Elizabeth Skinner, Allenspark.      Allenspark Performing Arts Company proudly presents Lerner and  Loewe's My Fair Lady, the classic story about a Cockney flower girl who transforms into a lady.

Estes Park resident Christy Florence (Hodel in Fiddler) headlines the cast as Eliza Doolittle, withwell-known Denver actor Brian Trampler as that :arrogant, irascible teacher of elocution,” Henry Higgins.

Audience favorite Larry Pierce of Estes Park (Tevye in last summer's production of Fiddler On The Roof) returns  in the delightful role of “common dustman” Alfie P. Doolittle, Eliza's scallywag father. Jeff Ammons of Boulder is Freddy Eynesford-Hill, a well-to-do young gentleman enamored of Eliza.

Estes Park's Rich Mitchell portrays Colonel Pickering, Henry Higgins’ colleague and comic foil. Kay Mitchell brings Mrs. Higgins, Henry's aristocratic mother, to sardonic perfection. Deborah Webb, who charmed audiences as Golde in Fiddler  on the Roof, plays the part of Mrs. Pearce, Higgins' housekeeper,  with wit and irony.

The strong ensemble cast includes Estes Park actors Claire Beesley, Brad Anderson, Kelley Anderson, Don Bryson,  Dan Fitzpatrick, Bob Gunn, Regina Pierce, Mary Riggenberg and  Andrea von Kaenel, with Allenspark residents Glenn Patterson, Elaura Lockwood Webb and Mickey Burnes. Raymond-Riverside and  Ward are represented by Bill Dyas and Kalia Bernstein, both veterans of every APAC production.

Producer/Director/Choreographer Betsy Skinner (a former Eliza  Doolitle herself) says she is “thrilled to bring this perfect musical...one of the greatest ever written...to our spectacular outdoor stage.  Its brilliant source was George Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion; Lerner and Loewe took it to the max, mingling a beloved musical score with romance, clever lyrics and witty social  commentary. I guarantee the audience will delight to this  production and will leave humming one of the many hit tunes such as ‘I Could Have Danced All Night,’ ‘Get Me To The Church On Time,’ ‘Wouldn't It Be Loverly,’ ‘On The Street Where You Live,’ ‘The Rain in  Spain,’ and ‘I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face.’”

Due to severe restrictions placed on the rights to My Fair Lady,  APAC is the only community theatre west of the Mississippi allowed to present this musical this summer.  Through concerted communication with Tams-Witmark  (the agency granted control of the royalty to the work) and thanks to “Sargent,” our contact there, we were thrilled to learn that we would be given those precious rights.

Only after we received our contract did we learn that “Sargent” was, in fact, Sargent L. Aborn...President of Tams-Witmark! What a gracious and classy guy, who truly appreciates the gift that community theatre is to small  towns and venues like ours.

My Fair Lady's production team includes Assistant Director/Chorus Mistress/Assistant choreographer Danielle Hermon Woods (Tzeitel in Fiddler), Linnea Carter (Box Office), Margie Patterson (Music Director), Holly Bea-Weaver (Publicity and Marketing), Bill and Vicki Dyas (Set Construction, Lighting and Sound), Jim Webb (Sound Assistant), and Barb Kostohryz (Artist/Set Painting). Paul Starkis  returns as Stage Manager, key to “running the show” during performances.

These lavish productions showcase the best talent in the Peak-To-Peak, Front Range, Foot Hills, and “down below” region, including Boulder, Longmont, Denver, Estes Park, Allenspark, and surroundings.

Performances are July 24-27 (7 p.m. and 2 p.m. Sunday  matinee) and same July 31-August 3, at the Weaver Outdoor Stage behind The Old Gallery, 14863 Highway 7, Allenspark. Both audience  and stage are covered so performances will go on, rain or shine. Boulder County encourages audience members to carpool with neighbors, or arrive by non-vehicular transport.

Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors 65+ and students (with ID); children 10 and under, free; tickets may be purchased at the door or in advance (recommended) from www.theoldgallery.org/arts/theatre, linneacarter@gmail.com, 303-747-2926, Distant Harbors Gift Shop, The Old Gallery, and  Macdonald Book Shop in Estes Park.