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Page Updated: Thursday, July 22, 2004 11:18 AM PDT

Houghtons bid fond farewell to Little Ole Opry

By Penny Gillson , Editorial Assistant

Little Ole Opry has been wowing audiences with its bonanza of country-themed entertainment since the early 1980s. Over the years, the Little Theatre on the Bay production has seen its performers grow up and head off to college, new faces added to its cast and crew, and even its founder move away. The end of this summer's season will mark one more change in the production as Leah and Mary Houghton and their mother, Martha, hang up their hats after five years of directing.

Despite Opry's changing make up, the Houghtons say it has always maintained a tight-knit, family atmosphere between not only the crew and performers, but with the audience as well.

"There's just a magic to Opry. That's what's really cool," Leah said, her straight red hair matching her mother's. "It's not just the people on stage that feel the magic. It's the audience, too."

Last Sunday, the Houghtons paused for a moment in the vacant LTOB theater. There was no aroma of the Opry's famous popcorn in the air nor audience - who even attend after-show pizza parties with the cast and crew. The stage, however, was still a testament to the hectic atmosphere: a mish-mash from the previous night's performance, props and instruments, being prepped for rehearsal for the upcoming weekend.

Little Ole Opry has been filling the theater's seats since its beginnings. In 1982, founder Suzie Walberg Newton returned from a trip to Nashville , Tenn. , with the idea that there was an uptapped audience for the same mixture of bluegrass, gospel and classic and contemporary country in the Bay Area.

The following year, Leah, was encouraged to audition for what her mother thought was an adult production. Leah, 16 at the time and singing a song she had recently performed for high school choir, "Could I Have This Dance ?, " got the part. Mary joined her on stage for a duet.

"They say the theater bug bites," Leah said. "It bites and it doesn't let go."

In time, Martha became the costume mistress and also was responsible for finding a seat in the front row and recording each show. As she sat there, she said she had the opportunity to hear the audience's comments.

"I'm not really a performer," Martha said, "but I'd heard, 'What I wanted to see ... . '"

In 2000, the Houghtons took on the directing role, which Leah described as lots of "running around." In addition, the sisters still perform and Mary also is a choreographer. However, the two said their mother is the one responsible for making sure all the steps are complete before each show.

"All the details," Mary chimed in.

"Except paper computer work," Martha laughed.

Since the Houghtons took over, the process for getting Opry up and running has become a little more difficult. Gone are the days of three-chord songs. Today's songs are more complex, the Houghtons said, which requires that performers submit their music to the band earlier. Because of that, rehearsals for the summer season start in April.

Coordinating the 75 to 100 people who participate during the season is no easy task. Unlike other productions, Opry has a different show every weekend of its run. Each show has about 30 slots for songs or dance numbers and eight for comedy pieces. While performers are allowed to choose their pieces, each show has its own theme, sometimes outside the country genre all together - this year's Opry features a '50s production.

For such an undertaking to come together, the Houghtons credit the talent and dedication of the Opry family. Opry's crew has equipment to set up, props to arrange, lighting to choose, costumes to size and sew, all the way up opening night when the proper stage cues are needed. As soon as work for the summer season ends in August, it begins for the Opry Christmas season.

Though the decision to end their Opry association was not an easy one, the Houghtons said that busy schedule has just become too much.

"I started when I was 10 and I'm 31 now and I've taken one summer off," Mary said from her seat on the stage, adding with a laugh, "That should tell you something."

They agreed this summer has been an emotional one and bittersweet. All three of them fell silent as they thought about the idea of not having work out the details for the upcoming season.

"I think it would take moving from the town ...," Martha said.

"... not to be involved," Leah said, finishing her mother's sentence.

The directing torch will pass to Phil and Kim Handsaker , both of whom have helped make Opry a success in the past.

Even without the Houghtons guiding the reins, Little Ole Opry will continue to be an event that draws the community. Before the theater had reserved seating, Leah remembered a line of eager patrons stretching to the top of the hill alongside the theater, hoping to get inside for Opry. The crowds still return year after year.

"Her intuition was surely right," Martha said of Opry's founder. "There is an untapped audience out there."

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The next Opry show, on Saturday, will be a thank-you from the Houghtons , with the theme "Here's To the Band: A Country Celebration." The show's funds will benefit the LTOB Building Fund.

Remaining shows are " BeBop & Twang" on July 31 and "The Very Best of Opry 2004" on Aug. 7-8.

Reserved seats and season tickets are available at the LTOB ticket booth, Thursday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. , or by calling 756-4336.