Bond among heroes in Ferris’ ‘License to Ham’

It’s the year ‘07.

But for the intrepid Joel E. Ferris High School Ham on Regal players, it’s really 007 – time to pay homage, sort of, to James Bond and all the superheroes and villains of filmdom.

In their 44th year of trotting Ferris parents of dubious and sometimes quite excellent talent on stage for singing, dancing, spoofing and a whole lot of musical fun, this year’s Ham on Regal show, “License to Ham,” opens Wednesday for the first of five performances in the auditorium at Ferris High School, 3020 E. 37th Ave.

From stagehands to dancers, they’re all Ferris parents in this fundraiser, which benefits boys and girls athletic programs and other projects and programs at the school.

Last year, Ham on Regal raised more than $72,000, with more than $1 million contributed to the school since Ham on Regal first took to the stage in 1962.

Vince Bozzi, vice president of the Ferris Parent Teacher Group – and who emerges in “License to Ham” as Will Ferrell’s imitation of James Lipton interviewing Dr. Evil – said characters ranging from Darth Vader to The Joker will square off in 16 musical numbers with all five incarnations of James Bond, and Xena the Warrior Princess, Superman and others in the show, which was written in a family-friendly Monty Python flavor.

Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday to March 17; cost will be $8.

A 1:30 p.m. matinee will be March 17; cost $6.

Tickets are available at Round Table Pizza on South Regal Street, Second Look Books and Rosauers on 29th Avenue, and at the school.

For more information, call Bozzi at 533-5350.