This year’s production of “Cheers” was hatched before last year’s show was even finished. In fact, veteran Follies actor Mike Oates has wanted to do a production based on the show, whose 11 award-winning seasons on NBC took place entirely inside a Boston bar, for a couple of years.

Clinton Curtis and Sarah Fox, prepare to serve drinks.

“We decided 2007 would be a good year for it,” said producer Bev Bridgewater. “Our cast seems to line up with the characters and it is a little more modern show than some we have done in the past.”

According to Bridgewater, Oates wrote the script for the Follies production using bits and pieces from the actual TV show. The cast numbers 31, with many veteran Follies actors as well as some newcomers.

Andy Streich, offers a “cheers.”

Bridgewater said the biggest challenge of pulling off this year’s show had nothing to do with the “Cheers” production itself, but in moving the Follies venue from the Hood River Middle School auditorium to Westside Elementary’s gym. The HRMS auditorium has been closed since January when a water pipe broke, causing significant damage to the historic venue.

“This has taken a lot of planning from the local Lions members,” Bridgewater said. The Lions were able to set up the stage at Westside only last weekend, leaving five days to rehearse on the actual set before opening night Thursday. (The cast had been rehearsing at the Hood River Valley Adult Center.)

Sarah Fox and Kim Vogel strike funny poses
during a scene.

In addition, the Lions have had to limit ticket sales due to the smaller venue (there will be approximately 600 seats in the gym at Westside, where the HRMS auditorium can seat 1,100) and arrange for extra parking as well as transportation for groups to the school.

The Lions also moved this year’s show dates by a few weeks so the production could take place while Westside students are on spring break.

Dave Tallman, ruminates over a beer.

“Fortunately, most of the cast has experience with our type of show and the flexibility of it,” Bridgewater said.

The annual Lions Follies is the main fund-raiser for the local Lions clubs’ contributions to the Oregon Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation. The Mid-Columbia Lions Follies has donated $223,000 to the foundation over the past 30 years. The show typically raises between $13,000 and $15,000 each year, according to Bridgewater.