimenez. "Audiences will love not only the incredible songs -17 in all -but also the way Kitty and Marco style familiar tunes into something brand new!"

Although the show does contain adult themes, Smith says it's all very playful. "Kitty tends to not be able to edit her thoughts as much as one might like," says Smith, "but that's what made her the phenomenal and beloved superstar that she is."

Performance times are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays, July 1 and 8 at 2:30 p.m. and a Thursday performance on July 5 at 7 p.m. Ticket prices are $10 regular and $9 students and seniors over 65. Thursday evening tickets are $7. High School students presenting an i.d. card will be able to purchase Student Rush tickets for $7, 10 minutes before all performances if seats are available. Reservations are strongly suggested and can be made by calling (505) 523-1223 or online at http://www.no-strings.org. Season tickets for the 2007-2008 season can be ordered at the Box Office or by phone.

A raucous night of laughs

Black Box Theatre presents winsome story of past-her-prime performer Kitty ala Bebe

REVIEW BY JOEL COURTNEY

The Las Cruces Bulletin

The Black Box Theatre, in their continuing effort to bring original works to the Las Cruces stage, are now showing “Glamtastic,” written and directed by Tom Smith.

The story is told by the star, Kitty ala Bebe, as she recounts her illustrious career on stage and screen with her husband Marco (Marco Jimenez).

Kitty is a talented singer that covers nearly every genre (heck, she invented a good chunk of them) and has lived through her drugaddled days of desperation to return to the City of the Crosses for a show “past her prime.”

In addition to her medley of hits, from TV theme songs, Disney tunes, Broadway and even rap, Kitty takes the audience on a journey through her rise and fall of stardom, through falling in and out of love and even committing some truly despicable acts.

Although it may sound like a run-of-the-mill musical production, “Glamtastic” is anything but – it’s a night of raw humor that pulls absolutely no punches.

Kitty has claws to match her wit, and the entire audience is fair game for some of her “off the cuff” commentary. Not to be pretentious, Kitty and Marco take several jabs at themselves and each other throughout the performance.

The songs themselves are hilarious choices that match well with the story as it is being told. You could tell how quickly each audience member recognized the song by how many notes it took them to start laughing.

Kitty isn’t just all laughs and bad jokes, though. She also shows a touching, sentimental side for all that she has given up through bad choices.

Smith and Jimenez did everything except selling the tickets for “Glamtastic,” including music direction by Jimenez and costume, prop, sound and set design by Smith (with help from Peter Herman).

Though it may never make Broadway, “Glamtastic” is the most personalized piece of theater I’ve seen that was written for the Las Cruces community. Opening night for “Glamtastic” was the biggest I have ever attended at the Black Box Theatre over the last year. For those interested in seeing the show, I suggest making reservations as soon as possible.

“Glamtastic” will continue at the Black Box Theatre through Sunday, July 8.

Performance times are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays, July 1 and 8, at 2:30 p.m., and a Thursday performance will be held on July 5 at 7 p.m. Ticket prices are $10 for regular admission and $9 for students and seniors over 65. Thursday evening tickets are $7. High school students presenting an ID card will be able to purchase Student Rush tickets for $7 beginning at 10 minutes before all performances if seats are available. Reservations can be made by calling 523-1223 or online at www.nostrings.org

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