'North Texas Rising' a heartfelt tribute to us all

Stacy Johnson
For the Times Record News

Rating: A

The Wichita Theatre’s “North Texas Rising,” with hometown pride bubbling up like plentiful Texas Tea, tells the story of us at the Wichita Theater (itself a character, no less) with a riveting cast, upbeat, well-performed musical and dance numbers and an original dramatic work. Audiences are not only watching a story about themselves, they are participating in it, and it’s a rip-roaring rootin’ tootin’ good time.

Figures from North Texas history Joseph Kemp (Keith Pond), Mrs. Kell (Deanna Watson), The Spirit of Texas (Eric West), a saloon bar maid (MacKenzie Cobb) and Mrs. Kemp (Michelle Cobb) are all part of the new musical “North Texas Rising,” which opens at 7:30 tonight at the Wichita Theatre.

The production, written for the Wichita Theatre by Ed and Karen Underwood, and directed by Chance Harmon, is composed of a series of musical vignettes that tell the story of Wichita Falls, presented by The Spirit of Texas (Eric West). From the Native Americans who inhabited the land before first contact, to the first flight of the Jenny, the “North Texas Rising” story runs the gamut not only from boom to bust, but also from natural to industrial, lustful to reverent, from tall tale to Terrible Tuesday reality. It’s a fascinating narrative, and one that Wichita Theatre operator Dwayne Jackson says is still evolving, with the theatre welcoming suggestions for possible stories to include into future “North Texas Rising” productions. 

"North Texas Rising," a musical telling the history of Wichita Falls, opens at The Wichita Theatre on Oct. 20.

In a turn that rivals Big Tex, West embodies The Spirit of Texas with humorous and heartfelt audience interactions, an authentic Texanese drawl, and a boot full of Lone Star soul. Sometimes he’s the performer, other times he joins in the action on stage or serves as narrator, but audiences connect with him on a personal level because he is telling the campfire story from which we all came. Although the material may be familiar, like any good storyteller, The Spirit manages to surprise and delight us just the same.

Visionaries and scoundrels make up much of the lore of our area, and they are well represented in “North Texas Rising” by the Wichita Theatre players. Jim Hall pulls a complete 180 before our eyes to serve as both industrious city father Frank Kell and scallywag J.D. McMahon, perpetrator of the “Littlest Skyscraper” scam. Chip Kouri (John Scott) and Keith Pond (Joseph Kemp) turn in nuanced portrayals of early visionaries, while Kyle Coker (Butch and Clyde Barrow) and Steven Kintner (Poker player/Buck Barrow) delight audiences as shady supporting players. Ashlen Loskot’s Bonnie Parker is seductive and explosive, and Daniel Ahern’s turn as Bishop Garrett serves as a comedic highlight, with his incomprehensible Irish brogue and subsequent need for translation by the earnest Miss Seeley (Deanna Watson).

Ensemble cast dance numbers form the backbone of the production, and do not disappoint. “Next to Lovin’,” “Think Like Kemp and Work like Kell,” and “Razzle Dazzle” are highly energetic, and showcase the stable of talented performers the Wichita Theater relies upon to create dramatic (in this case black) gold. “Amazing Grace,” sung by Melissa Williams, and “America the Beautiful,” sung by Hall, highlight the vocal talent on offering at the Wichita Theatre. These creative resources are more precious to the community than the Sweet Texas crude, and “North Texas Rising” pays royalties in the form of quality entertainment to audiences young and old.

A highly energetic musical finale featuring the Sheppard Air Force Base Drum and Bugle Corp salutes audience members who have served in the armed forces, and serves to further the message that they are themselves an integral part of the action.

“North Texas Rising” lets audiences experience Wichita Falls’ history live, up close, and personally. It’s an exciting new chapter in dramatic efforts for The City that Faith Built, and keeps audiences soaring high like Air Force trainer jets over the blue skies of our community.