Front Street Show - Alumni

05/07/2017

A question for more recent Front Street alumni (post-1987 or so): Who wrote the song "The End of the Texas Trail"? I have a sheet-music version that says Kerri Adkins revised it, but I'd like to be able to give proper credit. Thanks.

04/12/2017

Hey there, recent Crystal Palace R***e alumni! I'll be directing the 54th edition of the show this summer, with rehearsals starting May 15 (the day after Mother's Day) and the show opening Friday, May 26. If you're interested in joining us this summer, I hope you'll come to our auditions at Front Street from 5-7 pm Mountain Time Friday, April 14, or from 1-5 pm Saturday, April 15. If you can't make it but want to audition, please contact me at [email protected] about auditioning by video. Hope to see you there! -- Todd von Kampen, Front Street piano player, 1981, 1982, 1984

05/01/2016

It happens that there are 14 unsold copies of "All-Night Theater: The Music and Life of J.E. Thayer" that were sitting in a closet at the North Platte Community Playhouse! So if you've been interested in the music of Dr. James E. Thayer and didn't get your copy of my book-CD collection earlier, now's your chance! Still $25 each, with all proceeds to benefit the continued production of the Frontier R***e in NP. They're currently at our house there but can be retrieved for me to send you if you contact me via FB or at [email protected]. Let me know! -- Todd von Kampen

04/29/2016

Stacey and Kathleen Bauer of Ogallala purchased the western Nebraska landmark Friday. The sale price was $399,000.

03/09/2016

The last original owner of the Old West-style restaurant and stage show in Ogallala is calling it quits after 53 years, and local investors hope to ride to the rescue.

08/07/2015

On this night in 1964, the first Front Street "sheriff," Gary Bush, "arrested" H.R. "Slippery" Buenz for playing with the wrong keys ... and Nebraska's longest-running summer-stock show made its debut. Happy 51st anniversary to the Crystal Palace R***e! (The season closes this weekend, and this year's cast is really good. Get there if you haven't!)

08/07/2015

This was during the Nebraska Centennial season of 1967. The angles make most IDs difficult, but on the right is Jeanne Mathes, who appeared in the R***e during most of the "glory years" with H.R. "Slippery" Buenz at the piano and Dr. James E. Thayer writing the music.

These can-can girls perform at the Crystal Palace Saloon R***e, a summer attraction at the historic Front Street in Ogallala. This photo ran in the August 6, 1967 Serviceman Edition, a condensed version of the World-Herald printed so people could send the paper to their family and friends in Vietnam.
To see more World-Herald photos go to http://omaha.com/photos.

09/02/2014

Friends and fans of Front Street, the Frontier R***e and Dr. James E. Thayer's music: At this point, only four unsold copies remain of "All-Night All-Night Theater: The Music and Life of J.E. Thayer." To purchase them, contact Donna Pucket in North Platte at 308-530-1597, via email at [email protected] or via Facebook. Still $25 each. Many thanks to all for your support!

08/11/2014

KOGA Interview:
http://www.930koga.com/articles/local-sports-369508/local-sports-august-11-12656011/

AM 930 KOGA...Music Memories and More for Western Nebraska, and Northeast Colorado. AM 930 KOGA Ogallala.

08/11/2014

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
To all the alumni who were able to join us for Sunday's show...thank you! It was a lot of fun getting back up on that familiar stage.
To the rain that couldn't hold off just a couple more hours...we held our show anyway! It was a packed house and pretty warm, but we had fun.
To the audience who packed the place like sardines...we are so glad you came out for the show. We hope you enjoyed it. We had a ball!
To the Front Street crew...thank you for your hard work and support of our reunion. We couldn't have done it without you!

And for everyone who took photos, video of the day...please post them to this page so everyone can enjoy.
THANK YOU!! :)

08/07/2014

Happy golden anniversary TODAY (8-7-1964) of the first-ever performance of Nebraska's longest-running summer-stock show: the Front Street Crystal Palace R***e! If you're in or near Ogallala, come hear our special 50th-anniversary show (with Front Street alums, the 2014 cast and myself on piano) at 2 pm this Sunday at Front Street!

08/03/2014

One week to go until the Crystal Palace R***e golden anniversary alumni show -- 2 pm Sunday, Aug. 10! Alumni soloists and small groups will rehearse starting at 5 pm Saturday at New Hope Church (the old Elks Club). Come join us then if you wish ... but if you're only planning to sing on the group numbers, it's fine to join us for warmups inside the Crystal Palace about 1 pm on Sunday. We've got a good range of alums across the 50 years of the R***e, as well as the current 50th anniversary cast. Hope to see you next weekend at the End of the Texas Trail!