Bubba the Cowboy Prince - Transcript

Once upon a Nebraska Sunset, not so very long ago there was a cowboy prince named Bubba.

[Susan Selvey, Executive Director, West Nebraska Arts Center] "When I was looking for a Bubba, you had to have somebody who was charming, who was kind of had a lot of spunk too, and that had a glow to his eyes. I needed to find a boy that could play a range of emotions. And Nathan was the one."

[Nathan Ruleaux] "In some ways I'm like Bubba, in some ways I'm different. Sometimes I feel like Bubba from liking theatrical things. Most kids around here are always into sports and stuff, but a lot of them have been. I've gotten a lot of just jerky stuff from kids at school, from the stuff which I like which has to do with the theatre."

Bubba the Cowboy Prince is all about possibilities. Susan Selvey knew that when she adapted this popular children's book for the Scottsbluff Foothills Theater world premiere.

[Selvey] "I think it's really important for kids who are not maybe interested in sports or do sports too but to do theater because it expands them in such a different way. There are a lot of kids that necessarily are not going to shine at sports and are looking for arts to fill that void. There are a lot of kids who just want to perform. They love it so much."

[Nathan Ruleaux] "I've always wanted to be an actor, even when I was a little kid. And one time in a talent show I did an Elvis impersonation. That was very fun and I think this will be a great experience for me."

Magic transforms Bubba into the prince. Nathan relies on something more solid -- the commitment of his parents. The Ruleaux family lives in Bridgeport, which is 32 miles from Scottsbluff, where rehearsals are held nearly every day. Nathan and his parents put a lot of road time together.

[Don Ruleaux] "When my wife is taking Nathan she has to go probably four to six trips to Scottsbluff because she has her regular trip in the morning and then the home trip. But then she'll have to drive back to Bridgeport, pick Nathan up right before school's out and then go back. And then when she's not available to do that, then I'll take him and we'll go right after school and I don't know what it takes, about 45 minutes and I'll just barely get him to rehearsal on time. Then, of course, there's the trip back later in the evening."

[Dee Ruleaux] "I guess one of the hardest things I think for Nathan because he really loves going up and the acting and everything that's involved. Memorizing his lines just is kind of like second nature to him. It's awesome to see. But the commitment that he has to make is homework."

[Don Ruleaux] "One thing I think Nathan has talked to me about that he's got out of this experience is that he just is really happy and thrilled to be around like-minded kids. There's not a lot of kids in his regular peer group at school that are into drama or the arts or anything like that."

[Selvey] "What's wonderful about the program, is that the kids form a bond, like a family. They help each other in the respect that they, if somebody hasn't done anything before or is a little hesitant to try something, they help the younger kids along."

The historic Midwest Theatre is filled to capacity. Bubba the Cowboy Prince is about to be seen by more than 2200 children from area schools. Some have traveled 75 miles to see this performance.

[Nathan Ruleaux] "It's almost time."

[Susan Selvey] "The story of Bubba the Cowboy Prince was written by Helen Ketteman. Helen Ketteman wrote this book 3 or 4 years ago. It's really exciting, when I read it the first time I just loved it because it's a Cinderella story for boys. We don't have that very often in our fairy tales and I thought the boys needed a story too."

The story is complete with a wicked stepdaddy, his sons, a fairy godcow, a beautiful princess -- there's perfectly delivered slapstick comedy, and a lively hoedown.

Bubba gets the girl and the wicked stepdaddy and his ornery sons, well, they get exactly what they deserve.

[Step Brothers] "Dag Nabbit!"

[Don Ruleaux] "I thought it was pretty cool. It's a little sad that its over. You know that's kind of melancholy because I know Nathan's going to miss it and I think, you know, I will too."

[Nathan Ruleaux] "After the play was over we went and bowed as usual and then we sat down and stated our names and what school we go to. When I said Nathan Ruleaux, Bridgeport, all the Bridgeport kids who were here today, they all started screaming and yellin' and stuff and clapping as hard as they could -- and it was a really good feeling.

"Being in this play and not doing the usual thing makes you feel like you're independent. And it makes you feel like you're someone."