Bubba the Cowboy Prince - The Making of "Bubba"

When Scottsbluff, Nebraska theatrical producer Susan Selvey read Helen Ketteman's children's book "Bubba the Cowboy Prince" she knew she had found something that just might work. "I just loved it and I could immediately see it on stage visually. I got on Ketteman's web site and emailed her. She was really enthused about the idea. Then I negotiated with her agent to adapt it [into a stage play] and it took me about a year to write it." After some revamping of the script during the production of the play, Selvey and the young actors and actresses performed "Bubba the Cowboy Prince" to a full house at Scottsbluff's Midwest Theater in March of 2002.

Selvey, who has been executive director of the West Nebraska Arts Center for the past eight years, said that her concept for the stage play was to take the animal characters that James Warhola (Andy Warhol's nephew) illustrated for the book, and use them to help tell the "Cinderella" tale of Bubba. "It was fun for me because [Ketteman's] dialogue is so wonderful and clever, and it was fun for me to match that. She has the same sense of humor as me so that kind of helps." In addition to a fairy godcow there are also five other barnyard animals that help narrate the story on stage.

Selvey had about 65 children audition for the play in January of 2002 and after selecting the performers, Selvey and the children worked diligently for several weeks to make the play a hit. Selvey selected Nebraska children from Scottsbluff, Gering, Mitchell, Morrill, as well as Bridgeport's own Nathan Ruleaux who played Bubba and was featured on this episode of Next Exit. "We have wonderful talent locally." said Selvey. About three or four children's productions are produced each year by Selvey and the Scottsbluff Foothills Theater. Selvey also puts on performances with Theater West such as a recent production of "The Odd Couple."

Recently Selvey wrote her first original play entitled "The Sensational Trial of the Big Bad Wolf" which premiered earlier this year and she says she will definitely be working on more things in the days ahead including a one woman show on Harriet Tubman. Selvey has worked as a professional actress throughout the Midwest and has been involved in radio, television, and film. She has a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

For more information on upcoming Foothills Theater performances please call (308) 632-2226.