KMC Onstage is back!

It’s not a rumor. The U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern’s theater program – KMC Onstage – is back.

Volunteers have put on shows at this Army Europe Theater for the past three years. Its productions, such as “Grease,” “Arsenic and Old Lace” and “Annie,” have given KMC audiences live-theater entertainment and showcased local talent from active-duty servicemembers, civilians, retirees and family members.

***image1*** Then, the theater went dark. Its 400 seats remained empty for the past six months.

“I personally learned how many people were actually interested in it because people asked me over and over again, ‘When is KMC Onstage coming back?,’” said Steve Pelletier, the garrison’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation director.

Mr. Pelletier said the garrison needed a new entertainment director to run the theater as well as other Army Europe Entertainment programs such as the Concert in the Park series for the KMC, which also returns this summer.

The wait was over last week when Richard Roberts, coming from Heidelberg’s Roadside Theater, filled the vacant slot and flipped on the stage lights.

“I’m excited about it. It’s going to be great,” said Mr. Roberts, who has more than 30 years of professional theater experience.

His first production for KMC Onstage is Neil Simon’s “Rumors.”  Auditions are
7 p.m. Feb. 12 and 13. Performances will be March 30 to April 14.
“I’m so glad it’s back,” said Kristi Kimmel, who has been a KMC Onstage volunteer for almost three years. “I’ve missed the theater while it was away because I enjoy working with a group of people on a project and seeing its fruition.”

The garrison wants to widen the theater’s scope to possibly include trips to shows produced by other Army and commercial theaters throughout Europe, said Mr. Pelletier. And, Mr. Roberts, who was in charge of Roadside Theater’s educational wing, is excited about hosting acting and directing workshops and even eight-week classes. In fact, he’s having a free workshop on the comedy style of Neil Simon 1 p.m. Feb. 10 at KMC Onstage for those who want to try out for “Rumors.”

“Throw your ideas at me,” said Mr. Roberts. “Anything is wide open right now and can be put on the table. Where it goes from there is up for discussion.”
The theater is located in Bldg. 3232 on Kleber Kaserne.

For more information on the garrison’s theater program, call KMC Onstage at 483-6626 or e-mail kmconstage@yahoo.com.

Auditions for Neil Simon’s “Rumors” are 7 p.m. Feb. 12 and 13 at the theater and performances are March 30 to April 14.