Both of the Valley's theater groups are starting their seasons with a tried-and-true ice breaker - comedy.
The ACT and Valley Repertory theaters open their doors Friday with respective side-splitters, "The Nerd" and "Noises Off."
"The Nerd" is the story of an architect who gets an unexpected visitor, a man who saved his live in Vietnam. The war-time savior turns out to be as clueless as they come, and can't figure out when he has long since overstayed his welcome.
"(He) is an inept, hopelessly stupid, ridiculous nerd," said The ACT's new general manager, Cheryl-Ann Rossi. "He just won't leave."
"Noises Off" is a play-within-a-play, telling the story of a drama troupe's attempts to polish their production. In the meantime, members have to deal with one another's fiascoes. Shot glasses are drained and trousers are dropped, all while a harried director tries to keep the peace.
By Friday, both groups' buildings will have also undergone some cosmetic changes. The ACT has been remodeled and a new box office window has been installed. Valley Rep will have put up a new marquee-style sign, courtesy of Connelly's Restaurant.
Theater groups must be destined to exist here in couples. Last year, it looked like the field would narrow when the Valley Community Players combined with Valley Rep, making the area a one-act region.
Then, The ACT was founded, ensuring once again that stage productions would continue to come to the Valley in twos.
The latest chapter in the theater saga here unfolded when Coeur d'Alene's Rossi Entertainment, Rossi's professional group, merged with The ACT. Rossi has since also started Spokane Theater for Youth, an acting school for children.
A Broadway veteran of such shows as "A Chorus Line" and "Pirates of Penzance," Rossi is no slouch. Her resume is varied, too - she's been in the business since she was 10. She has sung, danced and even had a small but regular role on the television soap opera "All My Children."
When she moved from the East Coast to Rathdrum, she went into withdrawal. She wanted to see as much theater here as she could. That's why to her, more theater groups mean more and better productions. She makes her students adhere to that philosophy, too.
"Students are required to volunteer in their community at two separate theater venues," Rossi said. "That way they're giving back to their community. I think it's important children learn that their talents aren't necessarily for profit, but are for joy and all those good things performing arts stand for."
Alice Quinn, executive director at Valley Rep, thinks the Valley can support both its groups.
"There are more and more people moving out here," Quinn said. "Many are from big cities and they want to keep theater a part of their lives."
