Back by popular demand, Dust Bowl Motel will make a reappearance on March 18 to March 20 at the historic Crighton Theatre in Conroe, Texas.
Written by Scott McCarley of Huntsville, Texas and Jim Roth of San Clemente, California, this play showcases the beauty of Texas with music, video and storytelling. This program will feature many musicians such has Caitlin Cary, Davin James, Todd Hoke, Erin Condo and Scott McCarley.
“The play started with music,” McCarley said. “It was about dreams and aspirations of a better life. I started writing a narrative and I didn’t know what exactly it was going to be. I heard a song by Caitlin Cary called ‘Conversation About A Friend’ and it fit so well. And that was how the play originally started.” McCarley said.
Set in modern day Oklahoma, the play follows Katie Jo Dawkins’ journey through self-acceptance and persistence of passionate dreams on the way to California. The lively dialogue, storytelling and music will give the audience a compassionate experience of dreams that can come true once strengths are understood and adversity is overcame.
The show first premiered in 2014 in Huntsville Texas at the J Philip Gilb Center to a sold out crowd. McCarley said all proceeds will go to the local Make-A-Wish foundation, a Sam Houston State University scholarship and other organizations.
“A total of 161 wishes have been made in Montgomery County and hopefully this will help make 162,” McCarley said. “All the proceeds from the play go to support the Crighton Theatre Foundation, Make-A-Wish Texas Gulf Coast Chapter and a Sam Houston State scholarship for the performing arts.”
McCarley reflected on the inspiration and said he combined stories from many different people with separate backgrounds.
“As a writer you are bound to pull materials from your own experiences,” McCarley said. “If it’s not necessarily my story, they’re stories I have learned from other musicians, other artists that I’ve known and drawn information from.”
There are a total of 13 songs in this play with five that will be sung live. However just because the location has changed does not mean there is a lack of Huntsville magic. SHSU students will take care of technical duties with lead technician Craig Brosman and the video and sound will be led by Malcolm Nicholas. A crew of SHSU students and extras will also be in the play.
“There are some major rewrites,” McCarley said. “We have added two new scenes and new songs. It is quite a bit of different show with new actors and actresses. We have a new director with their own interpretation of how it should look so that will make it different.”
Tickets for the general reserve are $20, $18 for seniors and $15 for students with ID. For group tickets contact the Crighton Theatre Box office. Doors open at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and a Sunday matinee at 2:00 p.m. More information and ticket details can be found online at http://www.dustbowlmotel.org or http://www.crightontheatre.org/.
The Crighton Theatre is located on 234 N Main St, Conroe Texas.