Hang out with 4CP’s friends

Doug Schneider has no shortage of pleasant memories from participating in Four County Players productions over the years.

“Almost 11 years ago, we were in rehearsals for ‘Fiddler on the Roof,’ ’’ he said.

That’s why he’s ready to make some more. Schneider is bringing some of his musical friends to Barboursville Community Theater on Saturday evening for a show that will raise funds for the community theater group.

“It’s such a beautiful place, and it’s such a beautiful performing arts place,” Schneider said of the Barboursville theater.

But looks aren’t everything — Schneider’s more impressed by its heart.

“It’s very family, and people are very supportive of each other,” he said of Four County.

Schneider said Saturday’s program includes music from “shows I’ve been in, and shows I’ve wanted to be in.”

Some of those works are duets, and for those he will be teaming up with Kate Lambert and Gary White, two cast mates from the recent Live Arts production of “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.”

Providing the instrumental music for the evening will be the Tom Collins Trio, which features Joe Bunts on bass, Stuart Gunter on drums and Greg Harris on piano.

“We’ve been working together for almost 13 years,” he said of the trio. Harris is the pianist on Schneider’s most recent CD, ”Home at Last,” a collection of Broadway and cabaret favorites plus some original works.

Having his friends close by means there’s no danger of the endeavor becoming all work and no play.

“We just have a lot of fun,” Schneider said. “It’s unscripted and relaxed. If it’s running too short, we can add things in.

“We’re singing a lot of songs. We’re not skimping on the entertainment.”

For audience members who’ve seen him perform in New Lyric Theatre, Live Arts, Heritage Theatre Festival and Hamner Theater productions over the years, it’s a chance to see him in a new light as a concert singer.

“This is the first concert I’ve done in about a year and a half,” he said.

The evening includes a post-concert reception with Schneider and his musical friends that’s being catered by the Lafayette Inn.

The proceeds will benefit Four County Players, a cause that’s close to Schneider’s heart, at a time when the veteran singer and actor is seeing new creative energy there.

“Everyone’s working really hard out there and doing some great theater,” he said. “Things here have just really started to blossom. I’m very proud to be a part of it.”