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Theatre A La Carte

Brian Walker has the title role in "Tommy." Photo by PHIL SEARS/Tallahassee Democrat Review of "Tommy"

Group's musicals tops for 10 years

As founder, president and artistic director of Theatre A La Carte, Eric Hurst has spent the past decade doing his part to promote theatrical diversity in Tallahassee.

"In a small community like this, you tend to see the same shows over and over," Hurst explained. "There isn't a lot of opportunity in this kind of market to see new shows. (Theatre A La Carte) is trying to counter the current trend on Broadway -- all the revivals."

For community theater groups, revivals are a matter of economic reality. Good box office receipts equal survival, so most local and regional troupes choose to stage tried-and-true crowd-pleasers.

Hurst acknowledges the economics of the situation but maintains that fresh works are vital to the future of American theater. That's why he's made it his business to stage newer, lesser known musicals, such as "Chess," "La Cage Aux Folles," "The Rink" and "Falsettos."

"The theater would die if there was no market for new shows," Hurst said. "That's my little crusade -- to convince people to come see something they haven't seen before. Who knows? They might like it!"

Smell of the greasepaint

Eric Hurst, president and artistic director of the Theatre A La Carte, is one force behind the group's ability to put on big-bucks musicals on a shoestring budget. Photo by PHIL SEARS/Tallahassee Democrat

Hurst, who was born in Birmingham, Ala., and raised in Pensacola, performed in the usual school and church plays as a kid. When he was 15, he was bitten by the theater bug in earnest after performing in an original revue called "American Victory Canteen" at a Pensacola dinner theater.

In 1985, Hurst came to FSU as a theater major. To reassure his mother, who feared the feckless life of a thespian wouldn't provide much in the way of economic security, Hurst agreed to go on to law school after getting his undergraduate degree.

Hurst said he spent most of his time as a theater student in technical classes, although he did find time to appear in a Mainstage production of "Bye, Bye, Birdie."

"I met friends then who are still in my life," Hurst said. "And the tech work has certainly come in handy."

Hurst got his theater degree in 1987 and went on to graduate from FSU's College of Law in 1990. He currently works as an attorney for the State of Florida.

Shortly after finishing law school, Hurst and some friends banded together to put on a production of "She Loves Me," and Theatre A La Carte was born.

"I had no anticipation of staying in Tallahassee at that point, but a year later I was still here and we all said, 'Well, let's do another show,' " Hurst said. "So in 1991 we staged 'Evita.' "

The following year was A La Carte's first two-show season. It was also the year the troupe incorporated, achieved non-profit status and moved its base of operations to Tallahassee Little Theatre, its performing home ever since.

'See me, feel me . . . '

To celebrate Theatre A La Carte's 10th anniversary season, Hurst has chosen to produce the blockbuster hit "The Who's Tommy." It's an ambitious undertaking even by A La Carte's daring standards.

"We wanted something that would show off every aspect of a production -- acting, singing, dancing, the technical areas," Hurst said. "We wanted everything to shine. It's been difficult to put together, because nobody can coast in this show."

Hurst has the same hopes for "Tommy" that he has for every A La Carte production -- that it makes enough money to cover the next show. His goals for the troupe in the years to come are a bit more ambitious.

"We're doing all we can do without owning our own building," he said. "We'll never be able to do that (acquire a building) from ticket sales alone. Although we work well with and at TLT, it would be great to have a facility especially designed for musicals.

"I'd love for somebody to drop that large sum of money in my lap."

Hurst credits his A La Carte cohorts with helping establish the troupe's legacy of excellence.

"I hope people know us for the quality and unique variety of our work," he said. "I'm compulsive about getting things right, and the wonderful people who work with me share that vision."

Write Kati Schardl at [email protected] .

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