Starz on the Rise

Cape Girardeau's live theater scene has a wonderful addition called Starz on the Rise. It's a project masterminded by Mike Dumey, choir director at Central Junior High School. Dumey's reputation for turning young students into top-notch performers is well-established. Over the years he has directed junior-high musical productions involving more than 150 students that have wowed appreciative audiences.

Starz on the Rise, Dumey says, provides another outlet for high school and college talent. The group's first production, "Godspell," opened earlier this month in a dinner-theater setting at the Plaza Conference Center. With a relatively small cast of 10, "Godspell" has received rave reviews from audience members.

The future of Starz on the Rise will depend in large part on the success of "Godspell." All indications so far is that there will always be an audience ready to purchase tickets for any production with the name "Dumey" attached. But Dumey himself gives all the credit to the young performers who blossom onstage and demonstrate their outstanding abilities. This is what touches theatergoers who marvel at the level of professionalism these students demonstrate.

There are two more performances of "Godspell" Friday and Saturday. What a treat for Cape Girardeau.