It's a show that may be difficult to find anywhere else.
Capital City Productions is opening its latest show tonight, with "The Yearling, the Musical" hitting the stage at 7:30 p.m. Director Rob Crouse said the musical is based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel "The Yearling," which tells the story of Jody Baxter and his pet fawn, Flag. Baxter is the son of a "backwoods farming family eking out a living in the Florida scrub shortly after the Civil War."
The novel, published in 1938, has been adapted for film multiple times, with Crouse noting the most famous adaptation was likely the 1946 film starring Gregory Peck and Jane Wyman. But the short-lived Broadway musical, which opened in 1965, incorporated such beautiful music into the storyline, Crouse said, that several songs may be recognizable to those who have never even seen the show. That's because Barbra Streisand recorded four of the musical's songs that then appeared on her first three albums.
"Most people would be familiar with the songs but not associate them with the show," Crouse said.
It's a story Crouse has loved since reading the original novel as a freshman in high school. The coming of age story of a young boy and his pet fawn is a perfect fit for that age, and it was easy to connect with the material, he said. The story is set in a very impoverished community where people are poor and dependent on farming to survive. It's another aspect of the story that Crouse found easy to relate.
"I come from a very small rural community where everybody's economy is basically based on how the farmers have done," Crouse said. "We really get across the idea of what a risky business farming is."
The show really focuses on the Baxter family and the relationships within the family, Crouse said, making it a perfect show for families to see together.
"It's a very interesting family story," Crouse said. "This is a very family-oriented show. It's not your typical Broadway musical production with lots of huge dance numbers. The emphasis is on the story and the beautiful music."
As much as Crouse loves the story and musical, it was far from an easy show to put on.
Crouse had directed the show once before in the early 1970s, when he taught high school. But after that, he said, the show "disappeared from sight," and he didn't see anyone put it on or talk about it. Crouse himself didn't give it much thought either.
Then he had a dream.
In the dream, they put on "The Yearling" with Cole Riney playing Jody Baxter. Riney recently portrayed the title role in CCP's production of "Billy Elliott the Musical," and Crouse recalled waking up thinking what a perfect role it would be for Riney. So he reached out to a licensing company that typically would handle licensing a local production like that.
But there was a problem - no one knew of the show Crouse was talking about. (The Broadway show itself closed the day after it opened in 1965, which may explain why it was hard to find people who knew of it.)
So Crouse found the New York company that had been responsible for the music rights and was essentially told the rights had fell into public domain after those involved in the original show died. Because he couldn't find music to license and play recordings of, this show will have live music throughout as musicians play off the sheet music Crouse was able to find.
Next, Crouse tried to find a script, which also became a problem. Luckily, he had kept the one from his show in the early '70s and was able to find it in one of his boxes from over the years.
Considering the difficulties involved in finding the music and the script for this show, Crouse said Mid-Missouri theater patrons will be in for something truly special.
"It's going to be a real rare treat," Crouse said. "This may be the only production of ('The Yearling, The Musical') that you ever see."
Crouse is especially proud of the main cast involved in "The Yearling, the Musical." In addition to Riney, CCP veteran Margaret Graham is taking on the role of Jody's mother, Ora, and playing Jody's father, Ezra, is Dingani Beza, a Jefferson City native and former CCP actor and volunteer who now lives in Hollywood as a professional actor. Crouse said he was excited to get Beza to extend a visit home in order to take on the role.
"It's a rare opportunity to see him back on our stage," Crouse said.
Doors for "The Yearling, the Musical" open at 6 p.m. tonight at Capital City Productions, 719 Wicker Lane. Additional performances are set for 6 p.m. Saturday and Feb. 18-20, as well as at noon Saturday, Sunday and Feb. 20. Tickets are $38 and include a buffet dinner from Argyle Catering.Tickets can be purchased by calling or texting 573-681-9612, emailing [email protected] or visiting ccpjc.org.