When you hear the term “Broadway Musical” it usually brings to mind images of an elaborate production filled with music and dance in a huge theater in New York. Flashes of big city lights and neon marquees usually accompany the scenario and you can imagine chorus girls by the dozen hoofing it while someone sings “Broadway, Broadwaaaaay…”

The last thing you would probably associate with it would be a little theater that you enter from a back alley in Golden, Colorado.

But, our own Miners Alley Playhouse will be presenting history’s longest running Broadway Musical right here in town.

It’s called The Fantasticks and it is so successful that it has now been running for over 25 years in New York, but has actually been running on and off there since 1960. It set the record with its original production by running 47 years and staging 17,162 performances. It has also been one of the most popular and produced musicals for high school, college and regional theater groups as well as having movie and television versions. I have seen the name pop up all over the United States in all kinds of settings. In fact, it’s been produced in over 60 foreign countries.

The story revolves around two neighboring fathers who conspire to get their son and daughter to fall in love by pretending to feud with each other and eventually staging a fake kidnapping so the son can come to the rescue and win the heart of the daughter. It’s a terrific romantic comedy that is sure to have you laughing out loud.

Unlike a lot of other Broadway musicals, the Fantasticks uses a minimal stage set and a very small orchestra making it ideal for the Miners Alley Playhouse. It features hit songs like Try To Remember, They Were You and Soon it’s Gonna Rain.

The show here in Golden is directed by Brenda Billings. It opens on Friday, May 23 and will be running through Sunday, June 29 with performances at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays as well as 6 p.m. on Sundays. General Admission tickets run $26 for Adults, $23 for Seniors and $15 for kids 12 and under.

On the first night, Friday, May 23, there will be an opening night celebration and party after the show that you are welcome to attend.

Tickets and more information are available on line at their website, . You can also call the box office at 303-935-3044.

Check the website to see more of their upcoming 2014 shows. You can become a subscriber/member and get special deals like reserved seating as well. Season tickets are also available.

If you haven’t been to the Miners Alley Playhouse, treat yourself and your family to a night at this very special place. It’s small and intimate with first rate performers and the kind of place that really brings you right into the center of the show. In this theater you feel more like you are a part of what’s going on than just watching it from afar.

Live theater is always a treasure and having a gem like this here in our community is just one thing that makes Golden a special kind of place. I mean seriously … New York is fabulous, but you can’t park your Harley in front of the Broadway theaters and just walk in, can you? And there isn’t a liquor store right downstairs from any of them, is there? Ya gotta love Golden!